Wickford Town YFC is one of the longest serving clubs in the Community, having been in existence for more than 35 years. Following are brief highlights of the clubs history.

1969

1. A junior section to the Wickford Town F.C. was launched and when the adult club folded later that year, the junior section affiliated itself to the Essex Association of Boys clubs and renamed itself Wickford Town Boys Club.  Team colours – Old Gold shirts, Black shorts and socks.

1970

1. The first Committee was just 4 members – Founder George Merrin, assisted by Reg Bailey, John Carter and Audrey Carter. A single team (Under 12’s) played in the Basildon Youth League.
2. Some years later George Merrin would emigrate to Cairns, Australia where he is in 2006 still involved in youth soccer running the Far North Queensland Football Association. Apart form his regular duties, George organises European tours for his representative sides, which includes here in the UK sightseeing, visiting Premiership League teams and playing friendly matches against Wickford Town and other local teams, so the original links are still being maintained.

1974

1. This year saw the start of a long running friendship with the German side Fortuna Bredeney in the town of Essen, West Germany. Numerous exchange visits and tournaments were regularly held between the two clubs over a 16-year period.  Each year two teams from Fortuna would visit Wickford during the Easter weekend and two teams from Wickford would travel to Essen during the May bank holiday.  Players and officials would stay with host families.  Apart from football there would be a number of non-football social events and many long-term friendships were made.

1981

1. Wickford Town for some unknown reason weren't being invited to 5-a-side competitions so the football secretary decided that the club would run its own. The tournament was held on what was known as the 'Runwell Pitch' in Old Southend Road, a piece of land that had been left to the youth of Wickford by local resident on Colonel Burton.  It is said that before the war both Arsenal FC and Essex County Cricket team played on this site.

1983

1. John Bartlett took over as club chairman, a position he would hold for 11 years.  John retired from the position in 1994 and was elected into the honorary position of club President.

1989

1. The club had grown to 15 teams that required more pitches, more training and more dedicated people to run the club.  Football matters were still split from club matters the small committee would continue to have monthly meetings at someone's house.
2. A team manager had found for his team a kit sponsor; the manager purchased Yellow shirts, Green shorts and Yellow socks.  Much discussion took place at the next committee meeting where the decision was made to adopt the colour scheme as the new club colours. 

1998

1. The club changed its name to Wickford Town Youth FC to reflect the growing interest and involvement of girls and to reflect the non-discriminatory policy in the club.
2. Child protection officer appointed.

1999

1. Formation of the girl’s section of the club.

2000

1. The first girl's football team is formed.
2. The club opened a relationship with the Rotary Club of Wickford and with their financial backing purchased a small parcel of land, known as the Runwell Pitch, on Southend Road (Opposite Hill Avenue). The club purchased this land, which had been used for many years by various Wickford clubs, from Essex County Council to ensure continued playing facilities for the club and its members. With help from the Rotary Club, the ground was developed by cutting back surrounding foliage, re-seeding the central pitch area and adding a car parking facility.  The name of Wickford Town YFC was proudly displayed on a board by the entrance.
3. The club became one of the first clubs in Essex to be awarded the prestigious FA Charter Standard, recognising the clubs commitment towards development and organisation of youth football.
4. The club acquired from Basildon Council a 7-year lease for “Table-House”, a building located in Wickford Memorial Park, adjacent to pitch 7. Previously used as a “holiday home” for disadvantaged children this had fallen into disrepair and been unused for 5 years. With generous help from club members and friends, the interior was renovated and transformed into a mini clubhouse with 4 changing rooms, toilets and kitchen facilities. External redecoration was also completed with help from the Princes Trust.  Table House is open every Sunday morning during the season providing refreshments to players, spectators and match officials.

2001

1. Another great achievement for the club being awarded FA Charter Standard Development Club status.
2. The club moves the annual 5-a-side tournament from the 'Runwell Pitch' to North Crescent School.  No more cars parked on Southend Road causing congestion for 2 days, no more tarpaulins strung between trees as a registration tent and protection for the referees in the blistering sunshine, no more large water containers.  We have a Proper car park, a kitchen, electricity, running water and the luxury of toilets but above all else a safe environment for the young players and visitors.
3. The club Internet website is launched, developed and maintained by a dedicated club member.

2002

1. Building upon the Charter Standard, Wickford Town YFC became only the 2nd club in Essex to be awarded FA Community Club status.
2. The Under 13 team get promoted to the Premier division.
3. Concurrent with the major house building programs at both ends of Wickford, the club sees an expansion of its mini soccer section (up to under 10’s) to 10 teams. Girl's teams expand from 1 to 3 teams.
4. Wickford Town starts its first Veterans (over 35’s) team, playing in the Ridley’s Veterans League.

2003

1. The new season sees the introduction of an Under 18 team and continued upward expansion in mini soccer to 12 teams (plus 3 additional training only squads of under 6’s).

2004

1. Enthusiasm reaches an all time high with an average of 21 people attending committee meetings.  The club appears to be expanding where other clubs are folding.
2. Best year in 35 years for league and county awards.
3. Most of the managers and coaches have attained FA coaching qualifications
4. Richard Neville receives a “volunteer of the year award” from the Essex FA.
5. Most teams now have sponsors for their kits.

2005

1. League divisional honours - U9a Lions 1st, U10b Tigers 2nd, U17 2nd, and U8a Lions Cup Finalists.
2. Wickford Town Youth FC awarded the Southend & District League Fair Play Trophy.
3. Wickford Town Vets awarded the Ridley's Veterans League Fair Play Trophy.
4. U18 team awarded the Fair Play Trophy in their division of the Chelmsford & District League.
5. Wickford Town Youth FC were Runners-up for the Chelmsford & District League Trophy, scoring 8.65 and coming second to a one team club who scored 8.66.
6. At a committee meeting Alan Payne presented a plaque to Richard Neville in recognition of his outstanding services to the club.  Richard had been club secretary for 10 years; he was Instrumental in helping the club to become one of only 82 Charter Standard clubs in Essex and one of only 8 clubs in Essex who have Community Club Status; he had done a lot of groundwork to bring girls football the club; he is still an active committee member and team manager.
7. The Rotary Club offers to pay for the car-park extension at the Runwell pitch.

2006

1. 21st March and the club reaches a huge milestone in the history of the club.  A special general meeting is arranged to discuss proposals to sell off the 'Runwell' pitch and acquire a piece of land at Shotgate.  Proposals were explained and those present voted in favour of allowing the club to proceed.  A dream for many years was finally taking shape and the Shotgate Project was up and running.
2. Dave Boakes - Passed the Level 2 Coaching Course
3. The weather turned the annual 5-a-side tournament into a mud bath but with several rolls of carpet, plywood panels (donations from club members) and marking out 4 repositioned pitches in the early hours of Sunday morning for the second day's play, the tournament was once again an outstanding success.
4. 2005-2006 League divisional honours – U8a Lions 1st, U9b Tigers 2nd and promoted and the Vets team win the Cup Final.
5. The club took up the offer of hiring football ground at Rettendon; the ground was large enough for 3 mini soccer pitches and had a building that could be used for storage and changing facilities.
6. The club is the largest it has ever been with 28 teams and in excess of 300 playing members (11 x 11-a-side teams, 4 x girl's teams, 13 x mini soccer teams).

2007

• Several teams achieved league honours.
• A major down side to the year was and is the ongoing vandalising of Table House in Memorial Park.  This is costing the club many hundreds of pounds in repairs.  TV and media press have given news coverage to highlight the clubs’ plight.  The police remain vigilant to eventually apprehend those who are vandalising the building and surrounding trees.
• The Shotgate Project – 25th September – The Basildon Council Planning Committee approved Outline Planning for the Shotgate site.  The committee had issues with the Southend Road application that would have to be revised and resubmitted.
• The Shotgate Project – 4th December – The Basildon Council Planning Committee approved Outline Planning for the Southend Road site.