Walsham-le-Willows F.C.

Walsham-le-Willows Football Club is a football club based in the village of Walsham le Willows in Suffolk, England. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Summer Road. The club is affiliated to the Suffolk County FA.

Walsham-le-Willows
Full nameWalsham-le-Willows Football Club
Nickname(s)The Willows
Founded1890
GroundSummer Road, Walsham le Willows
ChairmanKeith Mills
ManagerTrevor Collins
LeagueEastern Counties League Premier Division
2019–20Eastern Counties League Premier Division (season abandoned)

History

Walsham-le-Willows F.C. was founded around 1890, and played at the Summer Road sports ground where there was a pavilion with a thatched roof.[1] During World War II, the ground was ploughed up to grow food and was not returned to sports use until 1951.

The club was a founder member of the St. Edmundsbury Football League in 1907 and won the Suffolk Junior Cup in 1988, 1989 and 1990. After winning several league titles, the club switched to the Suffolk and Ipswich League in 1989. It won the Senior Division in 2001–02 and again in 2002–03. In the following season, the club finished second, but earned promotion to Division One of the Eastern Counties League.

The club finished fourth in their first season in the division, narrowly missing out on promotion.[2] They also reached the final of the Suffolk Senior Cup, losing 2–1 to Needham Market.[2] The following season, they reached the final again, this time beating Capel Plough 4–3 after extra time.[3] In 2006–07 the club won Division One, and were promoted to the Premier Division.[4]

Ground

The club play at Summer Road, a sports ground shared with Walsham-le-Willows Cricket Club and Walsham-le-Willows Bowls Club. The ground is managed by Walsham-le-Willows Sports Club.[5]

Honours
  • Eastern Counties League
    • Division One Champions 2006–07
  • Suffolk & Ipswich League
    • Senior Division Champions 2001–02, 2002–03
    • League Cup Winners 1999, 2000, 2002
  • Suffolk Senior Cup
    • Winners 2006
  • Suffolk Junior Cup
    • Winners 1988, 1989, 1990

Records
  • Best FA Cup performance: Preliminary round, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12[4]
  • Best FA Vase performance: Second round, 2010–11, 2013–14[4]

See also
  • Walsham-le-Willows F.C. players

References
  1. Walsham le Willows Football Club History Walsham-le-Willows FC
  2. Needham win Suffolk Senior Cup Evening Star, 6 May 2005
  3. Walsham take the cup East Anglian Daily Times, 12 May 2006
  4. Walsham-le-Willows at the Football Club History Database
  5. Sports Club – Walsham le Willows Walsham-le-Willows Parish Council

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