PJFC THROUGH THE YEARS
This was the earliest Penkridge team known as Penkridge Colts U10′ for the 1981/82 season.
The variation of the badge we use today was first designed by Dave Eastment.
The early years
In the early 1980’s, there were football teams before the formation of Penkridge Junior Football Club (PJFC).
Individuals who were part of these early teams went on to become managers for teams within PJFC.
Dick Neal was the proprietor of the Horse and Jockey Public House at the time, and he approached two of the players, Terry Wildig and Dave Eastment with a view to setting up a junior team. The team was called ‘Penkridge Colts’ and brought Penkridge lads playing for the County and Scouts teams together.
Did you know?
‘Penkridge Colts’ name originated from the name of a young horse ‘colt’ and therefore linked back to the Horse and Jockey Public House where the junior team first originated.
The earliest accounts we have record that Penkridge Junior Football Club (PJFC) was formed on Thursday 18th July 1985.
These accounts show a donation from Penkridge Colts to Penkridge Juniors on 19th August 1985 of £29.70. This along with a donation of £142 from Billington’s Fruit and Veg Store (where TRiM Barbershop is located today) who were the main sponsors of the time, kicked off the first season for Penkridge Junior Football Club when the annual subscription fee was just £6.
All about the 80’s
In the early 1980’s, the number of school football matches decreased, there was an increase in the number of junior football teams. In 1985, a group of enthusiastic Penkridge fathers, dreaming of their sons becoming the next Bryan Robson or Gary Lineker formed Penkridge Junior Football Club.
Dave Griffin served as the Chairman of the committee for the first two years. The early committee members included Mick Turner, Roger Manning, the late Tony Kucharczyk (Chairman from 1987-1991), Jim Kettle (Chairman from 1991-1995), Tony Bishop, Trevor Howard, and Treasurer Colin Blower.
The first season saw the formation of two teams: an Under 11 team for occasional friendlies, and an Under 12 team, managed by Jim Kettle, competing in the Rugeley League. The first ever game ended in a 5-2 defeat to Blackford Cubs, but as the season progressed, the team gained confidence, losing only two of the remaining 17 matches and ‘lifted’ the Rugeley and District Endeavour Cup. Notable players from the season included team captain Nick Cooper and top goal scorer Rory Hewitson with a whopping 23 goals! Also playing regularly was a young Michael Turner, who later scored on his professional debut for Barnsley against Ipswich. Other talents from the early days who went onto play professional football include Richard Walker (Crewe) and Billy Turley (Northampton).
During the club’s developmental phase, key committee decisions were made, such as choosing blue and yellow as the PJFC colours, allowing teams to secure their own sponsors (which led to some teams playing in Europe, even is only for a week), and ultimately deciding to use the school pitches after unsuccessful attempts to establish a dedicated ground along Boscomoor Lane.
In the club’s early years, there were numerous fundraising events organised to address increasing costs as the number of teams grew. PJFC’s dedicated mothers played a crucial role in planning and coordinating these events. The social scene in Penkridge was lively at the time, with string attendance at events, notably the annual Family New Year’s Eve celebration.
Rugeley & District Boys League endeavour cup – runners up
1987 / 1988 – Penkridge Junior U12 – Jim Kettle, Mick Turner – Rugeley & District Boys League
WALSALL JUNIOR YOUTH LEAGUE DIV 2 WINNERS
1989 / 1990 – Penkridge Junior U12 – Sam Timmins and Paul Finch – Walsall Junior Youth League
Walsall Junior Youth League Div 2 Winners
1989 / 1990 – Penkridge Junior U11 – Tony Kucharczyk and Harry Fletcher – Walsall Junior Youth League
Telford Junior Youth League Cup winners
1998 / 1999 – Penkridge Junior U9 – Paul Mallaband and John McLean
90’s Nostalgia
By 1989/90 the club was well established with five league teams. It expanded rapidly in the early 90s with committed managers such as Steve Szewczyk, Dave Griffiths, Dave Jackson, Mick Turner, Sam Timmins, Les Stone, Geoff Clarke, Steve Guest, Tony Kucharczyk and Alan Stephenson (who took over as Chairman in 1995) resulting in 10 league teams from Under 9 to Under 17 in the 1994/95 season.
Rugeley League and Rugeley League Shield Winners
1991 / 1992 – Penkridge Junior U11 – Steve Szewczyk and Richard Wood
Back Row: Stephen Lockley, Will Smith, Chris Hickman, Paul Szewczyk, Chris Wood, Steven Haviland, Ben Atkins, Nick Carter
Front Row: Gareth Fryer, Chris Pike, Ian Harris, Richard Walker, Stephen Dugmore, Paul Haynes, Paul Giles
1995 : Billy Turley – Signs First Professional Contract
Played for Penkridge Juniors in the late 1980’s for the u13 to u15s team’s managed by Tony Kucharczyk. Billy joined Northampton Town as a Professional goalkeeper in 1995 and went onto to make 565 senior apparencies mainly for Rushden & Diamonds and Oxford United.
1997 / 1998 Season – Unbeaten Season
This season saw the then Under 10’s team managed by Clive James go through the entire season without losing a game and in the process picking up four trophies:
- Mid Staffs League Winners
- Mid Staffs Cup Winners
- Mid Staffs Shield Winners
- Mid Staffs Medal Winners
They still remain the most successful team in Penkridge Junior Football Club history winning 10 trophies in 8 seasons.
1998 / 1999 Season : Introduction of Small Sided Football
The Football Association (FA) introduced Small Sided Football in the 1998/1999 season, the first of many initiatives to change the way grass football is played, (later followed by Roll-on Roll-Off substitutions, Centred Football and the introduction of appropriately sized pitches for the age pf the players 5v5, 7v7, 9v9 then eventually 11v11). Playing on smaller pitches with smaller goals, the aim was to give young players more touches of the ball, greater involvement in the game. The u9s, managed by Paul Mallaband were the first PJFC small sided team and played in the Telford Junior Youth League. They were one of only a hand full of leagues throughout the Country to trial small sided football playing that season 8v8 on a small sided pitch. The following season it was rolled out across the country but as 7×7.
1998: Michael Turner – Signs First Professional Contract
Michael started playing for PJFC when he was 9 years old and played for the Under 12 team in 1985 / 86 season. When playing for u12’s he scored a massive 85 goals in one season! Michael went onto play for Stafford and District Schools, County Schools FA and County Clubs FA. At the age of 16 he joined West Bromwich Albion playing in the Intermediate League alongside Y.T.S Professionals.
Whilst at Liverpool University Michael played Semi-Professional for Redditch United in the Beazer Homes League, Southport in the Conference and Aberystwyth in the League of Wales, Michael represented England Universities and received an Official FA Cap.
In December 1998 Michael was asked to go for a trial at Barnsley, He was playing for Bilston Town in the Beazer Homes League and scored in a Pontins League fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Barnsley winning 3-2. Following the game there was interest from a Premiership side, three Division One sides and a Division Two, so Barnsley signed him the next day.
Within two weeks Michael made his League debut at Ipswich in a Division One game, making the first goal and scoring the second in a 2-0 away win for Barnsley against Ipswich Town who on that day had an England Keeper Richard Wright in goal.
1998 : Richard Walker – Signs First Professional Contract
Richard played local football for PJFC before being spotted by Crewe Alexandra. His first season for us in 1989/90 season was as a goalkeeper, but he later found his home in defence. He worked through the various academy levels and was offered his professional contract in 1998. He went on to have a 12 year career spanning three of the four top tiers of the English game, playing in the Championship, League One and Two.
The new millennium
Throughout the next decade, the club made significant progress under Norman Mence’s leadership who took over as Chairman from 2001. During this period, the number of teams increased steadily, reaching a peak of 16 teams over three seasons from 2005 to 2008. Subsequently, the average number of teams per season remained at 14 or 15.
The FA introduced the FA Charter Standard kitemark in February 2001 as part of the National Game Strategy. The primary goals were to enhance coaching standards, increase player involvement, especially in girls’ football, and prioritise safeguarding of children. In 2002, Diane Lester initiated an assessment of the club’s existing procedures and identified the necessary steps to attain the FA Charter Standard.
The key focus areas were obtaining a Level 1 Coaching Certificate, Basic First Aid, and Safeguarding Children. To address these requirements, a Level 1 Coaching Course was held at the Monckton Recreation Centre over two intense weekends in July 2003. Twelve aspiring coaches, managers, and committee members completed the course successfully, and also attended Basic First Aid and Safeguarding Children sessions at the Quality Hotel on Friday evenings.
In the 2003/2004 season, the club submitted the FA Charter Standard application along with a four-year development plan. The club proudly became one of the first Junior Clubs in Staffordshire to achieve the FA Charter Standard in 2003. This achievement was a testament to the hard work of Diane Lester, who played a crucial role in ensuring the club’s success.
2004 : First PJFC Girls Football Team
Season 2004/05 saw the introduction of a Girls team; previous years had seen Girls Playing in the Boys teams, Olivia Thomas being one of those. Diane Lester was behind the recruitment drive to find enough players for the initial team, in fact that season two teams were created one at Under 10 (managed by Jonathan Smith, Diane Lester) and the other Under 12 (Managed by Kay Goodman, Glen Ford), both playing in the South Staffs Young Women’s League playing 7v7.
The height of the Girls teams was in 2006 /2007, 2007 / 2008 and 2009 / 2010 seasons when there were four Girls teams in each of the seasons. We are really please to re-introduce 2 girls teams in the 2023/2024 season.
2005 / 2006 – Penkridge Junior Girls U12
Paul Mallaband & Steve Thomas
South Staffs Young Women’s League
2006 / 2007 – Penkridge Junior U11 Girls
Jonathan Smith, Dave Webb
South Staffs Young Women’s League
2007 / 2008 – Penkridge Junior U11 Girls
Norman Mence
South Staffordshire Young Women’s League
2008 / 2009 – Penkridge Junior Girls U15
Paul Mallaband & Steve Thomas
South Staffs Young Women’s League
2005: FA Community Club
2006: Summer Cup
2006 : Adam Legzdins – Goalkeeper – Signs First Professional Contract
Adam came through Birmingham City’s Academy system after being spotted playing for Penkridge Juniors in 2002 / 2003 season. Pete Davies recalls – Being in the Right place at the Right time – it was a cup game being played at Wolgarston High School and was mid-way through the season – Can’t recall the name of the team (South Midlands based) but Nigel Spink’s son was playing up front for them – Nigel (ex. Chelmsford – Villa – West Bromwich Albion and Millwall) was not only a Parent on the day but scouting for Birmingham City and Adam caught his eye after pulling off a number of tremendous saves – The pencil went on the note pad and after the game Nigel asked if he could be introduced to the ‘keepers’ parents – Not long after that introduction Adam left Penkridge Junior Football Club, with everyone’s best wishes to join the Birmingham academy – Currently playing for Dundee FC in the Scottish Premier League having played for Birmingham City, Derby County, Burton Albion, Leyton Orient, Burnley.