A RENOWNED Wirral football club still led by a 95-year-old war hero has set its sights on gaining election to the North West Counties League.
Former Able seaman John Dennett formed Ashville Football Club in 1949, with his wife Joyce, from their Ashville Road home in Wallasey.
The club currently plies its trade in West Cheshire League One but has serious ambitions to move up to Step 6 in the Non-League System.
Now the Wallasey outfit is appealing to businesses to invest in the operation and help make the club’s vision a reality.
The story of founder John is a remarkable one. Despite his age, he still lives at Ashville’s Villa Park ground above the club house.
He enlisted in the royal navy aged 17 and served onboard the LST 322 (landing ship tank) and participated in the landings at Sicily, Salerno & Anzio in Italy as well as sword beach in the D-Day Normandy landings.
After the end of the war John moved to Wallasey where he met Joyce and they later married. Just four years after the end of the war came the birth of Ashville Football Club.
From that humble beginning, they had immediate success in the Wallasey Youth league, before progressing to the Bebington league in 1951. After winning the championship, Ashville moved to the Wirral Combination and won the league for three consecutive seasons.
Moving into the 21st century Ashville play in the West Cheshire Division One with the reserves team playing in Division Two.
The club’s application to join the North West Counties League next season is underway, with funding applied for and work beginning to be undertaken at Villa Park over the past two months.
Ashville FC also offer youth football in a fun and enjoyable learning environment for boys and girls from Under 8s to Under 18s. They are multiple FA Charter Standard Development Club of the year winners and continue to improve on their reputation as a great choice for children of all ages to learn and play football at a good standard. John’s commitment to Ashville never stops, he is there every match day sorting out match day sheets and other items that need completing on the day.
John is also involved in the Poppy Appeal and still raises money each year, insisting that he will continue to do this for as long as he lives. He makes an annual trip over to Normandy to pay his respects.
Ashville Football Club have a history of serving the community and over Christmas 2019 embarked on a food collection drive in collaboration with Shaftesbury Youth Club to assist families most in need at the festive period.
With Ashville FC’s stature and presence in the community continuing to grow, the club is offering openings for local businesses to get involved in an advertising capacity.
Advertising boards are available pitch side and match day sponsorship opportunities are available for interested parties.
The club is also seeking local businesses who would be able to provide materials and assist with various small jobs that need undertaking around the club whilst the push for promotion goes into full swing, as well as seeking active skilled members of its growing committee.
The committee is comprised of specialists in different fields from all walks of life. Volunteers with a few hours to spare and a valuable skill that can be utilised by the club are invited to come on board.
Businesses and indviduals interested in being part of Ashville’s ambitious push forward can do so by emailing ashvilleyouth@gmail.com
Visit www.ashvillefc.com for more information.
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