SPROWSTON WANDERERS – A BRIEF HISTORY (part one)

SPROWSTON WANDERERS FOOTBALL CLUB first registered with the Norfolk County F.A. in 1964 entering the Norwich Business Houses League. Within two years we had become a force to be reckoned with and in 1967 not only won the Shoe Trades Cup but also beat Thurton and Ashby 7-2 to win the Norfolk Primary Cup.

    In season 1972/72 the Club joined the Anglian Combination and were promoted from Division 3 in the first year. This was followed by relegation then promotion in successive seasons. 1972 also saw the second County Cup win when beating Town Hall 2-1 we claimed the Norfolk Junior Cup.

The Saturday Reserve team entered the Anglian Combination in 1975 and won Division 3 at the first attempt.

    Since then both Saturday sides have moved between Divisions 2 and 3 of their respective competitions without achieving major honours. In the early eighties a third Saturday side was formed and this functioned successfully in the Business Houses League until it was disbanded in 1986.

The Club first got involved with the Sunday Football in 1972 and the team worked steadily through the divisions of the Norwich Sunday League until 1978 when, by winning Division 3, the Club gained senior status, a position we have retained to the present day. A Sunday Reserve ream entered the League in 1981 but over the years has been unable to make any real impact.

    At the start of the 1988/1989 season Wanderers severed its long connection with Sprowston Recreation Ground and moved to the Sprowston Cricket Ground at Barkers Lane to begin what we are sure will be a long and fruitful association between the two Clubs.

    The policy of Sprowston Wanderers throughout its existence has been one of providing games of football for those players who want to play for this Club and not one of pursuing success on the field at all costs. We believe this attitude has helped to build the Club into one which is strong on the old fashioned ideals of Club spirit and loyalty.

                                                                                           Courtesy of Alan Reynolds