WESTFIELDS FC CLUB HISTORY

During the last 52 years Westfields Football Club have enjoyed a meteoric rise throughout West Midland League football. Both leading up to the Midland Football League and along the way they have finished runners-up twice, narrowly missing out on promotion from the Midland Football League into the Southern League South and West, having finished runners-up to Gresley Rovers and Stratford Town in recent seasons.

Westfields Football Club celebrated their 50th anniversary year in 2015 / 2016. This was coupled with an amazing giantkilling run in the FA Cup. This saw the club go through to the First Round Proper.  Unfortunately it saw us losing in the First Round to Curzon Ashton. However the club was featured as a Match of the Day game at allpay.park in the First Round tie. This also featured Westfields Football Club’s appearance on Football Focus! Prior to that, the Chief Executive Andy Morris, had appeared live on the FA Cup First Round Draw as a studio panel guest in Manchester.

In fact 2016 / 2017 also saw Westfields FC celebrate their 50th anniversary with a celebratory dinner at the Three Counties Hotel, Hereford. Andy Morris was also a guest at the Non-League Paper luncheon at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea Football Club’s ground. It was here he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for 50 years’ service as Secretary of Westfields Football Club.

Other accolades were received during this season as presentations were made by the Herefordshire Football Association, the Midland Football League, Ladbrokes and the Emirates FA Cup Committee to celebrate the tremendous season that Westfields had enjoyed in their FA Cup run which gave them wins over Stourport Swifts, Tividale, St. Ives Town, Highgate United, Walton Casuals and Leiston before they drew Conference North side Curzon Ashton at home then lost in the replay 3-1.

Westfields have enjoyed tremendous support financially by being sponsored by their ground sponsors allpay Ltd who for the first 15 years were also given the shirt sponsors at the club and have given financial help to the club for which Westfields are indebted to Tony Killeen from allpay and his group of Directors for their financial support over many years. Westfields have also received tremendous support from Metclad of Nottingham and the Hereford Times, Hereford along with Life Member Ron Marshall who continues to support the club as he did from the early days in 1966.

Westfields are a club geared up for success with a very strong committee which has been well established over many years and with a ground with an E-certificate for higher graded football. The Hellenic League will certainly be a new challenge for Westfields but the team from Hereford are ready and waiting for the challenge ahead.

Westfields FC was formed. A group of lads from the Westfields area were so in awe of England winning the World Cup that they used to bike down from Westfields to Widemarsh Common to play their friendly fixtures against the likes of Danish Bacon, Oxford Arms, Post Office and College Rovers.

42 years on and Westfields are still going. Elevating to the “Top of the Non-League Ladder” by achieving unparalleled success clearly makes them one of Hereford’s most successful teams.

Andy Morris, as a raw 16 year old Goalkeeper, along with his pals, Keith Scott, Dave Mathias, Roy Chandler and Dave Sockett, can all look back with pride at today’s achievements. Andy is the only one still involved with the Club and is now its Chief Executive/Secretary.

The days of friendlies, Westfields entered the Herefordshire Sunday League.

The first trophy was won! Danish Bacon were beaten in the Division Two League Cup Final of the Herefordshire Sunday League 4-0, in extra time on the Nicholson Fields.

Westfields spent 10 glorious years in the Herefordshire Sunday League winning the Premier Division, the Wye Guild Cup and the League Cup on many occasions, under Andy Morris, player/manager.

The Club joined the Worcester & District League and Clive Trenchard, the former England Youth International, took over as Manager. Westfields then ran five teams, with a side also in the Herefordshire League, together with two Sunday League Teams and one youth side.

A move from Widemarsh Common and the King George’s playing fields to Thorn Lighting’s Rotherwas Headquarters where they slowly developed the ground over many years.  Three years later they left the Worcester District League and joined the West Midland Regional League. Things were looking up and the silverware started to roll in.

The best ever season! They took the non-league scene by storm reaching the fifth round of the FA Vase. Eventually beaten by Vauxhall Motors of Luton after extra time they went on to win Division One of the West Midland League and promotion to the Premier Division.

Consolidated their position in the West Midland League Premier Division and improved their facilities with floodlighting, installed by their landlords, Thorn Lighting.

Clearly their best on record. Westfields beat Kington Town 3-1 at Edgar Street to win the HFA County Senior Challenge Cup and then beat League Champions Causeway United 1-0 to win the West Midland League Premier Division Cup. A memorable season.

Not to be out-done, under the guidance again of Sean Edwards and Clive Harris, they did a League and County Cup double becoming West Midland League Premier Division Champions for the first time and also retaining the Herefordshire County Senior Challenge Cup with another win over arch rivals Kington Town.

Secured a 30 year Lease on a new ground, later known as allpay.park, at Widemarsh Common, Hereford. Funding from the Football Foundation, Hereford 6th Form College and the Beaumont Trust supported the move. Ground sharing at Stourport, for early games in season 2003/04, proved expensive but enabled them to secure a place in the MFA as WML champions.

Manager Sean Edwards totally revitalised the playing standards and Westfields now run a team in the Midland Football Alliance and a Herefordshire Premier Division team in addition to Under 16, Under 15, Under 14, Under 13, Under 11 and Under 10 junior teams, together with a girls’ team, and provide soccer for a wide range of the Hereford community from their new ground at allpay.park.  The involvement they have at youth, junior and senior level has provided them with the basis to go forward at their new facilities forming a superb setting at allpay.park Hereford. 

The first senior Herefordshire club to be awarded the FA Charter Mark. Child Protection Officer and Standards Officer, David Borthwick, worked tirelessly to achieve this notable award.
In the first season of the Midland Football Alliance 2003/04 they won a Team of the Month award and ended the season in an impressive mid-table position. For 2004/05 further improvement was recognised with the MFA Team of the Month award they went on to win the HFA County Senior Challenge Cup and finish in 6th position – another fine achievement under Sean Edwards and Darren Lynch.

Westfields struggle in the MFA despite a good Cup season which saw them retain the HFA County Challenge Cup with a 1-0 win over Hinton.  Westfields fought off relegation with only 3 defeats in their last 12 MFA games. 

The start of a 3 year sponsorship deal with Herefordshire company allpay.net. The club’s 40th anniversary was celebrated with a reunion dinner in February 2007 and a celebratory match against Aston Villa Old Stars to complete the season.  In the Midland Alliance Westfields finished in a comfortable 16th position but suffered a horrific fire at the ground when their 150 seater stand was burnt down by arsonists.  Westfields have now replaced the stand with an impressive new 220 seater stand together with a spectator covered standing enclosure for a further 80 spectators.

Westfields retain the Herefordshire Senior County Challenge Cup with a 2-1 win over City rivals Pegasus Juniors.  Westfields reached the final of the Herefordshire Senior Floodlit Cup losing to Hereford United 3-0. The team also reached the final of the WFA Infirmary Cup and in an exciting final lost on a penalty “shoot out” to Alvechurch after drawing 1-1 after extra time in the final at Worcester City’s ground.  In the MFA Westfields finished in a comfortable mid-table position under the management of Darren Lynch who took over the reins from Sean Edwards who is now the Club’s Director of Football. 

Some interesting news hit the headlines in July 2008 with Prince Harry appearing in tabloid newspapers across the country wearing the Westfields strip! Not a new signing, but a fantastic opportunity to talk about the club in the press and national radio. Prince Harry was having a kick about in Lesotho, Africa, wearing the claret and blue shirts donated in an appeal back in 2006! Hence lots of coverage for our old sponsors, the Hereford Times too!

A dissapointing season in the Midland Football Alliance finishing seventeeth but Westfields bounced back to beat Hereford United in the semi-final of the Hereford Senior Cup to go on and win the Hereford Senior Cup against Bromyard Town 3-0. Westfields also reached the final of the HFA County Senior Challenge Cup but lost on penalties at Edgar Street to West Midland League Premier Division side Wellington. The extension to the Westfields Club House housing a Coach Development Centre was opened and proved an excellent addition to the Club for all the community, coaches, staff and County FA. John Layton was appointed Manager earlier in the season following the resignation of Darren Lynch and proved to be an excellent coach and worked with Sean Edwards the Director of Football.

The 2009/2010 season was one of the best on record as the Midland Football Alliance team finished in 5th position in the League table, their highest ever finish.  In addition, they also reached the Final of the Midland Football Alliance League Cup which was held at Walsall’s football ground, the Banks’s Stadium, Walsall where we unfortunately lost 3-1 to Coventry Sphinx.

In the Herefordshire County Cup we also lost to Ledbury Town on reaching the Final at Edgar Street on Easter Monday.

Despite the two Cup Final defeats the squad played exceptionally well all through the season and were well managed by Sean Edwards, ably supported by Joey Rawle, Darren Lynch and Jimmy Clyde.

Westfields enjoyed another prolific season reaching the semi-final of the MFA League Cup and losing on an exciting 2-legged game with Stratford Town who eventually went on to win the trophy.  Westfields regained the Herefordshire County Senior Cup by beating Wellington 3-1 at Edgar Street on Easter Monday to hold the cup for a record 10th time in their history.  In the League, after dominating a position in the top 3 throughout the season, Westfields fell away to finish 6th following a spate of drawn results which cost them 3rd place which was their aim for the season.  Westfields also enjoyed a run to the 4th Round of the FA Vase, losing at home to Billingham Synthonia in extra time.  In the FA Cup Westfields crashed out in the Preliminary Round to Market Drayton, again at home.  In addition, Westfields’ Hereford Premier Division side had a magnificent season winning the Herefordshire Premier Division title and the Herefordshire FA Charity Bowl.

Westfields again had a fantastic season and were pipped at the final hurdle for the Midland Football Alliance title by Gresley FC but finished in a very commendable runners-up position.  They also won the Herefordshire FA Invitation Final, beating Hereford United 3-2 and also won the Herefordshire County Senior Challenge Cup, beating Ewyas Harold 3-0 in the final at Easter on Edgar Street.  The Reserve Side, playing in the Hereford Premier Division finished in a creditable third position under the managership of Steve Higgins and Anthony Rivett.

Westfields had another tremendous season and after a slow start to the league table went on an amazing record-breaking 28 match unbeaten run in the second half of the season to finish runners-up to Stratford Town by just one point.  Westfields also reached the final of the Midland Football Alliance League Cup, losing 2-0 to Loughborough University at the Bescot Stadium, Walsall.  Westfields also retained the HFA County Senior Challenge Cup, winning at Edgar Street 3-2 over Ledbury Town.  Westfields also played in the Herefordshire FA Senior Invitation Final, losing 2-0 at home to Hereford United in front of a large pre-season crowd.  Sean Edwards, Darren Lynch, Joe Rawle and Nathan Rivers are to be congratulated along with all the players on a fantastic season which again saw the team miss out on promotion by such a slim margin.

Westfields had a great start to the season when they beat Hereford United in a penalty shoot-out to win the HFA Senior Invitation Trophy.  However, in the Midland Football Alliance the team rather under achieved and finished the season halfway in the league which was slightly disappointing from the target set by Manager Sean Edwards and his team.  However, the team won the HFA County Senior Challenge Cup by beating Pegasus 3-1 at Edgar Street in April with one of our best performances of the season.  Sean Edwards, Darren Lynch, Joey Rawle and Nathan Rivers along with the players again were totally committed through the season and enjoyed a trip to the 4th Round of the FA Vase where eventually they were beaten 3-0 away at Northern League side Morpeth Town.  As always the new season starts with much enthusiasm in the hope that we can show more consistency in the league matches and once again challenge for the title.

Westfields finished 8th in the Midland Football League and reached the semi-final of the MFL League Cup where they lost on the away goal rule to Long Eaton United who eventually went on to win the trophy.  Westfields went on to win the HFA County Senior Challenge Cup, beating Wellington in the final after extra time.  Sean Edwards the Manager and his staff and players worked hard throughout the season but at times under-achieved with results.  Westfields also went on to win the Midland Football League Hospitality Award for the Premier Division and the club as a whole picked up the HFA Charter Standard Club of the Year Award at the McDonald’s presentation evening.

Westfields started the season by drawing their best ever crowd at allpay.park when 1,850 spectators watched the 0-0 draw with newly formed Hereford FC.

In an up and down season Westfields featured in an incredible F.A. Cup tie with Kidsgrove Athletic when after drawing at allpay.park Westfields travelled to Kidsgrove for the midweek replay and came from 4-0 down at half time to win 6-5 in extra time with a last minute penalty from Craig Jones who scored 4 FA Cup goals in that game.

Unfortunately Westfields lost in the next round 4-1 away at Barwell when Jon Pugh was sent off early in the game.

Westfields then met Hereford FC at Edgar Street on Boxing Day in the Midland Football League losing 3-0 in front of a record league crowd of 4,380. The season was completed when Westfields and Hereford FC met in the HFA County Senior Challenge Cup with Hereford winning the cup with a 5-1 win.

Westfields FC celebrated their 50th anniversary with a celebratory dinner at the Three Counties Hotel, Hereford. Andy Morris was also a guest at the Non-League Paper luncheon at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea Football Club’s ground. It was here he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for 50 years’ service as Secretary of Westfields Football Club.

Other accolades were received during this season as presentations were made by the Herefordshire Football Association, the Midland Football League, Ladbrokes and the Emirates FA Cup Committee to celebrate the tremendous season that Westfields had enjoyed in their FA Cup run which gave them wins over Stourport Swifts, Tividale, St. Ives Town, Highgate United, Walton Casuals and Leiston before they drew Conference North side Curzon Ashton at home then lost in the replay 3-1.

Westfields started the season full of promise and won 6-1 to open the league campaign against new boys South Normanton.

FA Cup wins over Bewdley Town, A.F.C. Walfrunians, Soham Town followed and another giant killers run looked on the cards but Westfields fell to A.F.C. Leamington from the conference league in the later stages of the Qualifying rounds.

In the FA Vase Westfields reached the 4th round but were surprisingly beaten by Hamble Club 4-1 in a shock defeat at allpay.park.

Westfields league form was up and down and despite finishing with a 4-3 home win over Rugby Town Westfields finished the season midway in the league.

Westfields appointed Andy Bevan as manager and finished a credible 4th in the highly competitive Midland Football League.

Westfields signed John Mills the ex Hereford FC striker but could not get into the promotion race.

However finished the season in style winning the HFA County Challenge Cup with a 6-0 win over Pegasus at Edgar Street, having beaten Hereford FC in a previous round 3-1 at Edgar Street.

Phil Glover took over as manager from Andy Bevan who had resigned in the Summer of 2019. Phil, a former club captain appointed Paul Willetts as his assistant manager.

Westfields were moved by the F.A. to the Hellenic Premier Division with 20 wins from 26 games with 6 draws when the league came to an end due to the onset of the Corona virus.

Westfields lost in both the FA Cup and FA Vase in the early rounds ironically to Lutterworth Town on both occasions.

In the HFA County Cup, the competition reached the semi-final stage with a tie outstanding away at Pegasus when football was ended by the County FA.

Westfields also had to contend with Storm Dennis in the middle of February when the changing facilities and main clubhouse were flooded by the worst ever recorded flooding at allpay.park.

Westfields were well supported by the Hereford County Council, Football Foundation and former players and supporters who set about a refurbishment from donations.

Whilst leading the Hellenic Premier Division and promotion looking promising the results were expunged leaving Westfields bitterly disappointed and having to do it all again next season in the Hellenic Premier Division.

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