Waldridge Park JFC

Waldridge Park JFC is a local amateur football club located within Chester-Le-Street. Founded in 1988 by a number of parents.

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Alan Harman started the club as chairman with Malcolm Cole as secretary and Gordon Catterell as coach. It was basically formed in Barford Drive where all three families lived, their boys would play on the grass in the cul de sac until some neighbours complained. Alan, Malcolm and Gordon suggested they bring friends over to the Hermitage field one evening, several children from the estate turned up and initially it was for children from the estate. The three founders attended a Russell Foster meeting in June and Alan takes up the story: "We foolishly said we were a new team although we had nothing. By August we needed a pitch, strips, nets etc. We did not charge a monthly fee like now we raised money through donations raffles. I contacted my friend Peter Beardsley and asked if he could help, he donated a signed Liverpool shirt which after being featured in an article in The Evening Chronicle (I have copies) was sold for £400 which gave us a start. Full circle my grandson plays for the club and lives in our old close".

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We would welcome more information from the early trustees on the history of those first few seasons.

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The club has a rich history over it’s 30+ year life span. Within the club we have many individual teams aged from under 8 to our adult teams! The club follow a great philosophy of all players are given the same brilliant support and treatment regardless of who they are or what they believe in. We are massive believers in measuring success with the amount of smiles we receive.