Widnes F.C.

Did You Know?

• The club's record league victory is 8–0 against St Helens Town on 8 April 2017.
• The highest home attendance at DCBL Stadium was 882 vs. Trafford FC on 26 April 2025.

History

Widnes Football Club began life in February 2003 as The Dragons A.F.C., a local junior side set up by former secretary Bill Morley. The club’s work in grassroots football earned it the FA Charter Standard Development award in 2008. In March 2012, Widnes Dragons started talks with Widnes Vikings RLFC about joining the Vikings Sports Brand, a move aimed at boosting the club’s community profile. At the annual general meeting on 10 July 2012, members voted unanimously to become part of the Widnes Sports Group, agreeing to a 12-month transition that ran through the 2012–13 season.

The following season, 2013–14, the club—now called Widnes Vikings FC—entered the football pyramid in the North West Counties Football League Division One. In March 2014, an extraordinary general meeting saw members vote unanimously to drop the Vikings brand and restructure. The club was renamed Widnes Football Club, a name meant to reflect its local roots and build a fresh identity for the community and young players. In 2016, Ian Ross became chairman and a board of directors was formed.

Danny Meadowcroft and Brian Pritchard took over as joint managers from Steve Hill, but after a shaky start they were replaced by Joey Dunn. Under Dunn, Widnes won the North West Counties Football League Division One title with a game to spare, sealing it with a 5–1 victory at AFC Blackpool. In summer 2017, the club started rebuilding its youth setup, adding a development squad and two junior teams at Under 7 and Under 9 levels.