The first record of football relating in the Alnmouth area is a report in The Alnwick & County Gazette of a challenge match that took place in 1897 between the passenger & wagon departments of Alnmouth Railway Station. The match ended in a 4-4 draw.

Alnmouth Football Club was founded during August 1901 as Alnmouth United - an article in an addition of the same paper mentioned above reported the existence of many workmen in the area who were to join together with the natives to form a team to play the increasingly popular game of football.

After having played friendlies for a couple of seasons, the very first being a 0-3 home defeat to Percy Rovers (Duke's School Old Boys) during September 1901, the club evidently felt they were up to league standard and were proved correct as in their first season: 1903/4, they shared the title in the now defunct Coquetdale League. The following season Alnmouth began their long association with the North Northumberland Football League and finished runners up at the first attempt. The championship followed in 1906, 1907 & 1910.

Various reports of early games can be found in the press when among other comments it is stated in a report on a 2-0 victory over Belford that "Alnmouth play by far the prettiest football in the tournament' and "they have a strong young lady following'. They are also often referred to as the "Bonny Blues' and played on the "old pitch' (old pitch even then?) on the links, but apparently in north - south orientation rather than the current east - west.

Players of that early era reflect family names which were until recently still represented in the village, such as Brown, Stewart and Jefferson. The star of these pioneers however seemed to be centre forward Len Purdue, who could, according to a reliable source at the time, have made a living from the game. Another famous player was goalkeeper Alfred H Healy who won Olympic silver for 110 metre hurdling at the Athens 1906 games.

Although still competing, the early "glory years' were not to be repeated until 1959 and 1960 when the club found success, winning the second division title under the guidance of Scotsman, Jock Binnie's former Alnmouth Boys Club side.

The side gained promotion into division one during the early 70's - the culmination of a side with the Campbell brothers Richard (Dick) and the sadly missed Malcolm at the centre of things, while another notable ever-present was John Bound, who has since become the main man at Alnmouth & Lesbury Cricket Club.

After another lean period, the late 70's saw the club again break out of the second division when the junior side progressed to senior age with Robert Taylor and John Hutchinson organising the side at a very tender age.

The return of the Campbells in the early eighties, this time in management & coaching roles finally brought back the division one title in 1986 after an absence of 76 years - the only downside being the necessity that season to play away from home at Amble Welfare due to the constant flooding from the adjacent wetland at Alnmouth's home ground.

After "clerk of works' Robert Taylor's ground-works, the club returned home and were rewarded with the league title and Sanderson cup double in 1993 after ex Alnwick Town "keeper Terry Catlow had taken on the formidable challenge of rebuilding the side from scratch following a mass exodus of players.

Just a couple of years prior was just as significant when yet another return to the club of Dick Campbell, as a player/manager, saw the formation of a second side - Alnmouth "A'. Accepting a position as assistant to then manager Micky Collins, later long serving Alnmouth manager Dougie McEwan began his career with this second string in 1995 and when he in turn took the reigns with Phil Forsyth their young side, largely graduates of Dougie's brother Peter's junior side, began to raise the clubs fortunes winning cups in 1998 & 1999 before accepting "promotion' to the first team for the 1999/2000 season.

Bringing his young side with him Dougie's side finished runners up in division one for two seasons running before finally clinching the title in season 2002/3 along with all three available cups: Sanderson, Anderson & Bilclough - an unprecedented feat unlikely to be repeated.

The ambition to play in the Northern Alliance Football League was realised with this success but due to Alnmouth's notorious lack of facilities it was necessary to again leave home.

Playing back at Amble Welfare, Alnmouth went straight to the top of the Alliance 2nd division & clinched the championship at the first time of asking.

The 1st division was conquered in the same style, creating a record in the area of three successive championship titles and promotions.

Promotion to the Premier Division for season 2005/6 required a higher standard of ground and the club was indebted to Morpeth Town & particularly chairman Keith Jewitt who allowed us to ground-share, but the leap in standard and playing so far away from home, coupled with the necessity due to the prevailing weather to play half of our programme during the final 5 weeks of the season took its toll and while we finished above the relegation places the side fractured and were forced to resign membership before the following season.
The second string were however still competing in the North Northumberland, having added, in recognition of the club's original name the suffix "United', when Alnmouth "A' became a Sunday side.

While Alnmouth had a blank season, Keith Dawson's "United' kept the Saturday flag flying winning the second division title & thus promotion in season 2006/7.

Not content with his Saturday duties, Dougie McEwan, had taken on managing Alnmouth A on a Sunday & won the Morpeth Sunday League Div 4 at the first time of asking in 2005. The side, under the guidance of Davy Dixon & Alan Wallace: now Alnmouth Argyle, steadily rose through the divisions and were well placed in the top division when a player crisis preceded the unfortunate necessity to withdraw late in 2008/9 season.
Meanwhile back in 2004 Dougie had taken on yet another management role at the same time, setting away Alnmouth Juniors, again reaping the benefits as they fed through to the Alnmouth side that rejoined the NNFL Div 2 in 2006/7. Finishing 3rd at the first time of asking the two Alnmouth side's exchanged divisions for season 2008/9 and the first division side were challenging right until the end for the title, eventually being pipped into third spot but had consolation of lifting the league's premier cup - the Sanderson after defeating Berwick 2-1 at St James' Park, Alnwick. It could easily have been a double as the previous week a 3-0 half time lead in the Bilclough Cup was overcome by local rivals Shilbottle CW in extra time.

Once again, however the fragile nature of local football was exposed as a player exodus and the resignation of Dougie McEwan (who left to take up management at Alnwick Town with best wishes from Alnmouth) meant despite our best efforts, the club was reduced to one senior side and as Peter McEwan had also departed management of Alnmouth United to concentrate on the juniors a potential major problem loomed. The club were therefore delighted to welcome ex player/referee Paul Robinson back to the club. He has taken on Alnmouth United with a very young side while persuading a sprinkling of players to remain from the existing side, guided by the experience of loyal ex first teamers Ron Murray and John Wilkie.

It is hoped to re-introduce a second senior side in time as juniors feed through. The club currently successfully operates two under 12 and an under 14 side in the Glendale League, managed/coached by Peter McEwan, Ian Cook & Ian Turnbull. Davy Liddle introduced a groundbreaking girls team to the club competing in the Northumberland Girls League for season 2008/9 but without an entry level league to join, the side is not competing at this time.

Raising the ground level of the old Marine Road ground on the links in the late 1980's, probably saved the club from extinction, although the water returns in wet seasons, the field has remained reasonably dry in recent years following drain maintenance and is still required as a second pitch.

The new ground on former agricultural land bounded by Hipsburn First School, Alnmouth & Lesbury Cricket Club, Steppey Lane and the Alnmouth to Hipsburn road was ploughed, levelled and seeded before tonnes of stones were removed from the surface. Club President, Hugh Philipson, instrumental in obtaining the site suggested naming the ground Hotspur Park in honour of our landlord, The Duke of Northumberland. It was first used February 2008 after taking delivery of a changing block and while the turf continues to establish, it offers a bright future for the whole club.

Alnmouth FC

Table7