MEMORIES of past triumphs and disasters came flooding back for members and old boys of Upton Athletic Association FC as they celebrated the club's 40th anniversary as a league club at a reunion dinner.
Although the club was founded in 1962, the brainchild of parish church youth club leader Arthur Formistone and the Rev Perris Williams, a curate at the Church of the Holy Ascension, it came of age in the 1964-65 season when it joined Section D of the Chester and District League.
So many players were keen to play that Upton AA Reserves was also formed, but because they couldn't play in the same division of the Chester and District League they managed to join the Runcorn and District League.
It wasn't the best of starts for the first team who were beaten at their Wealstone Lane ground by Waterworks (Chester) FC 3-1 - and worse was to follow.
The following Saturday they travelled to play Tarporley Community, who would eventually finish top of the division, and the Upton youngsters crashed 15-0!
They recovered and a report in the Chester Chronicle on October 17, 1964, said: 'After a shaky start Upton AA are proving to be one of the better sides in Section D. They pulled off a fine 4-3 win against Runcorn Boys Club who were fancied to run away with this section at the start of the season.'
Upton AA quickly developed into a community club with families providing refreshments at games and the club went from strength to strength, eventually moving to the Cheshire County Sports Club, in Upton, and joining the West Cheshire League in which they are having a successful season.
In 1997 and 1998 the club was voted West Cheshire League club of the year.
The club chairman is a former Chester City goalkeeper, John Butcher, whose son Ryan also played for the club until this season, while another Chester favourite, Bob Delgado, was once a team manager.
Said club secretary Barry Gaulton: 'The reunion was very enjoyable. We had a capacity 154 people there and could have sold at least 200 more tickets.
'The club is in good shape and we are looking forward to another 40 years.'
