1874 Northwich F.C.

History

The club was created on 15 November 2012 at a meeting at Lostock Social Club in Lostock Gralam, near Northwich. Members of the Northwich Victoria Supporters' Trust voted 141–4 in favour of forming a new club, driven by growing disenfranchisement with the running of Northwich Victoria. On the day of the vote, it emerged that the owner of Northwich Victoria had been declared bankrupt (later annulled) and thus failed the FA Fit and Proper Persons test. At an open meeting on 29 November 2012, fans chose the name 1874 Northwich. To avoid legal issues, none of the proposed names included Vics or Victoria. The date 1874 was selected because it was the year the original Northwich Victoria club was founded, or at least when it played its first formal match; that original club became defunct in 1890, and a new club using the name Northwich Victoria was formed from an amalgamation of the original club and Hartford and Davenham United. Fans also voted on a motto, choosing 'Ever Glorious', used by the Cheshire Regiment due to its links with Northwich; the Latin translation 'Semper Gloriosa' was another option. 'Ever Glorious' later became the name of the club's match-day programme. On 3 January 2013, the club was officially registered with the Cheshire County Football Association and applied to join the North West Counties League for the 2013–14 season, being accepted into Division One on 23 May. Ian Street, formerly of Winsford United and Ashton Athletic, was appointed the club's first manager on 25 April 2013, with Lee Duckworth named his assistant three days later. The club played its first match on 10 July 2013, a 3–1 win against Lostock Gralam. Three days later, they won the Supporters Direct Shield by defeating AFC Rushden & Diamonds 3–0 at the Halton Stadium in Widnes.