Welcome to the Home of Walsham Le Willows Football Club
WALSHAM LE WILLOWS FOOTBALL CLUB HISTORY
The Meadow has been the home of the village football and cricket clubs going back to the late 1800s and the old pavilion still survives on the far side of the ground, originally this had a thatched roof and water was carried across to it by bucket and then a two wheeled hand water cart was pulled across by the players. With no electricity in the original building changing could be somewhat hazardous after the game on a cold December Saturday. Football and cricket were both played at the present ground in Summer Road until the outbreak of war when the field was ploughed up to provide land suitable to grow food on. There is some confusion regarding the road that the ground stands on to this day because the signs erected by the highways authority show different names at each end of the road, Sumner Road at the main road and Summer Road at the village end. Football started up again after the war and was played at Grove Road in the village from 1947 and the club competed in the Bury & District league Division 2. A new pitch was developed on Gallents Meadow in Ixworth Road and used from 1948 to 1951 (the reserve side was formed in 1949 to compete in the Bury village league) when the club moved back to its present site after the generosity of the Martineau family provided the grass seed to reseed the field. Originally the pitch was across the field but upon the resumption of football at the meadow the direction of the pitch was changed to allow a new cricket square to be laid in the centre of the field. The thatched pavilion was still in use and the additions of calor gas for lighting and a calor gas boiler for tea making improved the facilities for everyone. The amalgamation of the cricket and football clubs in 1952 then formed Walsham le Willows Sports Club. The original football stand was built in the 1950s with the new pavilion in 1973, mains electricity was added at this time and the addition of a bar and lounge area followed soon after with the snooker room, kitchen and car park added the following year. The clubs teams have participated in the Bury & District league, Bury Village league, Stowmarket league, Suffolk & Ipswich league and now the Ridgeons league. As a junior side the club won the Suffolk Junior cup three years running in 87-88, 88-89, and 89-90 after being beaten finalists in 73-74. Numerous Bury and district titles and cups were won before entering the Suffolk & Ipswich league in 89-90, promotion to the senior league was achieved in that season and was quickly followed by relegation before we established ourselves as a senior side in 97-98 by finishing in 4th position. League positions then went 3rd and 4th with the league knock out cup being won in both seasons. Current manager Paul Smith was appointed for the following campaign and the league record then went 4th, 1st,1st and 2nd with one league knock out cup victory.
Season 2004-05 was our first in the Ridgeons league and we finished 4th with our first ever Suffolk Senior cup final appearance at Portman Road. The following season cup success was achieved at Portman Road by winning the Suffolk Senior cup in a thrilling extra time 4-3 victory over Capel Plough. A creditable 5th position was achieved in the league and our first ever appearance in the F A Cup. The installation of floodlights, new changing rooms and the 100 seater stand give us a facility to be proud of and in season 06-07 we became champions of Division One after exiting all cup competitions early. Last season proved to be a sharp learning curve with the gap in standards between the two divisions being very noticeable. We finished in 16th position with 47 points and hopefully can improve upon that total this season. We are fully committed to the Ridgeons league and have teams in the reserve section and U18 floodlight league with our “A” side competing in the Suffolk & Ipswich league.
WALSHAM LE WILLOWS FOOTBALL CLUB HONOURS
Eastern Counties League (Ridgeons) Division One Champions 2006-07
Ridgeons Reserve North Div. Runners-up 2008-2009
Ridgeons Reserve North Div. Champions 2007-08
Ridgeons U18 Central Div. Champions 2007-08
Suffolk & Ipswich League (SIL) Senior Champions 2001-02 and 2002-03.
SIL Senior Division Runners-up 2003-04.
SIL Omnico Cup Winners 98-99, 99-2000, 2001-02.
SIL Omnico Cup Finalists 02-03.
Suffolk Senior Cup Winners 2005-06.
Suffolk Senior Cup Finalists 2004-05.
SIL Intermediate A Champions 2001-02.
SIL Intermediate B Champions 96-97
SIL Ryan Cup Winners 2004-05
SIL Division One Champions 89-90, 94-95.
Suffolk Junior Cup Winners 87-88, 88-89, 89-90.
Suffolk Junior Cup Finalists 73-74
SIL Division Four Champions 2000-01.
SIL Division Six Champions 96-97
SIL Orwell Cup Winners 96-97, 97-98, 99-00, 02-03.
SIL Senior Club of the Season 2001-02 and 2002-03.
SIL Junior Club of the Season 89-90.
Bury Sunday League Div Four Champions 2001-02.
Bury Sunday League Div Four K.O.Cup winners 01-02.
Bury Sunday League Div Two K.O. Cup Winners 04-05.
WALSHAM FIRST TEAM 3 LEISTON 2 November 26, 2009
Walsham-le-Willows 3
Leiston 2
Half time: 2 - 2
Kick off: 19:45, Wednesday, November 25 2009
Walsham were at home to there more illustrious and the table topping Leiston Town in the Ridgeons League Cup. The match was an even contest from the start with Walsham putting some good moves together, Leiston then got their game together an went in to a 2 goal lead. Walsham could easily have thrown in the towel and collapsed but to their credit they fought back with two excellent goals by James Attwood and Paul Musgrove to be level after 30 minutes. The game was end to end and the score remained 2- 2 at half time. The second half commenced with Leiston looking very positive but the Walsham defence held firm, Walsham were not giving Leiston any time on the ball and battled for everything, much to the dislike of Leiston as they never had time to settle on the ball, Macanally made two excellent saves to keep the score at 2 -2, the game was now end to end with both sides having half chances, with 5 minutes remaining the Walsham substitute Will Brown scored an excellent goal by chipping the keeper from the edge of the box to give Walsham an excellent 3 – 2 victory to progress in to the next round.
WALSHAM FIRST TEAM 1 HARWICH & PARKESTON 0 November 21, 2009
Walsham-le-Willows 1
Harwich & Parkeston 0
Half time: 0 - 0
Kick off: 15:00, Saturday, November 21 2009
Walsham were at home to lowly Harwich & Parkeston, Walsham took the game to the opponents right from the start, Tatham had a good run but shot wide and after a goalmouth scramble Sim had a shot excellently saved by the Harwich keeper Heard. A cross from Soanes was deflected which brought another good save from the visiting keeper. Walker, Clarke & Sim all had good chances to give Walsham the lead but missed the target,
At the start of the second half a quick break by Hughes for Harwich resulted in an excellent tackle by Clarke to prevent the shot being on target. Walsham were still putting in numerous crosses and corners but could not find the net, Harwich lost there goalkeeper through injury but the substitute keeper made some excellent saves. Deep in to stoppage time following a scramble in the penalty area Walsham were awarded a penalty and after Springett was sent off for the incident Tatham put the penalty away to give Walsham victory. Full credit to Harwich for the way they defended but sadly Walsham could not break them down to score more goals.
WALSHAM 'A' TEAM 11 STOMARKET FALCONS 'A ' 0 November 21, 2009
This is the 'A' Teams biggest win of the season so far.
UPDATE UPDATE!! HALSTEAD V WALSHAM RESERVES CHELL TROPHY RE-ARRANGED November 15, 2009
Will now be played 5th DECEMBER 2009
RESERVES NO GAME 21st NOVEMBER 2009
NEW YOUTH SECTION
A new Youth Section has been added to the Web Site new items will follow on this section.
NEW PLAYERS ARE WANTED FOR ALL TEAMS IN THE YOUTH SECTION PLEASE CONTACT:-
