Heswall F.C.

History

The club was founded in 1891. From the 1894–95 season until the end of 1910–11, Heswall played in Division Two of the West Cheshire Association Football League, winning the division once in 1906–07 but not gaining promotion to Division One. In 1958 the club rejoined Division Two, finishing as runners-up at their first attempt. They remained in Division Two until the end of the 1968–69 season, when they earned promotion to Division One as champions.

The club stayed in Division One until the end of the 1981–82 season, then left the league. Heswall made its FA Vase debut in the 1978–79 season, losing immediately to Linotype F.C. in the preliminary qualifying round; the following season they reached the 3rd round, a feat repeated two further times. The 1988–89 season saw the club return to Division One. They became champions of the league in 2004–05 and again in 2012–13, but were relegated the following season.

They bounced back as runners-up of Division Two at their first attempt, then stayed in Division One for three seasons before being relegated back to Division Two after a 15-point deduction for failing to play five games.

Notable players

Alan Reeves played for Heswall during the 1987–88 season and later made over 400 appearances for Football League clubs including Wimbledon and Swindon Town. His brother Dave Reeves also spent a season with Heswall before beginning his career with Sheffield Wednesday. Graham Branch had a career with Tranmere Rovers and Burnley. Ian Woan started his career with Heswall alongside his brother Alan, winning the league before a career with Nottingham Forest, where he was briefly assistant manager but was sacked alongside Sean Dyche.