Club of the week Wishaw Wycombe Wanderers
We caught up with club chairman Alex Richardson to find out more about the club as they approach their 25th anniversary. Tell us a bit about the history and background of the club. The club was formed in 1994 , only two years after the Ravenscraig Steelworks closed, and the area was in a real depression. Charlie Sullivan and John Stewart decided to start up a football team for local boys.
The club have never looked back and have gone from strength to strength.
I have been involved since 1999 on the executive committee but also as a team coach.
Next year is our 25th anniversary and we plan to celebrate with a number of special events.
Former Wishaw Wycombe Players include Paul Quinn (Dundee United), James Keatings (Hamilton Accies) and Stephen O’donnell (Kilmarnock and Scotland). Our present amateur team are made up predominantly of players born in 1994, the year the club was formed. How many members does your club have? We have18 teams comprising boys and girls, with three girls’teams in our girls’academy, from age 4 right up to age 21. We also have our Saturday amateur team.
We have in excess of 300 boys, girls and young men, as well as over 50 coaches - all parents, guardians and volunteers. Tell us about the leagues you compete in. We are governed by the Scottish Youth Football Association, The Scottish Womens Football Association and The Scottish Amateur Football Association.
Most of our junior boys teams play in the Lanarkshire Football Development Association league, our under-21s play in the West of Scotlandyouth League, our girls play in the SWF Central Leagues and our amateur side play in the Premier Division of the Caledonian League. Is there a social aspect to the club as well as a sporting side? We hold many fundraising events over the years to help fund trips to tournaments both at home and abroad. Through these events we make many long-lasting friendships. What principles do the club represent and promote? Teaching the boys and girls to play and enjoy their football and to play the correct way, also promoting fair play as well as promoting a winning mentality. Are there any particular difficulties the club faces? Cost of facilities and obtaining sponsorship and funding for new kit is our biggest difficulty. We spent over £65,000 last year on lets, equipment, registrations , coach education and kit and we also hold an annual awards night, where our average outlay is over £2000 for trophies and campaign medals alone. We have many local sponsors and without their fantastic support, combined with events such as our annual sportsman’s dinner, we would not be able to survive. How can people get involved with the club? Just get in contact with us through our Facebook page.