A Chester football club is celebrating 25 years in the city.
Newton Athletic FC are planning big events for past and present players, parents, coaches and volunteers.
The Chester & District Junior League finals provided the icing on the birthday cake for the club, as they had four out of four teams winning their respective finals at the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium, home of Chester FC.
There were victories for the Under 10s, U11s, U14s and U17s.
Joint chairman of the club Matt Morgan said: "We are extremely proud to have such a successful season particularly in our 25th anniversary year."
The club, which was founded in 1991 as a junior club, has seen much change over the years and was awarded Chartered Standard Community Club status in 2012 which is the highest accolade for a grassroots football club.
Matt added: “The club has grown significantly in recent years and has over 25 teams and around 350 players from under 6s right through to a newly formed veterans team this year.
"The tireless work of all our volunteers is the reason the club has reached the level it has today. But it is also appropriate that we reflect on the hard work of so many before us, particularly Tommy Hughes (one of the key founders) and, more recently, previous chairmen Steve Jones and Bernard Concannon.
“The last couple of years has seen Newton add a successful men’s team to their already impressive portfolio, having reached a final and gaining promotion into Chester Premier Division. The growth of the club is part of our ongoing strategy to have a club that truly represents the community.”
Club officials were recently contacted by a founding patron who claims to have formed the adult team in 1966, thus making it a 50th anniversary celebration.
As joint chairman Ryan McAlister explained: “We know we were officially founded as a youth club in 1991 but, given recent conversations, there is information regarding a Mr Derek Baker and the original Newton Athletic team in 1966.
“We’ve spoken with local league officials who have told us many stories and memories about Derek Baker and referred to him as ‘Mr Newton Athletic’.”
Anyone interested in playing or volunteering for Newton Athletic should email communications@newtonathletic.org or visit the club website newtonathleticfc.co.uk
