WHITE NOTLEY FOOTBALL CLUB
White Notley Football Club was formed on the 12th May 1950 when over fifty villagers met in the village hall and elected their committee. A piece of ground was obtained, behind a local pub, and after much hard work the very rough cow pasture was turned into a football pitch. The new club was elected into the North East Essex League and the great day eventually arrived when the team played its first ever game.
The game took place on 6 September 1950, away to near neighbours Silver End, sadly there was no fairytale ending, Notley were beaten 6 - 0.
The first season proved to be a struggle but a firm base was cemented for the clubs future, and they were firmly established on the local soccer map. The remainder of the 1950s proved to be a see-saw time during which the strict rules regarding village players only nearly saw the demise of the club in 1954. This, however, was averted due to a rule change, which allowed three outsiders to play.
The 1960s again saw the club being forced to move, this time to its present home Oak Farm, Witham Road, Faulkbourne. The facilities were very basic, still changing at the village hall and no water, and once again a cow pasture had to be turned into a football pitch. This move proved, eventually, to be the launching pad for White Notley Football Club, with much success throughout the next two decades.
The 1980s saw a Football Club committee with ambitious plans for a proper purpose made clubhouse complete with all facilities, and following years of tremendously hard work by players and committee members alike, the new facilities were proudly opened in August 1985. The beginning of a new era was dawning at an alarmingly fast rate.
As the club prospered on the field of play the decision was taken to apply for entry into the ESSEX INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE. The clubs new and expensive facilities were inspected by League Officials, culminating in White Notley Football Club being unanimously elected to the League as full members in 1988.
1994 saw the formation of the White Notley Youth Football Club, becoming full members in 1996. The Youth section now boasts seven sides running from under 8s under 16s. The youth section plays in both the Blackwater & Dengie league and the Colchester Youth leagues.
1995 saw the addition of our Ladies team, currently playing in Division 1 of the Essex County Ladies League. They started playing friendlies and when the league was formed they were a founder member in the season 1996 97.
With the additional sides came the requirement for another pitch, thus another piece of famous Notley cow pasture was leased and turned into a playing surface ready for the 1997-98 season, another pitch to be proud of.
The 2005/06 season saw the formation of a vets side playing in the Ridley Veterans League and utilising many players from our senior section over the last few years.
This season (2007/08) we have been successful in our application to join the KENT BLAXILL ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER LEAGUE. We hope to have an enjoyable season and look forward to visiting new clubs and making new friends in addition to welcoming old & new faces alike to our club.
Over the years there has been many add-ons and changes to the clubs facilities, but on 26th August 2000 (our 50 year anniversary) the new facilities were opened. Four dressing rooms, re-vamped club rooms, a floodlit all weather training surface and that old cow pasture turned into a football pitch?! Well, it is now generally regarded as the best in the area, coupled with rest of our facilities, and teams we believe our future looks bright.
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