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Aylsham Wanderers started life in 1946 as Aylsham Boys Club, the founders of
the club being William Holman, a local businessman and Jimmy Williamson. A group
of local boys who met weekly at the local scout hut to play snooker and darts
needed little persuasion when a suggestion was made by one of the boy’s father
that there were enough members to form a football team. In that first year they
played their home games on a pitch on Cromer road and played friendly matches
against other local sides and in 1947 changed their name to Aylsham Wanderers.

The club was elected into the Reepham & District League for the 1948-49 season
and moved to a new “pitch” (meadow) on the Cawston road, on land owned by local
farmer Mr Monk. The changing facilities consisted of a bell tent, with the pitch
being marked out every Saturday morning by club members after the livestock
had been cleared. In 1950 they again had to find a new home, but did not have
to move far as another local farmer, Mr Tom Purdy allowed them use of his meadow
on the other side of Woodgate Lake where they played for two seasons.

The start of the 1952-53 season saw them move once more when they were offered
the use of the pitch at the Recreation ground after the sad demise of Aylsham
Town and here we have remained until the present day. The club progressed through
to the old Norfolk and Suffolk League before joining the Anglian Combination
in its inaugural season in 1965.Ivan Williamson, one of the original players
& son of founder Jimmy Williamson is still involved as Vice Chairman of the
club today, having previously followed in his father’s footsteps as Chairman
and also as Secretary and whom we thank for providing so much information for
this site. Wanderers have three times graced the hallowed turf of Carrow Road,
the first occasion in 1957 when we played Little Melton in the final of the
Norfolk Junior Cup and played out a 3-3 draw. The replay was at the same venue
but the match was lost by two goals to one. It was another forty years before
the club was to have another bite of the cherry, again it was the Norfolk Junior
Cup final. The opponents this time being Wells Town and after one of the most
exciting County Cup finals ever seen, we returned home once again without the
Cup as we lost 6-5 after extra time.

The 1976-77 season saw “local boy made good” Clive Payne, return to his grass
roots when the ex-Norwich City and Bournemouth player took on the role of player/manager
after having to give up the Professional game due to injury. Under his guidance
Wanderers reached Senior football for the first time in their history with successive
promotions taking them up to the 1st Division of the Anglian Combination. In
1977 we also reached the County Junior Cup semi-final, only to lose to Sprowston
Athletic, who were ironically managed by Albert Bennett, another ex-Norwich
City player. After relegation, Wanderers returned to Senior football after being
crowned Division 2 Champions in the 1987-88 season with present Yarmouth Town
manager Paul Tong at the helm, with the Reserve side also winning the Reserve
Division 2 title in the same year.
A successful 2001-2002 season saw Wanderers, under the guidance of Shane Lutkin
promoted to Division 2 as we finished runners-up to Gayton and the club is looking
forward to another successful campaign.
Information from
www.btinternet.com/~neil.sutton/football/ where you can find full
information on the Aylsham Wanderers
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