West Wallsend FC

West Wallsend
Full name	West Wallsend Football Club
Nickname(s)	Bluebells
Founded	1891
Ground	Johnston Park
Coordinates	32°54′2.1″S151°34′42.6″E / 32.900583°S 151.578500°E Coordinates: 32°54′2.1″S151°34′42.6″E / 32.900583°S 151.578500°E
President	Jason Taylor; Keith Couper
Secretary	Megan Crowhurst
Head Coach	Stephen Thomsom (interim)
League	NNSW State League 1
2020	6th of 11
Website	Club website
Home colours	Away colours

Last updated September 09, 2021

West Wallsend FC is an association football club based in West Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia. The club is a member of Northern NSW Football in Australia. The club was formed in 1891 by Scottish miners and is the third oldest surviving football club in the Northern Federation, behind Wallsend Red Devils FC (1887) and Adamstown Rosebud FC (1889).

History

Founded by Scottish miners in 1891 as West Wallsend Athletic FC, they did not compete during the 1895 and 1896 season due to a miners' strike in the district. The club re-formed at the end of 1896 as the West Wallsend Bluebells FC.

Highlights include the club being selected in 1902 to represent Newcastle against Sydney and winning 4–2. In 1923, the Bluebells played the touring Canadian side and won 3–0.

Over the years, the club has picked up many honours and has produced 21 internationals.

One of the club's darkest hours came at the end of 1996 season, when the Federation dumped the club from the top division due to lack of facilities, despite featuring in six grand finals in the previous fourteen years.

The club struggled to regain its place in the Northern League. Its only brief appearance in 2001 saw the club finish last for only the third time in its history and be relegated again.

In 2007, the club won the NEW-FM League minor premiership and was promoted back to the Northern NBN State League, where it finished a credible eighth in the 2008 season and was selected in the new eight team NBN State League for 2009–10.

After a five-year stint in the NBN State League the club was relegated back to the NEW-FM First Division at the end of the 2012 season after finishing last.

After relegation in 2012, the side was nearly disbanded in 2014 when they struggled to sign enough players to form a side. The club has gradually returned to be one of the stronger sides in the First Division Competition in recent years, highlighted by their Grand Final Appearance in 2018.

Ground

The ground is located at Johnston Park – on the corner of Laidley Street and Wilson Street in West Wallsend, and was named after William G. Johnston. Mr Johnston cleared and marked a soccer football field on land leased from the Caledonian Coal company. The park became known as Johnston's park, home of the Bluebells.^[1] He was also the owner of the Johnston Hotel (established 1887, and now the Museum Hotel) which is adjacent to the ground. During the 1920s, the ground picked up the nickname 'Wembley' as the side contained eight internationals.

Rivals

The Bluebells' biggest rival is the Wallsend Football Club. Both clubs have enjoyed success at the state level. However, both have encountered lean times in more recent years. Edgeworth Eagles are their nearest rivals, however since the Bluebells were relegated back to the First Division at the end of 2012, encounters between the side have been restricted to the Heritage Cup and FFA Cup competitions. Adamstown Rosebud FC and Weston Workers Bears are two other clubs who have built up a rivalry with West Wallsend in over 100 years of encounters.

Honors

Northern Premiership (10) 1899, 1902, 1904, 1913, 1920, 1921, 1925, 1926, 1946, 1986
Northern Grand Finals (6) 1921, 1922, 1924, 1985, 1988, 1992
Northern Second Division Premierships (3) 1999, 2000, 2007
Northern Second Division Grand Finals (3) 2000, 2003, 2007
Gardiner Cup (6) 1900, 1901, 1921, 1923, 1924, 1926
Kerr Cup (6) 1918, 1919, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1928
State Cup (2) 1931, 1945
Northern Cup (1) 1931
Ellis Cup (8) 1899, 1900, 1901,1902, 1919, 1921, 1925, 1926
Denton Cup (3) 1897, 1898, 1899
Stevenson Cup (2) 1925, 1926
Daniels Cup (1) 1957

Internationals

Dave Brown
Les Brown
Jack Coutts
Clarrie Coutts
Frank Coolahan
Bill Coolahan
Jack Foster
Keith Grant
Troy Halpin
Frank Hays
Jock Hodge
Charlie James
Kevin Lake
Henry Maunder
William Maunder
Di McLaughlin
Harry Muir
Richard Sneddon
Wal Smith
Harold Whitelaw

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References

↑ "Early West Wallsend-Its People and Places. Page 73

External links

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[1] "Early West Wallsend-Its People and Places. Page 73

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