Littleport Town Football Club :: The FA Charter Standard Club

Since 1906 Littleport Town Football Club has been enjoying the 'beautiful game' at county level with some significant successes along the way. We have achieved the FA Charter Standard, receiving the certificate in 2006. Port FC have teams from Mini Soccer Under 7s all the way through Colts League up to Seniors. It's easy getting involved with football at Littleport Town so enjoy a few moments discovering more through this website.

Formed officially in 1906 the Club did play a season of friendlies in 1905 before becoming Littleport Town FC the following season. They played at a few different grounds before local farmers, Martin and Sons, leased them the Highfield playing field where they played for many years.
During this period Port enjoyed moderate success, always having to compete for players with local sides Soham and Ely. In the seasons 1963-64 and '64-65 Port had arguably their best ever team winning the Division 1 and Junior Cup double (A feat equalled in 1997-98).
They followed this by winning the Cambs Premier League for the only time in their history.
Managed by Jock Finlay, the team included ex-Newcastle United player George King and ex-Tottenham goalkeeper Barry Smart, plus players from all reaches of the county along with a few home grown members.
Sadly for the Club, the team broke up the following year and Port struggled until the late 1970s and early 1980s when Port once again established themselves in the top league.
Sadly, a slide down the leagues into Division 2 soon followed.

In 1994-95 Port moved to their new ground at Camel Road Leisure Centre and promptly won the Division 2b title. 1997-98 saw the start of the current set-up and they won Division 1b gaining promotion to Senior B.Promotion after their second season saw Port promoted to Senior A where they stayed for four seasons finally winning the Senior A title in 2003-2004 to return to the Premier league after an absence of 20 years. From then on the first team has managed to finish in the top five each season. Last season, 2006-2007, saw Port finish fourth and qualify for the Cambs Invitation Cup for the first time in the Club's history.Since 1997 Port have offered Junior football. Mini Soccer and Colts sides have enjoyed their fair share of on pitch success, including league and cup wins in A, B, C and D leagues. The 2001 under 8s also acquired the Mini Soccer Fairplay award.
One of our most notable Juniors, Scott Mitchell, has risen through the ranks to play for Ipswich Town's first team before a move to Scotland's Livingston. Scott is now a popular member of the Peterborough squad.
The period since 1997 to the present season has seen the Club appear in numerous other cup finals including: the Senior B league cup final, two Senior A cup finals, two Premier league cup finals and the Cambs Challenge cup final, unfortunately without a win.

Of the current squad, some came with the current manager from Ely City in the 1997-98 season with others filtering through the Club's youth teams. Alan White and David Cullum came from Ely in that first season with Dave Beeton and Nige Smith coming two years later. Matty Parry, Matty Nixon, Sean Ambrose and Ben Layn also started in that first season of 1997-98. Kevin Hills, Andrew Francis, Chris Lupson, Luke Butcher, Martin Hampshire, Carl Ryan, Jack Jordan all coming through the youth teams. Will Ludbrooke and Jamie Linney arriving via Haddenham and Little Downham respectively. Dave Cullum Snr is the longest serving manager in the Club's history, having overseen the last ten seasons.

Brief timeline: 1905 – FIRST FRIENDLIES. 1906 – FORMED. 1964 – LEAGUE & CUP DOUBLE. 1994 – ARRIVAL AT CAMEL ROAD. 1997 – JUNIORS JOIN CLUB. 1998 – SECOND LEAGUE & CUP DOUBLE. 2004 – SENIOR A TITLE. 2006 – FA CHARTER STANDARD.

League: PREMIER LEAGUE 1964-65. SENIOR A 2003-04. DIVISION 1 B 1963-64, 1997-98. DIVISION 2 B 1994-95. DIVISION 3 1926-27

Cup: JUNIOR CHALLENGE CUP 1963-64, 1997-98. NORTH CAMBS CHALLENGE CUP 1971-72. CREAKE SHIELD 2006-2007. SNAILWELL CUP 2001-02, 2002-03

Presidents: John crane, Mick Willett, Richard Lee, Ronnie Fancis. Chairman: Bob Bowditch. Vice-Chairman: Dave Cullum. Club Secretary : Carol Clark. Treasurer: Sue Leonard. Colts Secretary: Debbie Middleton. Welfare Officer : Nick Evans.

The FA Charter Standard Clubs programme, supported by FA Community Partner McDonald's, was launched in February 2001 and is a core component of The FA Football Development programme.

The project is aimed at all clubs outside the Football League and Premier League, and has been implemented for the benefit of players, children and parents looking to find a club in their local area that meets FA standards..

The FA, in conjunction with various bodies, has drawn up the following set of criteria for clubs wishing to reach Charter Standard:
• A written constitution
• FA CRB checked volunteers
• All managers to have minimum of FA
Level 1 Coaching Course
• Commitment to attend in-service training
• Acceptance and promotion of Codes of Conduct
• Commitment to provide Mini-Soccer opportunities
for Under 10s
• Commitment to promote schools liaison and equal opportunities for all

Clubs that are successful in achieving the Charter
get access to a range of benefits:
• Use of Charter Standard Crest
• Exclusive Workshops
• Umbro Kit and Equipment Grants
• National and Regional Awards
• Access to FA McDonald's coaching awards
Certificates
• Starter Pack, including posters, Codes of Conduct, Certificates.

Whether you're already a qualified coach or a parent with the desire to become so, we would appreciate your help. Please email us at support@portfc.co.uk and tell us what you can offer and we'll be pleased to chat with you.

Seeing your company or brand in the newspaper on a football strip is one of the easiest and most cost effective means of advertising. You will also enjoy the experience of adding value to the Club, supporting grassroots football – something The FA is encouraging with additional vigour at present – and helping children develop their social and physical skills. Please email us on support@portfc.co.uk to find out more.

HOW TO GET TO OUR GROUND

Littleport Sport & Leisure Centre, Camel Road, Littleport, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB6 1PU

The main entrance to the site is on Camel Road, which can be accessed from the main A10 road (Littleport By-pass), or by turning off Wisbech Road almost opposite the Littleport Parish Church.

A little about the Leisure Centre...
The main building houses two sports halls, two squash courts, a fitness suite, a function room, changing facilities plus two bars and catering facilities and is very pleasantly situated amidst 36 acres of very well maintained sports and playing fields.

A little about Littleport...
Littleport is located in the eastern part of Great Britain, on the edge of a very flat area known as the fens. It is 5 miles north of the cathedral city of Ely and 20 miles north of the university city of Cambridge. A man named William Harley was born in 1835, in a house in Victoria Street, Littleport. His son went on to form the Harley-Davidson Motor Company with Arthur Davidson in 1903.

A statue of a Harley-Davidson Motor cycle is situated in Littleport to commemorate his connection with the village.

Click here for a map to get you to us >

If you are interested in playing for Littleport Town FC please contact Nick Evans on 07999 966299 or via email to Debbie Middleton at: play@portfc.co.uk

Our grounds are based at:
Littleport Sport & Leisure Centre, Camel Road, Littleport, Cambridgeshire CB6 1PU

Access Facilities:
Disabled parking bays
Disabled toilet without alarm
Handrails
Wheelchair access ramp.

For comments regarding the design and technical aspects of this website, please contact: mike@appealing.co.uk