The club started out in 1969 as Mid Wirral Rangers playing friendlies at a long time deserted Ness ground, with most of the team residing in Burton and Puddington but good friends of Bryan Jones. In 1970 the club became Wirral Rangers FC and entered the Ellesmere Port Sunday League playing its home matches at Ridgewood Park, Pensby. Some success followed in reaching the League Cup Final losing 2-1 to Export Villa at the Ellesmere Port Stadium. Founder Bryan Jones then recruited a former football league player with Bolton Wanderers, John Hayes, to manage the side, which by now had grown in to two teams. All the players were friends of friends with a policy of "no trophy hunters' allowed to sign on. This club was for enjoyment and for the future, not a short term win at all costs team! 40 years later!!!!

Alas there followed a major fall out due to Mr Hayes's rather over zealous approach. He wanted "trophy hunters' and trophies so the club split. Bryan Jones formed Wirral Athletic at the back end of 1971 with others re grouping to form a club called Tudor FC based at the Tudor Rose pub at Two Mills. Both sides played in the Port League for several years before Tudor folded. Bryan managed to continue to recruit friends to join and so a Reserve side was quickly formed and also entered the league, playing its matches at Parkgate.

The following years proved highly enjoyable with annual dinners and in particular annual tours. These were always well supported with visits to Scotland and Yorkshire. Throughout this time Bryan managed to recruit through foul means and fair, several very loyal and hard working people. Phil Mosley had joined as a star Centre Forward and was gradually weaned in to officialdom from which he has never looked back!!!

The club switched to the Wirral League and to Ness Park ground and with hindsight wishes it had moved many years earlier due to the better standard of football at the time.

Bryan then relinquished "control' due to retirement and other commitments. Whilst he has always kept in touch with progress, Phil Moseley took over the reins and has been at the forefront of helping to sustain the club and introduce more loyal and hard working Officials as the years went by culminating in 2011, our 40th Anniversary.

There are full records of the 40 years in pictures, match reports and statistics...they just need to be put together! One cannot thank Phil and all the past and present players and officials enough for preserving the fundamental principals on which the club was founded. May I wish everybody continued success.

Bryan Jones

Wirral Athletic AFC