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The Origins of Wirral A C

Most athletic clubs are founded by dissatisfied members of an existing club and Wirral AC is no exception. The existing club in this case was West Cheshire Harriers, which, it should be said, has no connection with today's West Cheshire A C. The source of the dissatisfaction was a dispute which had rumbled on for years at national level between the AAA and the National Cyclists Union about the the promotion of running events involving professional athletes by the NCU. This came to a head in 1910 resulting in the formation of a new athletic organisation, the National Athletic Union mainly involving Northern clubs and promoters, whose aim was to control both amateurs and professionals. The breakaway group who formed Wirral AC were supporters of this movement as the flyleaf of the first minute book proclaims:

"Wirral Athletic Club (members of the National Athletic Union) Founded 15 May 1911"

At first committee meeting on Oct 11th 1911, the Honorary Secretary, Frank Lathom, was elected to be the club's representative on the NAU. However within a few months, following secret negotiations, the AAA and the NCU settled their differences and with this agreement the support for the NAU evaporated. Wirral AC also bowed to the inevitable, with the second AGM on Sept 18th 1912 agreeing that the rules were passed with AAA substituted for NAU. Overtures from West Cheshire Harriers suggesting amalgamation were declined and after what must have been a roller-coaster ride for the officers in the first year, the club was on its way. In fact the club had been on its way for some time. It had already won the Liverpool & District Cross Country team race in 1912, placing 6 counters in the first 8 including the winner, Sep Francom. The other counters were A Bethel (2nd), H Davies (5th), G Jenkinson (6th), Lance Finlay (7th) and Eddie Curran (8th). The team with some officers who presumably include the first President, Mr E Battersby, and the Hon Secretary and Treasurer, Frank Lathom, are pictured below. The sharp-eyed will recognise the Oval stand in the background. Incidentally, the team are wearing the first official club vests, blue vests bearing the letters W A C. The present green and white hoops were not adopted until the late 1920s.