It’s run on community spirit, goodwill and little money – but Middleton Park FC is providing a lifeline for around 170 players of both sexes aged from four to 47 years old in Middleton and Belle Isle.
Curiously for a club called ‘Middleton Park’, its base isn’t in the famous stretch of parkland, but rather in Cranmore Drive in Belle Isle. Founder Wayne Dixon says the club’s named after Middleton Park High School which used to be near the leisure centre, and also after the Middleton Park electoral ward it covers.
Wayne started the club in 1994 in a bid to get youngsters off street corners and give them something to do. He said:
“I love football, and it all started when I was having a kickabout on some fields in Middleton and some kids asked if I would start a team up. Things went from there. We were run out of my mum’s shed to begin with, then we moved to a big green container. We’ve now taken over the Cranmore and Reylands Community Centre as a base.
“We’re run solely by volunteers, everybody gives up their time for free to run 11 teams. We welcome people of all backgrounds – girls, boys both welcome. We’ve got around 30 different nationalities here. We make this a community space where everyone’s welcome.”
Coaching kids with special needs is in the pipeline. And the clubhouse is also available to hire.
The club will be hosting a club social evening for all the family on Saturday 25th February. Everyone welcome to enjoy the disco and much more from 6pm-11pm at our clubhouse on Cranmore Drive.
For more details about the club visit their website or call 0785 2311717.
