Full name Widnes Football Club Ground Capacity 13,350 Manager Joey Dunn Founded 2003 | Nickname(s) The Whites Chairman Ian Ross Ground Select Security Stadium | |
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2015–16 North West Counties League Division One, 13th League North West Counties Football League First Division | ||
Widnes Football Club are an English association football club, based in Widnes, Cheshire. They are currently members of the North West Counties League Division One, playing their home matches at Halton Stadium, Widnes. They are affiliated to the Liverpool County FA.
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Early years: 2003 to 2012
The club was founded in February 2003 as The Dragons A.F.C. by former secretary Bill Morley as a local junior football club with the aim of making football fun, teach new skills and self-confidence. The aim of the club was to make football so much fun that the children will want to be involved and they will keep coming back for more.
The Dragons AFC, later to be known as Widnes Dragons, had a fantastic reputation locally for their contribution towards the development of grassroots football in Halton and provide opportunities to play football for over 200 junior players from the age of 6 to 18. The club put in a great amount of effort to run the club according to the best practices laid down by the F.A.. This led to the club achieving the FA Charter Standard award in December 2003, being recognised as the first club to achieve this award from the borough of Halton. In 2008, the club was awarded the FA Charter Standard Development award for its continuous development of grassroots football.
Recent years: 2012 to present
In March 2012, Widnes Dragons began a consultation process with Widnes Vikings RLFC to become part of the Vikings Sports Brand, a partnership that was agreed to enhance the club's community status.
On 10 July 2012, at the club's AGM, the club's members unanimously agreed to become a part of the Widnes Sports Group and agreed on a 12-month transitional period up to the end of that current season (2012–13). The next step in the club's progression was made in season 2013–14 when Widnes Vikings FC was admitted into the football pyramid and placed within North West Counties Football League Division One.
In March 2014, the club's committee called an EGM for its members to decide on the future of the club. A unanimous vote was made that the club was to move away from the Vikings brand and to restructure the club to secure its own identity and long-term future. Subsequently, the club parted ways with the Vikings brand and became known as Widnes Football Club, which was symbolic in representing where the team and its fans came from whilst recognising that a new club needed to be built to establish confidence in the local community and support young local talent in Widnes.
In 2016, a change in board structure lead to the appointment of Ian Ross as Chairman with a Board of Directors being established. Danny Meadowcroft and Brian Pritchard were appointed joint managers, replacing previous manager Steve Hill who left the Club following the end of the 2015-16 season. However, following an indifferent start to the season, Meadowcroft and Pritchard left the Club and were replaced by Joey Dunn, who was subsequently appointed manager.
Crest and colours
Throughout its history, the club has always adopted a white home strip. They currently play in a white home shirt, with black shorts and white socks. The club's away kit is all yellow.
Stadium
Widnes moved into the Halton Stadium in 2012, ahead of their debut and so far only season in the West Cheshire League. They played their first home game at the stadium against Chester Nomads Reserves on 1 September 2012. The club's highest attendance at the stadium is 345 set on 28 December 2013, against 1874 Northwich F.C.
Current squad
As of 24th March 2017Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.