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John Dennett - Founder of Ashville FC
John Dennett Was Born on 23rd
July 1924 in Yorkshire but soon moved to Somerset with his parents as a
child. John grew up in a town called Melksham and spent most of his
youth there. Upon Leaving school he was not one to sit around and with
the outbreak of the Second World War he enlisted to join the Royal Navy,
even though he was only aged 17 this did not prevent him from joining.
John Dennett served on board LST 322
(a Landing Ship, Tank). Before D-Day both he and the ship had already
participated in the landings at Sicily, Salerno and Anzio in Italy. They
loaded tanks and lorries in the Portsmouth area, and then waited in the
Solent. The LST landed her troops on Sword Beach in the late morning of
D-Day. After 6 June, LST 322 made around another 15 trips to pick up
more Allied troops from Portsmouth, Southampton or Tilbury. They often
carried wounded men on the return journey, and there was a temporary
operating theatre set up on board. After the end of the war John moved
to Wallasey where he met Joyce and they later married. Just four years
after the end of the war came the birth of Ashville Football Club.
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Ashville Football Club was founded in
1949 by John and Joyce Dennett, from 25 Ashville Road Wallasey. From
that humble beginning they had immediate success in the Wallasey Youth
league, before progressing to the Bebington league in 1951. After
winning the championship, Ashville moved to the Wirral Combination and
won the league for three consecutive seasons.
In the 1955-56 season Ashville were
voted into the West Cheshire League Division Two, and in their first
season won both the championship and the West Cheshire Bowl. In the
following season they were promoted to Division One, and amongst the
honours collected at their Wallacre Park ground were the Wirral Amateur
and Wirral Senior Cups. In 1962, Ashville moved to their present ground
Villa Park, where they have had some success, notably the First
division championship in the 1967-68 season and more recently, 1997/98
season, winning the coveted Cheshire Amateur Cup whilst finishing a
creditable, Runner-Up in the Division One championship.
In
season 2002/03 having been re-instated in Division One after finishing
in a relegation place the season before they went on to win the Pyke Cup
for the first time In 2009/2010, Ashville Reserves defied the odds to
win the Auto Focus Challenge Shield 1-0 under the guidance of manager
Mike Melling.
In 2010/11 came a new era at Ashville
Football Club with the appointment of Jason Aldcroft as first team
manager bringing in a new batch of players and exciting football.
Ashville stormed to the West Cheshire League Division 2 title as well as
winning the prestigious Cheshire Amateur Cup for the second time in the
clubs history. Ashville also won the Howarth & Gallagher Bowl and
suffered defeat in the final of the Wirral Senior Cup. Ashville Reserves
also secured promotion from Division 3 into Division 2. In 2011/12 Season, Ashville had
returned to Division 1 and secured the First Division title for the
first time in 44 years. Ashville also went on to win the Wirral Senior
Cup along with the Bill Weight Trophy. Ashville Reserves also secured
silverware with manager John Graham leading them to victory in the
Wirral Amateur Cup as well as becoming runners up on goal difference in
West Cheshire Division 2. Ashville have been part of the
Wallasey Community for over 60 years and are always looking for new
members to get involved in the club. Ashville offers youth football for
all ages as well as boasting 2 successful senior sides. To find out more
or get involved please visit Ashvilles Website
www.ashvillefc.co.uk
- ashville and me were born the same
year!
Congrats to 'Uncle' John - he had been invited by HM The Queen to the
Palace in May (2015).
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This was Johns Ship. John is a real type WW2
hero, I dont use that word lightly. Not only did John take part in an
invasion, he took part in the 'bloody lot'!! Not one mission and home we
go, he was in the thick of it in Africa, Italy, D Day. This lad fought,
so we could enjoy freedom (for now anyway). |
