WELLINGBOROUGH WHITWORTH RESERVES

The most recent and accurate history of Whitworth Football Club is that they were formed in 1973 as a result of the disbanding of Wellingborough Ideal Clothiers Football Club. Most of the Clothiers were also playing for the Victoria Millers Sunday Football Club and approached Mr. Dave Woodley about forming a new Saturday Club. The result was the forming of Whitworth FC, with, amongst others, Dave Woodley, Chris Beaver, Brian Higgins. Richard Croxen, Paddy Beaver& Graham Edmunds as the founders.

The club began life in the Rushden and District League with limited success. However, in the season of 1975/76, their 3rd year, the Club were crowned League Champions. This feat was repeated the following year, when in that season (1976/77), the team dropped only 8 points from 30 games. As a result of their success, the Club were moved into the East Midlands Alliance Premier Division, where they played for 8 years. Whilst they never won the title, they did finish as high as 2nd and were winners of the “Munton Cup” on two occasions. On winning the “Munton Cup” for the second time, a piece of history was made, never to be repeated. At a time when Reserve teams were able to enter senior competitions, both our teams got to the final with the Reserves recording an incredible 6-1 victory. Reserve teams were never permitted to enter the cup again.

In 1985, with extensive ground improvements completed, Whitworth FC were accepted into the United Counties League Division One. Over the next fifteen years we developed into a solid UCL club. The first team finished runners up in the 1996/97 season. The Club enjoyed other success having won the Junior Cup in 1995/96 and have reached the Semi-Final on 3 other separate occasions, the most recent being the 2002/03 season. Our Reserve Team won Division Two in 1986/87 and again in 1995/96. They have also reached the final of The League Cup in 1986/87 and the Lower Junior Cup in 2004/05 and were semi-finalists in 1986/87 and 1995/96. Whitworth Football Club also won the “Fair Play” Award in 1991/92

In the season of 2002/03, when facing extreme financial difficulties, the Football Club committee was reorganised with several new faces brought in. That season and the following one, 2003/04, the club spent time defining a new direction as well as creating financial stability. In 2004/05, with a mixture of experience and youth, the Reserves finished Runners-up in Division Two as well as reaching the final of the Lower Junior Cup. The first team finished Runners-up in Division One, beaten only on goal difference by Sileby Rangers.

In 2005/06 we had another strong season, finishing 3^rd.. That season’s highlight being our Christmas Eve home fixture with Wellingborough   Town 2004 where a crowd of 1150 watched the game.

Season 2006/07 was our strongest yet. Under the guidance of Joe Smyth, we won division 1, going unbeaten through the whole campaign a feat not achieved at this level in over 100 years. It was also achieved with a squad whose average age was around 22 years old. Promotion was denied because we did not have floodlights. This season also saw a youth section added to the club with 5 teams in the Weetabix league.

After a disappointing 2007/08 season. 2008/09 saw the club take significant strides in attempting to take the club to the next level. The club installed floodlights & a 100 seater stand, a walkway around the whole pitch ensuring that the ground met the ground grading for promotion should the opportunity arise again. The ground was also renamed The Victoria Mill Ground

The 2011/ 12 season was a bittersweet one as on October 18^th 2011, our clubhouse was destroyed by arsonists, the committee rallied around & thanks to Julian Souster a temporary building was built near the pitch so that the club could function and fulfil the season without disruption. On the pitch, the reserves ended the Season as Northants Lower Junior Cup winners as well as UCL Reserve League Cup winners under the guidance of Martin Goodes & James Daldy.

The 2012/13 season was a mixed one as well, whilst the 1^st team had a disappointing one, the reserves finished in runners up spot. The 2013/14 season saw the Reserves win the Lower Junior Cup.

The 2014/15 season saw the opening of the new clubhouse thanks to money raised by the club alongside money from the Football Foundation. Our league positions this season & the following 2015/16 season were unsatisfactory, including the reserves ending the season in last place in the latter

Prior to the 2016/17 season, club stalwart Dave Woodley passed away but in a fitting memory to him the first team under James Mallows leadership, finished the season in the Runners up position and gained promotion to the UCL Premier division for the first time. The Reserves ended the season in fourth place but once again won the Northants Lower Junior Cup.

Season 2017/18 saw the first team secure their Premier Division status on goal difference and the Reserves ended the season in 11th place.

The First Team struggled in 2018/19 and were relegated back into Division One, with Simon Anderson taking on the Managers role whilst James Mallows had to take a step back under very sad circumstances.  2019/20 Season sees the return of James to the fold, taking on the role of first team manager again, only for this season & the following one to be unfinished due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

The 2021/22 season saw many of the young players that have come through the U16 and U18 Teams over the last couple of seasons playing across the 1^st/Reserves and A Teams, as well as Two U18’s teams. The first team finished the season in 5^th place and in the play offs, unfortunately they lost the final and remain in the Spartan South Midlands League Division 1 next season. The Reserves ended their season in 8^th position whilst the A team finished in 6^th place.

The 2022/23 season was a tougher one than the previous one. The first team struggled to get any positive results in the first half of the season but picked up enough in the 2^nd half to finish in 13^th place.

The 2023/24 season was our 50^th Season as a club & was so close to being a golden season. Despite losing a few players pre season, Manager James Mallows was happy to play a large number of u18 players during the season. We had only lost 1 league game at the end of 2023, then three of the youngsters James had blooded & developed were tempted away by higher level clubs. This affected us for a while & a few games were lost, however James put his faith in some more of our u18 players & we got ourselves into the playoffs after finishing in 5^th place. Unfortunately, we lost our playoff semifinal 3-1 at Northampton Sileby Rangers The Reserves finished in 8^th place.

In this 50^th season, Richard Croxen, Brian Higgins, Chris Beaver & Paddy Beaver are still involved in the running of the club, What fantastic service they have given. The club held a Charity day on Saturday 28^th May to celebrate the 50 years, this was superbly supported by people that had been associated with the club over this time. Thanks to this, over £13,500 was raised & split between two charities with links to the club, Kelley’s Heroes & The Maxwell Mallows Foundation.

The 2024-25 season saw silverware come to the club. Under the leadership of James Mallows once again, the 1^st team won the Div1 Cup beating Desborough Town on penalties with a number of u18 players playing every week, they finished 6^th in the league just 3 points off the play offs. Ian Mason guided the reserves to a 4^th place finish. The u18 Blacks  won 4 trophies, the NSYL South Division (with a 100% record), the League Cup, Champion of Champions & Jayman Shield.. Another Charity day raised another £9000 between  the two charities

2025-26 was not the season we were hoping for with both teams finishing 8^th in their leagues. The season did see the club have a girls team for the 1^st time & a considerable amount of success at youth level with their ever expanding section. In fact for the 2026-27 season, we have gone from 1 team in 1973 to 29 teams, 26 of which are youth teams inc 2 girls teams.

Admission Prices: Adults £4 Concessions £3 U16s Free if accompanied by an adult

Directions: Turn off the A45 onto the slip road towards Wellingborough at the Tesco/Whitworth Flour Mill Junction (not the Ibis Roundabout/priory Pub) – down to the roundabout 2nd exit past Tesco and then first exit at the next roundabout – to the two sets of Traffic Lights (Pizza Hut on your left and Dog and Duck Pub on your right – turn right between Dog and Duck Pub and McDonalds and straight on through the green gates, parking alongside the changing rooms.

Your Content Goes Here