Upton Junior FC was initially started in 1992 on the playing fields of Wealstone Lane, Upton. The original players, Jamie Dunning, Matt Howie, Mark Bateman, James D'Arcy, Colin Ramsden, Philip and Stefan Lamb were attending Beavers football sessions when they had to stop due to no adult to run it. In stepped Alan Dunning shortly followed by Andy Howie to start what officially became Upton United in 1993.
Wealstone Lane proved more than adequate with 2 small goal posts already in situ. The goalposts were definitely dodgy but provided the scene for much action. Word soon got around Upton about these football sessions for boys and girls and numbers grew weekly as did the age range.
Upton United's first official match was against local rivals Upton Villa. It is memorable for one thing, the weather. Monsoon is probably the best description. Fixtures soon followed at Mickle Trafford and Tattenhall, where the official first victory was notched. Numbers continued to grow and in the season of 1994 some of our players were starting to play in the Cub Scout league for Upton Cubs. This resulted in a move to Upton Manor School to hold our practices and matches.
The move to Upton Manor coincided with the purchase of our first set of portable goal posts and nets. Every Saturday morning an army of parents would lug the goals from the school store across the pitch and struggle with the jigsaw like contraption. With the purchase of equipment, the club inevitably became involved in fund raising, meetings, subs and a proper committee. No account of the club's history would be complete without a mention of our then long standing club treasurer, Irene Martin, who kept the books with an attention to detail that ensured a firm foundation. But most of all it was the boundless enthusiasm of the children which impressed. We had only been going a few months when we had to move the start time of our sessions from 10.30am back to 10am because the children were so keen to get started on a Saturday morning. Through 1994 and 1995 numbers continued to grow and many more adults were roped in to help - weren't you Terry Donohue, Mel Russell, Donald Carvel, Eddie Karim, Stuart Ainsworth and Will West (who went on to found Pulford FC)
In 1995 we were beaten finalists in the 5 a-side competition at Wealstone Lane. Upton United entered the Chester and District Sunday Junior League in September 1997 in the Under 12 League, thanks to the work of Dave Bateman, Gary D'Arcy and Dale Hughes.
Since 1998 the club has grown at some pace with boys and girls playing in both the Chester and Ellesmere Port Leagues with teams ranging from under 6 through to under 17 years of age.
1999-2000 the Under 14's played on that famous Football League or was it officially Conference pitch in Bumpers Lane, the Deva Stadium. They were in the Subsidiary Cup Final losing narrowly to Newton Athletic 3-2 and even hit the crossbar in the last few minutes.
2002 was a significant year for the club with the merger of Upton United and Upton Villa to form Upton Junior Football Club. This helped make the club more financially secure, and left Upton Junior FC united as one to take on all comers.
Our base is now at The Dale Camp every Saturday during school term 10-12 noon and the club has established itself as one of the major centres in Chester for football with nearly 270 children playing for the club.
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