These are exciting times
at Cresswell Wanderers F.C, the club has been in existence for over 20 years co-ordinating
youth football. Who would have believed back then from our humble beginnings with
just two teams, we would now be coaching and managing no fewer than twenty teams
from Under 7's and Under 18's.
Through
our web site we were able to arrange a friendly match against a youth team from
Vancouver in Canada, Boston in the USA, Bangor in N.Ireland, France and Germany.
There are currently over 250 registered players with Cresswell Wanderers.
Cresswell Wanderers is possibly the largest junior youth football club in both
Walsall and the West Midlands. The development plans, aims and objectives for
the future is to increase it's growth, membership, facilities and support to junior
youth football in the area.
We
would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the parents / guardians that
have supported our teams and the club throughout the season. Not forgetting our
managers who give so much of their own time voluntarily to make all this possible.
Cresswell Wanderers Football Club has twenty teams from under 7's to under 18's. The teams play in the Midland Floodlit Youth League (Western Division), Walsall Junior Youth League, West Midlands Primary League, Lichfield and District Recreational League, Walsall Minor League and Bescot Sevens.
Founded
in 1979 by Brian Orton Licensee of the Leather 'n' Bottle Public House, Mossley,
Walsall, Norman Walker, Frank Totlee (first Chairman), Alan Jones, Ray Shingleton
and Trevor Mellings.
Initially there were two teams entered into the Walsall
Junior Youth League at under 11's and under 12's,
The original club colours
for the under 12's were red and white, and for the under 11's the now familiar
tangerine and black.
The
name Cresswell Wanderers is taken from the road that the Leather 'n' Bottle was
on, Cresswell Crescent.
The home matches were originally played at King George V playing fields, Bloxwich.
Past President, Ralph Pursehouse, became involved in the club and produced the first set of trophies for the teams. He has been an active member and supporter ever since.
Des
Arrowsmith Honary
Posthumous President.
Des devoted a lot of
his time to Cresswell Wanderers. Firstly by managing and coaching one of the teams,
but Des never did anything by half measures and ended up becoming the Club Chairman.
Most unfortunately Des was stricken by illness and died on 18th September 2002
at the age of only 46.
However,
his work will not go unrewarded, Des structured the club to give it a sound footing
and direction for many years to come and will stay as the elite youth football
club of Walsall.
80%
of Cresswell players originate from the Mossley and Bloxwich area. Six years ago,
due to expansion and growth, Cresswell Wnderers relocated to their current hone
ground Cannock Cricket & Hockey Club, whose facilities include 3 astro turf,
1 water based (costing £650,000), 4 full size playing pitches and 2 mini-soccer
pitches.
The grounds are tendered by 1-2 groundsmen and only played on once
a week, hence the excellent condition.
The club has 22 committee members who strive and endeavour to raise funds for the boys and girls. We have enterained numerous celebrities such as George Best, Dennis law, Jackie Charlton, Jimmy Greaves, Rodney Marsh and John H Stacey (boxer) to name but a few.
Over
the years, the club has enjoyed its fair share of success winning many honours
and in the process launched a number of professional careers.
Andy Thompson
(Wolves)
Dean Keats (Walsall)
The current members of the committee are pledged to ensure that the club continues to function in a successful manner both on and off the pitch, with the ultimate goal of owning our land on which to develop several pitches, changing rooms, etc...
 |
