1985-2024

Marple Athletic JFC was the brainchild of Alan Rainford and Geoff Ryan and was formed from Cub Scout Boys who had gotten too old to play in the Marple & District Cubs League. Our first public appearance was in the Stockport Junior Blues 6-a-side tournament on the 28th April 1985. We played 5 games to reach the final where we drew 0-0 with Norris Tigers, only to lose 1-2 on a corner count. The picture shows the team in green kit, a far cry from our trademark red and blue kit which we all love. The Club was later voted into the Stockport Metro League and we played our first competitive 11-a-side game on 7th September 1985.

We have always been a forward-thinking Club and back in 1995 we were fortunate enough to work with the founders of Footy4Kidz, Charles Orr and Shirley Rainford. Both were involved with the Club for many years with Charles as our Football Development Officer and Shirley as our first female coach working alongside Peter Booth with one of our teams. Shirley actually became a key part of Marple Athletic JFC as both our Child Welfare Officer and as a social and fundraising organiser. Our connection with Footy4Kidz remains to this day and any children under 4 years of age are directed to Chris who runs the FootyTotz Stockport East franchise. Chris also coaches our current U15s and had done so since they started with the club.
Leadership has been an important part of our growth and we have been fortunate to have had highly dependable and competent committee members that have been able to run the club smoothly.

In 2014 with Lee Price, our current Chairman, at the helm we were the first club in the area to offer Girls Only football supporting the FA initiative to grow the game for females in football.

In 2015 we were presented with County FA Respect Award In 2016 we joined forces with JWC Sports Coaching who deliver quality coaching to our U6 Development Squad. All their coaches are Level 2 qualified and work with our own volunteer managers and coaches. Most of the children go on to create our new U7s squad each September.

In 2016 we were awarded the Cheshire FA Charter Standard Club of the Year – this is shows that we are a well-run and sustainable Club that gives priority to quality coaching and places child protections and safety for all as paramount.

In 2017 we achieved the Stockport Sports Award for Club of the Year – due in part to our commitment to develop an inclusive environment where children of all abilities are fully supported to develop their skills to the best of their potential.

In 2018 we began the process of amalgamating with Mellor FC to provide a pathway for players from U6 to Open Age. We committed to investing in the Marple Sports Pavilion at Wood Lane, Marple to improve facilities and make this our new home ground.

In 2019 our Chairman Lee Price was awarded the Stockport Sports Volunteer for the Year – Lee’s tireless determination to bring in funding, develop players skills and support the Club’s ambition to become a Charter Standard Community Club has led to this prestigious and much deserved award.

In 2023 Chris Sharples joined the club as Chairman. Chris' role is to help guide the clubs organisation and business development. The aim, to meet the challenges in creating a simpler, sustainable organisation built of over 100 volunteers and 450+ players, in an environment where demand to play is high and facilities limited.

2024 saw our first Club Voices initiative, our first annual Parent Voice survey. Parents are not only our customers but an integral part of the Marple Athletic community. Their voice has to be a key input into the clubs plans moving forward. Plans to capture the players' voice are also underway.

2024 also saw some of our volunteers nominated for FA awards. Iain Wood (“Woody”) received a nomination for his contribution in supporting female football pathways, and Sharon Humphries our club secretary won the award for Changing Lives Through Football. Find out more here...

Marple Athletic JFC

2024 parent survey actions

About Marple Athletic Junior Football Club

FA 3* Accreditation Standard

Club Finances in Summary