Witton Albion

Witton Albion FC

Ground: Wincham Park

Capacity: 4,813

Club Founded: 1987

League: Northern Premier League Division One West - Step 4/8th Tier (current level)

Albion, founded by chemical workers in Northwich, were one of the first non-league clubs to sell its town-centre ground and build a replacement, proving a prudent decision.

Wincham Park

Club History

Early Years

Witton Albion started out playing in the Northwich & District League, Crewe & District League, and the Cheshire League before joining The Combination in 1901-02. They advanced to the Manchester League and then Division Two of the Lancashire Combination, winning promotion as champions in 1912-13.

The club became a founder member of the Cheshire County League seven years later. Local derbies at the time against Northwich Victoria saw heated battles in front of packed crowds, with Witton going on to win the league crown twice, and then finish as runners-up. These saw halcyon days at the Central Ground, located, as the name suggests, in the centre of town.

Central Ground. Photo: Andy Dakin.

FA Cup Runs

A third Cheshire County League title followed in 1953-54, in the same season as the team exited the FA Cup in the second round to Grimsby Town. Witton also reached the same stage a couple of seasons earlier, where Workington ended their run, with other first-round appearances following.

The formation of the Northern Premier League in 1968-69 saw Witton overlooked, with Northwich Victoria's persuading other clubs not to admit their town rivals being thought to be the deciding factor. This was at a time when former Manchester City star Ken Barnes managed the side.

My drawing of the Central Ground, along with former club crests and team kits.
Click on the image to enlarge it.

New Stadium and Wembley

Albion were admitted to the Northern Premier League (NPL) in 1979-80, finishing as runners-up in their debut season. The club sold their ground to Sainsbury and relocated to Wincham Park, which was opened in 1989. The NPL title was won in 1990-91, while the team reached the FA Trophy semi-finals, where Kidderminster Harriers came out on top.

Promotion to the Football Conference saw Albion join their rivals, Northwich Victoria. Albion reached the final of the 1991-92 FA Trophy but lost 3-1 to Colchester United at Wembley. The following season saw Witton reach the semi-final of the competition once again, this time ending in aggregate defeat to Runcorn.

Central Ground. Photo: Andy Dakin.

Ground Sale Cash Ends

Cash from the ground sale ran out, which saw the side relegated in 1993-94, before dropping down another level two seasons later. Promotion back to the NPL Premier Division was achieved in 2003-04, where Albion finished runners-up on a couple of occasions. 

Manager Jim Vince, who had done a sterling job, resigned to be replaced by Nigel Deeley. Gary Finley was soon appointed in his place. The team was relegated before the end of the decade.

Central Ground. Photo: Andy Dakin.

Managers came and went as the club was transferred to the NPL Division One North in 2010-11, where promotion was sealed twelve months later via the playoffs with wins against Farsley and Curzon Ashton. The playoffs were reached again in 2012-13, with FC United of Manchester winning the semi-final tie.

Anthony Sheehan replaced Pritchard, who had spent nineteen years at the club, in August 2014. The team was relegated before the Albion hierarchy upset some of their loyal supporters, allowing Northwich Victoria to share Wincham Park for the 2015-16 season.

Wincham Park

The rental cash helped Witton win promotion a season later via the playoffs following victories against AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Spalding United. Vics returned as tenants in the summer of 2018. Another relegation followed in 2021-22, before Jon Macken was appointed as manager. 

After a couple of seasons just missing out on a playoff position, Ben Harrison was appointed as manager in August 2024. Vics had departed after a dispute several months earlier.

My visit

Saturday 1st November 1986

My visit to the Central Ground came about as I was in the car with my mate, Gary Griffiths, on the way to Chester v Walsall. We had already been to Edgeley Park, Stockport, which was locked with no access, and then Northwich’s Drill Field.

Central Ground. Photo: Andy Dakin.

It was a short distance to Albion’s home, which was another excellent venue, with a main stand and covered terracing opposite. There were plenty of standing options for spectators, along with crush barriers.

It didn’t cross our minds that both town centre grounds would no longer exist within a decade or so, as both clubs built new stadiums, one rather more successfully than the other.