The Meadow has been the home of the village football and cricket clubs going back to the late 1800s and the old pavilion still survives on the far side of the ground, originally this had a thatched roof and water was carried across to it by bucket and then a two wheeled hand water cart was pulled across by the players. With no electricity in the original building changing could be somewhat hazardous after the game on a cold December Saturday.

Football and cricket were both played at the present ground in Summer Road until the outbreak of war when the field was ploughed up to provide land suitable to grow food on.

There is some confusion regarding the road that the ground stands on to this day because the signs erected by the highways authority show different names at each end of the road, Sumner Road at the main road and Summer Road at the village end.

Football started up again after the war and was played at Grove Road in the village from 1947 and the club competed in the Bury & District league Division 2. A new pitch was developed on Gallents Meadow in Ixworth Road and used from1948 to 1951 (the reserve side was formed in 1949 to compete in the Bury village league) when the club moved back to its present site after the generosity of the Martineau family provided the grass seed to reseed the field.

Originally the pitch was across the field but upon the resumption of football at the meadow the direction of the pitch was changed to allow a new cricket square to be laid in the centre of the field. The thatched pavilion was still in use and the additions of calor gas for lighting and a calor gas boiler for tea making improved the facilities for everyone.

The amalgamation of the cricket and football clubs in 1952 then formed Walsham le Willows Sports Club.

The original football stand was built in the 1950s with the new pavilion in 1973, mains electricity was added at this time and the addition of a bar and lounge area followed soon after with the snooker room, kitchen and car park added the following year.

The clubs teams have participated in the Bury & District league, Bury Village league, Stowmarket league, Suffolk & Ipswich league and now the Ridgeons league. As a junior side the club won the Suffolk Junior cup three years running in 87-88, 88-89, and 89-90 after being beaten finalists in 73-74. Numerous Bury and district titles and cups were won before entering the Suffolk & Ipswich league in 89-90, promotion to the senior league was achieved in that season and was quickly followed by relegation before we established ourselves as a senior side in 97-98 by finishing in 4th position. League positions then went 3rd and 4th with the league knock out cup being won in both seasons. Current manager Paul Smith was appointed for the following campaign and the league record then went 4th, 1st,1st and 2nd with one league knock out cup victory.

Season 2004-05 was our first in the Ridgeons league and we finished 4th with our first ever Suffolk Senior cup final appearance at Portman Road. The following season cup success was achieved at Portman Road by winning the Suffolk Senior cup in a thrilling extra time 4-3 victory over Capel Plough. A creditable 5th position was achieved in the league and our first ever appearance in the F A Cup. The installation of floodlights, new changing rooms and the 100 seat stand give us a facility to be proud of and in season 06-07 we became champions of Division One after exiting all cup competitions early.

This is our seventh season in the Ridgeons Premier. During 2011 the club achieved the FA

Charter Standard Community Club Award, the main pitch has been drained to improve the playing surface and a new Sunday side was  formed.

The recent development over the road of 3 new pitches, car park, tennis court and artificial grass pitch 50m x 30m was completed in 2012 and provides us with some of the best facilities in the area.

Season 2012 – 13 was our best ever in the Eastern Counties League Premier division with a position of 6^th place and with plans for a further set of changing rooms in the pipeline we hope that we can continue to progress.

Fair Play Cup Walsham B Team 2016-2017

Bill Utting Cup Walsham B Team 2016 2017

Chell Trophy Winners Walsham Reserves 2013-2014

Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup Winners Walsham Reserves 2013-2014

Chell Trophy Runners-up Walsham Reserves 2012-2013

Walsham Sundays Division 3 Champions and KO Cup Winners 2012-2013

Walsham Sundays Division 4 KO Cup Runners up 2011-2012

Hospice Charity Plate Winners Walsham Reserves 2011-2012
Ipswich & Suffolk Youth Football League U18 Division Champions 2011-2012
Hospice Cup Winners Walsham 'A' Team 2011-2012
Peel Cup Winners Walsham Reserves 2010-2011
Ipswich & Suffolk Youth Football League U18 Division Champions 2010 - 2011
Ross Taylor Cup Winners Walsham 'A' Team 2009-2010
SIL Division 4 Champions Walsham 'A' Team 2009-2010
Eastern Counties League (Ridgeons) Division One Champions 2006-07
Ridgeons Reserve North Div. Runners-up 2008-2009
Ridgeons Reserve North Div. Champions 2007-08
Ridgeons U18 Central Div. Champions 2007-08
Suffolk & Ipswich League (SIL) Senior Champions 2001-02 and 2002-03.
SIL Senior Division Runners-up 2003-04.
SIL Omnico Cup Winners 98-99, 99-2000, 2001-02.
SIL Omnico Cup Finalists 02-03.
Suffolk Senior Cup Winners 2005-06.
Suffolk Senior Cup Finalists 2004-05.
SIL Intermediate A Champions 2001-02.
SIL Intermediate B Champions 96-97
SIL Ryan Cup Winners 2004-05
SIL Division One Champions 89-90, 94-95.
Suffolk Junior Cup Winners 87-88, 88-89, 89-90.
Suffolk Junior Cup Finalists 73-74
SIL Division Four Champions 2000-01.
SIL Division Six Champions 96-97
SIL Orwell Cup Winners 96-97, 97-98, 99-00, 02-03.
SIL Senior Club of the Season 2001-02 and 2002-03.
SIL Junior Club of the Season 89-90.
Bury Sunday League Div Four Champions 2001-02.
Bury Sunday League Div Four K.O.Cup winners 01-02.
Bury Sunday League Div Two K.O. Cup Winners 04-05.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUYCPJOahl4

Click on link to see how far the Sports Club has come on over the years thanks to donations and sponsors and of course to all the people who spend valuable time and money at the Club.

Walsham-le-Willows Football Club are pleased to announce that their sports ground/stadium is to be sponsored by Morrish Consulting Engineers for a three year period and will be known as the Morrish Sports Ground. The agreement cements a long term relationship between Walsham-le-Willows Football Club and Morrish Consulting Engineers, who are a long standing local company specialising in the design and detailing of all types of structural building works for all sectors. Managing director Jon Parker commented, “Having had close links to this well run football club for a number of years, we are delighted to extend our association by sponsoring the sports ground. We are confident that this will be of benefit to the football club and community as a whole”.

The club is naturally delighted to have the support of Morrish Structural Engineers as ground sponsors for this & the next 2 seasons and hopefully beyond.

 John & Nathan have always supported the club in various ways but have now made it a long term commitment and will help the club enormously in the financial stability which is always important for any club. Nathan was also a former Under 18 player with Walsham.

 The unveiling was made prior to Walsham Under 18s Suffolk Midweek Cup Match in which Walsham U18s came out on top 5-2 in what was a very entertaining and keenly contested game against Bury Town Under 18's

The youth section are currently running teams from under 8 to under 18 age groups......if you are looking for a team to join or would like to set up a team then please contact:

TBC

Youth Chairman 

Youth Vice Chairman  

Youth Secretary         wlwyfc@gmail.com