Flixton F.C.

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Flixton
Flixton FC logo.png
Full nameFlixton Football Club
Nickname(s)The Lions
Founded1960
GroundValley Road Stadium
Capacity2,000
ChairmanChristopher Garcia
ManagerAlex Mortimer

Flixton Football Club is an English football club based in Greater Manchester and currently plays their home fixtures at Valley Road Stadium. The club and stadium grounds were purchased in February of 2025 by US financier Christopher Garcia. The club is affiliated with the Manchester Football Association. In the late 1990s the club played in the Northern Premier League and previously played in the Manchester League, the Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur League and the South Manchester and Wythenshawe League.

Contents

Alex Mortimer, who captained Flixton during the 2005/06 season, was hired in June of 2025 to manage the club.  Mr. Mortimer was joined by Rhodri Giggs, who is currently the club’s Assistant Manager.  Danny Davis, previously the Commercial Manager at FC United of Manchester, was hired by the club as General Manager of Commercial Operations in August of 2025.

History

The club was formed in 1960, playing firstly in the South Manchester and Wythenshawe League before moving to the Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur League in 1964.

South Manchester & Wythenshawe League - 1960-1964

Their time in this league is still unclear, and it is probable that they were not known as Flixton during this time. Possibly played under the St Johns name, a local Flixton club in the South Manchester & Wythenshawe League, and this was the club that many of the first Flixton FC players came from. It appears that the team only played as Flixton from 1964 onwards.

Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur League - 1964-1973

They applied to join the Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur League in 1964 as Flixton Villa but were accepted only on the proviso that they dropped "Villa". [1]

Playing as Flixton for the 1964–65 season in Division Three, their home games were played at Urmston Meadows in Urmston. They won the division in this their first season. In those days, the league didn't have a Premier Division, so Division 3 was the correct division number at the time they won it. [2]

The title was won after finishing level on points with South Manchester, but below them on goal difference. However the league had a play-off if teams finished on level points where divisional championship, promotion or relegation were concerned. So the Division Three title was won by winning the Championship play-off against South Manchester. [3]

They finished Division Two runners-up in 1969–70, two points behind Division Two champions - the original Cheadle Heath Nomads. This gained them promotion to Division One for the 1970–71 season.

Their time in Division One was short-lived as a next-to bottom finish in 1970-71 saw them return to Division Two. They returned to the top flight after another 2nd-place finish, 5 points behind Division Two champions Old Urmstonians. Flixton's final season in the Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur League saw them finish 5th in Division One.

Manchester League - 1973-1986

Flixton then moved to the Manchester League in 1973, finishing 4th in Division Two (the 3rd level) in their first season in the league. There was no Division Two the following season, so were moved to Division One and finished 7th in 1974–75, then 3rd the following season and then 4th in 1976–77. [4]

1977–78 season saw Flixton win promotion to the Manchester League Premier Division by winning the Division One title, 5 points clear of 2nd placed Huntley. In their first Premier Division season, they finished 1978–79 as runners-up to Salford Amateurs. They just avoided relegation the following season 1979–80, finishing 14th of 16 teams, but recovered to finish 5th the following season. [5]

Runners-up spot was achieved again in 1981–82, finishing 5 points behind Abbey Hey. Finishing 3rd, 4th and 7th the next three seasons, they ended their spell in the Manchester League in 1985–86 with another runners-up spot, this time just 2 points behind Maine Road. [5]

North West Counties League - 1986-1996

In 1986 Flixton joined the North West Counties Football League, playing in Division Three in their first season, 1986–87 when they finished as runners-up. The following season Division Three was absorbed into Division Two and the club again finished as runners-up, winning promotion to Division One. In their first season in Division One they finished in seventh place. In 1993–94 they were relegated on goal difference. However, they bounced straight back up when they were Division Two champions the following season. They followed that up with a Championship won in 1995–96, winning Division One, and achieving promotion to the Northern Premier League Division One. They also reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase where they lost to Brigg Town after starting the competition in the second qualifying round. [6]

Northern Premier League - 1996-2000

Flixton finished in 13th in their first season in the Northern Premier League, 1996–97 when they also reached the third qualifying round of the FA Cup. They again reached the third qualifying round of the FA Cup 1998–99. However, in 1999–2000 they finished in 21st place and were relegated back to the North West Counties Football League Division One.

North West Counties League - 2000-2012

Back in the North West Counties League, Flixton struggled in the following season, finishing in 20th place, just avoiding a second successive relegation. After another season of struggle in 2001–02 they were relegated back to Division Two in 2002–03 when the club's main sponsor, the managers and the first team players all left. [7]

In 2003–04 they finished in fifth place in Division Two. The following season though they finished in 18th after having 21 points deducted. In 2005/06, Current manager, Alex Mortimer, was club captain at this time, got them promoted back to Division One(Now called the Premier Division), finishing as runners-up. Along with taking them back up to the NWC Division One, Alex also captained the side to the NWC League Cup. In 2006–07 they finished in 13th place and also reached the fourth round of the FA Vase. In 2007–08 they finished in 8th place. [6] [8]


In early 2025, American financier Christopher Garcia, CEO of the U.S.-based Wilshire Quinn Capital, purchased Fixton Football Club. The takeover marked a new era for the team, following several years of fluctuating performances at the regional level. [9]

Management

Following the change in ownership, former club captain Alex Mortimer was appointed as manager, with Rhodri Giggs named assistant manager. Both appointments were seen as a move to strengthen ties between the club and its supporters by bringing in figures with local connections and experience in English football. [10]

Facilities and development

Facilities and Development

Flixton announced in March of 2025 plans for significant infrastructure improvements at Valley Road Stadium, including the installation of a state-of-the-art playing surface and the renovation of a two-story clubhouse. The development was presented as part of a broader strategy to modernise the club’s facilities while making them accessible to the local community. [11]

Community engagement

Alongside sporting ambitions, the club emphasised its commitment to revitalising local support and fostering grassroots football. Initiatives were outlined to increase youth participation, strengthen partnerships with schools, and create a more inclusive matchday experience for residents. [12]


Stadium

Flixton first played at Urmston Meadows in Urmston before moving to Valley Road.

The Valley Road stadium has a capacity of around 2,000. For a time home matches by Manchester City Ladies. [13]


Various amateur and Sunday League sides have played home games at Valley Road, including AFC Flixton, Withington Posh, Unicorn Athletic, and Broadheath Central, as well as North West Counties side Northwich Flixton Villa before their move to Manchester Regional Arena. The ground is now once again home to Flixton and All their home games.

Honours

References

  1. ↑ ISBN   978-0-9560772-0-2 Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur Football League 1909-2009; Page 69
  2. ↑ "Lancashire & Cheshire League Honours List" (PDF). Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  3. ↑ "Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur League Division 3 Table from the league handbook at Stockport Library Archive" . Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  4. ↑ "Manchester League 1960-1976" . Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Manchester League 1976-1994" . Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Flixton". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 16 December 2008.
  7. ↑ "Flixton Cash Crisis". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  8. ↑ "Northwich Vics sign up to Flixton ground deal". 15 June 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  9. ↑ Fedeczko, Sofia (25 July 2025). "Flixton FC unveils new senior management amid club overhaul". Messenger Newspapers. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  10. ↑ Fedeczko, Sofia (25 July 2025). "Flixton FC unveils new senior management amid club overhaul". Messenger Newspapers. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  11. ↑ Fedeczko, Sofia (25 July 2025). "Flixton FC unveils new senior management amid club overhaul". Messenger Newspapers. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  12. ↑ Fedeczko, Sofia (25 July 2025). "Flixton FC unveils new senior management amid club overhaul". Messenger Newspapers. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  13. ↑ "Manchester City Ladies Football Club – Match & training venues". Manchester City L.F.C. Retrieved 16 December 2008.

53°27′16.02″N2°23′54.09″W / 53.4544500°N 2.3983583°W / 53.4544500; -2.3983583

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