Anticipation Building At Whitchurch Alport
Fri 3rd July 2015 | General | By Ian Templeman
With their entry in the NWCFL now confirmed, everyone at Whitchurch Alport is now gearing up for their inaugural season in the First Division.
As reported previously, the club were originally denied the opportunity to join our league by the FA’s National Leagues Committee, but the decision was overturned after hearing an appeal from the club last Friday.
Now, with just over a month to go to the start of the new season, it’s all systems go for everyone at the club as preparations begin for the step up from the Mercian Regional Football League Premier Division, and member clubs make the trip to Shropshire on League business for the first time since the League was formed in 1982.
It’s been a busy few months for club officials, and as Whitchurch Alport Vice-Chairman John Allman explained, the decision to apply to join our league was only taken by the club’s committee earlier this year.
“We had moved from the Mid-Cheshire League to the Mercian Regional League as we had been told they would be applying for Step 7 status, but that didn’t happen”, said John.
“That meant we were stuck in a league with no Step 7 accreditation, which was a problem for us, but we had prepared a business plan aimed at moving the club forward, and then at the start of this year, one of our committee members saw an article on the NWCFL website where Secretary John Deal was asking clubs who were interested in joining the League to get in touch.
“That made us realise we could actually do this, and that there was an opportunity to apply to join the league. John Deal and Geoff Wilkinson came to see us three times, and couldn’t have been more helpful, they told us what needed to be done.
“It was then just a case of all the work getting done at a rate of knots at the last minute, everyone gritting their teeth and hanging on in there. We managed it, and I think everyone involved should be congratulated for the work that was done”.
When clubs arrive at Yockings Park, near Whitchurch town centre, they will find a well-established ground that the club has occupied since 1948.
“The stand was built just after the Second World War”, said John, “and the dressing rooms were originally constructed from used crates taken from a military camp just up the road, but they do a job.
“The floodlights were installed in 2012, and we have plans to spruce up the club house and extend the away dressing room in time for the start of season 2016-17.
“But the big news is that we will hopefully be moving into a new purpose built stadium within the next few years. The scheme is known as the Tilstock Road plan, and we have been offered freehold land, a club house and car parking as part of the development.
“The site is on the other side of town, and is where the other sporting venues are, such as the cricket, rugby and hockey clubs, so it will be ideal for us”.
In the meantime, as the season approaches, John is convinced that the club is geared up to hold its own in the NWCFL.
“On the playing side, the first training session took place on Tuesday night, and some new lads have joined the squad.
“There’s no doubt the squad will compete at this level, we played and beat Step 7 and Step 6 clubs last season, it’s just a case of them getting the mentality right and making sure they do it week in week out.
“As far as the committee is concerned, we are just aiming to settle down, steady ourselves and consolidate in the division, and then let’s see if we can push on from there”.
Anticipation Building At Whitchurch Alport
Fri 3rd July 2015 | General
By Ian Templeman
With their entry in the NWCFL now confirmed, everyone at Whitchurch Alport is now gearing up for their inaugural season in the First Division.
As reported previously, the club were originally denied the opportunity to join our league by the FA’s National Leagues Committee, but the decision was overturned after hearing an appeal from the club last Friday.
Now, with just over a month to go to the start of the new season, it’s all systems go for everyone at the club as preparations begin for the step up from the Mercian Regional Football League Premier Division, and member clubs make the trip to Shropshire on League business for the first time since the League was formed in 1982.
It’s been a busy few months for club officials, and as Whitchurch Alport Vice-Chairman John Allman explained, the decision to apply to join our league was only taken by the club’s committee earlier this year.
“We had moved from the Mid-Cheshire League to the Mercian Regional League as we had been told they would be applying for Step 7 status, but that didn’t happen”, said John.
“That meant we were stuck in a league with no Step 7 accreditation, which was a problem for us, but we had prepared a business plan aimed at moving the club forward, and then at the start of this year, one of our committee members saw an article on the NWCFL website where Secretary John Deal was asking clubs who were interested in joining the League to get in touch.
“That made us realise we could actually do this, and that there was an opportunity to apply to join the league. John Deal and Geoff Wilkinson came to see us three times, and couldn’t have been more helpful, they told us what needed to be done.
“It was then just a case of all the work getting done at a rate of knots at the last minute, everyone gritting their teeth and hanging on in there. We managed it, and I think everyone involved should be congratulated for the work that was done”.
When clubs arrive at Yockings Park, near Whitchurch town centre, they will find a well-established ground that the club has occupied since 1948.
“The stand was built just after the Second World War”, said John, “and the dressing rooms were originally constructed from used crates taken from a military camp just up the road, but they do a job.
“The floodlights were installed in 2012, and we have plans to spruce up the club house and extend the away dressing room in time for the start of season 2016-17.
“But the big news is that we will hopefully be moving into a new purpose built stadium within the next few years. The scheme is known as the Tilstock Road plan, and we have been offered freehold land, a club house and car parking as part of the development.
“The site is on the other side of town, and is where the other sporting venues are, such as the cricket, rugby and hockey clubs, so it will be ideal for us”.
In the meantime, as the season approaches, John is convinced that the club is geared up to hold its own in the NWCFL.
“On the playing side, the first training session took place on Tuesday night, and some new lads have joined the squad.
“There’s no doubt the squad will compete at this level, we played and beat Step 7 and Step 6 clubs last season, it’s just a case of them getting the mentality right and making sure they do it week in week out.
“As far as the committee is concerned, we are just aiming to settle down, steady ourselves and consolidate in the division, and then let’s see if we can push on from there”.
