A Brief History
05 Sep 2008

Weeley Athletic Football Club
- A Brief History
There are no known records of when the club was formed, but newspaper reports show the club played friendly matches from 1920 until they joined the Tendring Hundred League in 1922-23 season, playing their home matches on farmer W.Darkins field, where the caravan site now stands. At some stage in the 1920’s they moved to a different ground down Church Lane, which was owned by Squire Weeley.The club apparently had no success until after the Second World War. The club were reformed in 1947 playing on a another ground at the Millfield in Rectory Road. This pitch was under the regulation size, as it tapered in at one end !

During the fifties the club became the top junior side in the Clacton area, becoming Champions on three occasions & Runners Up four times, League Knock Out Cup Winners three times & Charity Cup Winners once & Runners Up on three occasions . In 1957-58 they became the only ever club to lift all three trophies in the same season. Roger Wilkin played a major role in Weeley’s success & held the post of secretary for fifteen years, while Ron Bakker was a prolific goalscorer of his time.

In 1958 the club moved to their present site, the village playing field & used the village hall or Royal British Legion Hall for changing rooms, until 1982 when the present clubhouse was erected.

The club started up the Reserve side in 1962 which entered the Colchester & East Essex League. Eventually the First team took their place in 1965 in Division 4 with the Reserves dropping down to Division 5. The side progressed up to the Premier Division, winning the Amos Cup in 1982-83. Again Weeley were privileged to have another outstanding goalscorer in Dave Kerridge who holds the club record of scoring 83 goals in the 65-66 season.

In 1987 the first team entered the Essex & Suffolk Border League & were followed by the Reserves in 1994. In 92-93 the Reserves were Essex Junior Trophy Area Winners & the First team were Junior Cup Area winners in 94-95.The changing rooms were up graded at the start of the 97-98 season in order for the club to obtain Intermediate Status which took effect from the 98-99 campaign.

The club has three long serving members Treasurer & First team linesman Brian Reed Secretary Gordon Mead began playing in 1969, making over 500 appearances & scoring over 350 goals. President Brian Allen became Vice Chairman in 1992 & Chairman from 1995-2007
The 2001-02 season saw the club compete in the Border League Premier Division for the first time. The club made the move from the village to The Vista Road Recreation Ground, Clacton in 2003-04. They can now boast the best playing surface in the area and have the use of the impressive Clacton Leisure Clubhouse facility.