✔902 Yockings Park

Whitchurch Alport 2-1 Northwich Victoria

Midland Football League - Premier Division

Saturday 23rd December 2023

Whitchurch is the northernmost market town in Shropshire sitting on the borders of south Cheshire and Wales. The town is within 20 miles of Shrewsbury, Chester and Wrexham and just 2 miles east of the Welsh border. (population:over 9,000)

It was originally a settlement founded by the Romans around AD 52–70 called Mediolanum - meaning"Midfield" or "Middle of the Plain", as it stood on a major Roman road between Chester and Wroxeter. In 1066 it was called Westune ('west farmstead'), probably because of its location on the western edge of Shropshire, bordering the north Welsh Marches.

There are currently over 100 listed buildings in Whitchurch, including the churches and two of its oldest buildings -  the 18th century Old Eagles pub and 17-21 Watergate Street, otherwise known as Raven Yard Antiques, first built in 1625 as the Raven's Inn.

Whitchurch Alport formed in 1946, named after Alport Farm which had been the home of Coley Maddocks, a local footballer who had been killed in action in the Second World War. They joined the Shrewsbury and District League, winning the title in 1947-48, then briefly moved to the Birmingham League, before becoming founder members of the Mid-Cheshire League in 1948-49.

Mid Cheshire League/Cheshire League(from 2007) 1948 - 2012 

Champions 1969-70 and Runners-Up on four ocassions. 

North-West Counties League 2015 - 2021

Midland League 2021 - present

In 1974 they became the last English team to take the Welsh Amateur Cup out of Wales prior to its becoming the Welsh Intermediate Cup.

Air 2 Root Stadium

Yockings Park

Black Park Road

Whitchurch

Shropshire

SY13 1PG

What a cracking little ground. The main stand sits on the half way line, elevated above the dressing rooms. The clubhouse and club shop are also on this side, with a kiddies playing area in the corner. The covered Aaron Millington Terrace is behind the goal, with a 50 seated stand at the far end goal. 

At the far side are two covered terraces on each side of the dugouts, one of which has a section of seats. In between the dugouts is a clock tower, which sits nicely on the half way line and is quite unique. 

Whitchurch Alport 2(Bower 4 Meesham 90)

Northwich Victoria 1(Perry 70)

Midland FL Premier Division Matchday 15

15th v 13th

3pm ko

Att.171

Spondoolicks:

Admission £7

Programme:none

Pin badge £3

Chicken balti pie £3.50

Coffee £1.50

An entertaining and very open game saw the home team take an early lead when Jacob Edwards set up Harry Bower to fire home in the fourth minute. 

Both teams created plenty of decent chances but it wasn't until the 70th minute that the visitors equalised. Marcus Perry beat the defender, cut inside and fired in off the post.

 There were good opportunities for a winner in the last twenty minutes, and it was Alport who clinched it, when after a goalmouth scramble, Tom Meesham got the decisive 90th minute touch.

#Heedhopper

189 miles door-to-door

 

I started the day by catching the X1 bus to Houghton-le-Spring to travel with Katie & Lee and Hull Groundhopper Dave, who we picked up at Micklefield train station. 

After a tough descent along a stormy M62, we finally arrived in sunny Whitchurch just after 1.30. On arrival I was dropped off in the town centre, while my travel companions headed straight to the ground. I had a leisurely stroll around town and called for bevvies at the Old Eagle, then The Old Town Hall Vaults. There's plenty of hostelries in the town and if I had more time I would have had a canny pub crawl, before walking up to the ground at round half-two. 

Overall a good day out with great friends and a smashing ground to end the year with.