Bridgwater Wolves FC

Club History

The club originates from a group of boys having a ‘kick around’ on Saturday mornings in Cranleigh Gardens in 1993. The interest grew with more players joining in the fun. The Dads decided that they too could have an input and began to train the boys. The club at this point had no name, no official venue, very little equipment and NO finances. Johnny Warren and John Russell approached St. Johns school and asked if the field could be used as a training ground and over that first year the number of boys and girls attending steadily increased.

It was during the early part of 1994 that the suggestion to put a team into the Tony Pryce Youth League (Under 11’s Division only) meant that the Dads had to get organised and form a proper Football Club. A competition was organised for the boys and girls to come up with a club name. Seven year old Andrew Crockford won the competition and Bridgwater Wolves was born. He also devised the Club logo. A committee was formed and the Club was affiliated to the Somerset FA.

The first season proved to be extremely exciting. Over 50 players were used, ranging from ages 9-11, and the club went on to become that season’s League Champions. With the two John’s concentrating on league games, further parents became involved with training the younger age groups. The Under 11’s went on to join the Lloyd and Whyte League under Ady Clarke. Meanwhile, the Tony Pryce League introduced an Under 9’s and 10’s competition and went from strength to strength - with Wolves teams at the heart of it. The Under 10’s completed the only ever hat-trick of winning the League, League Cup and Knock-out Cup, a record that still stands today. With a large number of players, Wolves were able to field two sides in the Under 9’s League, finishing 3rd and 4th.

Whilst all the football was going on, the finances became somewhat stretched. Until this point, NO child had contributed to the cost of running the club. A fundraising event was needed to keep the bank balance in the black and so, in July 1995, Wolves held their first ever 6 a side tournament. This was held at St. Johns school and was a resounding success. The profit of just over £200 was enough to ensure the club’s survival for another few months.

The main two organisers felt that they needed much more support and enlisted a full committee, including a fundraising sub-committee. Social functions and sponsored events were arranged and the club became settled and financially buoyant. The 6 a side tournament became, and still is, one of the most respected in Somerset and on 7th July 2002 had over 115 teams competing in eight age groups.

Wolves have become one of the most successful and established clubs in the area. They currently have teams competing in the U8’s, U9’s and U10’s of the Tony Pryce League as well as U11 to U15 teams in the Lloyd and Whyte League. In the past 9 years, Wolves have won 11 League titles and finished Runners up on 7 further occasions. There have also been 15 Cup Final appearances, 7 of them victorious.