Wallasey Harriers

The first annual general meeting of the Wallasey Harriers was held at the headquarters, Oarside Farm on Wednesday 26 September 1906. There were a number of Harrier clubs in the Wallasey area at that time, and Wallasey Harriers was formed by the members of Liscard Congregational Harriers, named after the church of the same name situated on Rake Lane. The club moved a short distance to Oarside Farm on Mount Pleasant Road, whose location at that time was described as being on the edge of the country. Mr F C O'Connell was the first President of the Club, and he was also the President in 1908 when the club amalgamated with Homecroft Athletic Club to form the renamed Wallasey Athletic Club. The photo on the right is thought to be one of the oldest known photographs of Wallasey Harriers, taken before the amalgamation with Homecroft Harriers in 1908, and includea many of the founder members. AG Nicholson (with moustache) is standing 2nd from the right, and Bob Young is standing 4th from the right. The Club started as Harriers, running over the country between the months of September and April when the farmers allowed the participants to run across their fields. In later years athletics became a major activity within the Club.

Several Changes

The original name was Wallasey Harriers. On 16 September 1908 Wallasey Harriers amalgamated with Homecroft Athletic Club to form Wallasey Athletic Club. In 1913 the name was recorded as Wallasey Harriers and Athletic Club. At a special General Meeting on 24 January 1921 it was proposed and carried that the club become the Wallasey Branch of an Amalgamation of clubs called the Hercules Athletic Club. At the AGM OF 7 October 1926 it was proposed that the club revert back to the Wallasey Harriers and Athletic Club. The photo shows an embroidered club badge.

Green, flame, scarlet and red

Recorded in 1914 as being green jersey and white knickers with letter “W”. At the AGM OF 7 October 1926 it was proposed and carried, “that the colours of flame coloured singlet with blue facings and letter, and red shorts be adopted as the uniform.” This was eventually changed to scarlet and in 2004 red. The photo shows an old club vest from the 1960's.

Wallasey Runners

Runner profiles can be found using the link below and include appearance details, newspaper stories and biographies.

Runner Profiles

100 Club

Newspaper stories

Stories about the club can be found in our archive. Browse year by year to discover the history of the club.

Year by Year

Painstaking Research

Many thanks to Mel Schless and Stan Williams for their painstaking work searching Earlston Library archives and club records for this material. Also Neil Vick, Connor McArdle, Bob Brimage, Thomas Barbat and Matt Williams for their photographic contributions.