Since I began putting together this brief history, more and more people have asked why such and such and so and so have not been included and I have to tell them that remembering everyone is really not an easy task, but every effort is made to make the history page as interesting as possible and cover as many names etc that is possible. So please bear with me during this memory ride?

The League actually began approximately two years before it's inception, with players joining together to forms 'teams' that just played friendly games each week on the local parks.
It was then agreed to officially register as a League and a committe, who first met in the Black Horse, Wallasey Village was elected to oversee the formation and the League came into existance for the 1963/64 season and was affiliated to the Liverpool FA. George Crockford the local licensee was the first League Secretary of the oldest Sunday League on the Wirral.
The following year the Birkenhead SFL followed suit and became officially affiliated as a league.
Twelve teams were formed for the first season, which ended with Primventus FC winning both the league and cup trophies, for a fantastic double in the inaugural season. Primventus actually finished 7 points clear of Black Horse to take the title and notched 103 goals in the process, with captain Charlie Mercer being the first to hold the Magee Cup aloft.
During the early years the first trophies on show were the Kenny Campbell Trophy, the Magee Cup and the William Egan Cup, with the last two still being in existance!
The League progressed for many years and at one point had five divisions and boasted over 60 teams throughout the divisions.
In the late 1970's to early 1980's the Premier division was duly named, with promotion being by invitation initially, but then a promotion and relegation format became the norm for all divisions, but invites are still possible if the need arises? 
The early years saw the Dale Inn as the all conquering club and they maintained this stature even when changing their name to St Josephs FC and running from the local parish church.
Sides such as Borough Rovers, North West Tugs, Borough Surveyors, Empress Club, Rediffusion, Windsor Perch Rock, Great Float, Kings Arms, Transport Club, Seagulls and the Stanley Arms were the forerunners of the League and played their games at Central Park, Liscard and Wallacre Park in Wallasey Village. Lingham Park in Moreton then came into play, as did Coronation Park in Greasby, Arrowe Park, Harrison Park and Belvidere Road, with all cup finals being staged at the Tower Grounds in New Brighton, who then boasted a Cheshire League team.
Alot of games were officiated by 'stand-in' officers, but soon the likes of Syd Lomas (known as carry on Syd), Billy Hind (who at one stage used to travel from North Wales to officiate games), Bernie Masters and Brian Porter took centre stage as referee's. By the way you never attempted to mess with Bernie, unless you were totally daft? The likes of Les Watson, John Lawrenson, Frank Potter, Desi Roche, Norman Green, John Burke, Dougie Stewart, Dave Thompson, Dave Pugh (who reached the heights of the Premier League) and many others followed suit.
Many well known players and characters have graced this League with Kenny Baker, Ray Spearing, Dave Thompson (yes the referee), Kevin and Chris Coppell, the Davison brothers, Ray Wilkie and son Mark, George Graham, Frank Howell (+ his sons and grandsons?), George Cornah, Billy Parsons, The Bates boys, Alan and Arthur Molden, the Woan brothers, Larry Tynan and so many more who have helped to make this League the best on the Wirral. Obviously, lots more could be named as clubs like the Mona Castle, Oyster Catcher, Nelson Grove Road (ex Labour Club) Mackenzie Villa, Arrowebrook, Ship Inn, Five Bars, The Tower, Black Horse Victoria, Bronze Social and Wallasey RAOB all produced their own brand of star but plenty more supported this League throughout the years.
Committee men such as Bob Nelson, George Stephens, Jimmy Boswell, Arthur Keen, Tony Fearon, Gerry Clinch and Rob Littler kept the League at the forefront of local soccer, with the likes of Brendan McQuillan, John O'Connor, Dave Edwards, Ken Harrison, Dave Passey and Ken Triggs continuing the tradions to this day. Even the likes of Jan Molby has been a registered member of the League and run the Lord Nelson team for a few years and Dave Lawson (ex Everton keeper) used to coach the Ferries FC at one time. Derek Mountfield and Jason McAteer have also graced this League - but they had to start somewhere??
Other trophies are now in existence, with the Capitol Cup - played for by every team in the League, including the Youth division - the Boswell Cup, the Geoff Murphy Trophy, the Flying Dutchman Cup and the Brian Edge Trophy, which all add to the history of this League and remind us of those who have since passed away, but will never be forgotten.
One of the best inclusions to the League was the Youth division in 1999/2000, which has provided the League with an abundance of talent, plus the Cheshire FA Youth Cup and Wirral FA Youth Cup on a number of occasions. The division has become stronger year on year and clubs from as far afield as Chester, Liverpool, Ellesmere Port and Neston have vied for places within the League as it's success has spread and we thank all the teams who have helped during the formative years. Some of the teams have also progressed into the open age divisions, with the likes of Liscard Bronze now resident in the Premier division?
One of our Premier clubs - Poulton Royal - actually began in the now defunct 4th division and are the only side to have played in every open age division since entering from junior league soccer, but this has been due to the leadership of John Parr who is the only secretary to date (August 2011) to win the Secretary of the Year award for a record breaking third time.
Another long serving member of the League was John Ashurst who has managed teams from the Youth division up to the Premier division and been a player, club secretary, club manager, a league committee member and treasurer. His two sons - Neil and Mark - have played in the League and have the same terrier qualities of their dad?? Many families have obviously passed through the League but some names come easily to mind like Peckham, Rutter, Parsons, Thompson, White (all brothers), Hawitt, Spearing, Walters, Howells, Jones, Bates and even Potter. All father, son, cousin, brother or nephew combinations, but all enjoyed their years in the still oldest Sunday League resident on the Wirral.
We have already celebrated our 40th Anniversary in 2003, with dignatories such as Howard Kendall, Derek Mountfield, Maureen Dunford (Cheshire FA), Frank Robinson (Wirral FA) and secretaries from other leagues being in attendance. Although a very momentus occasion with special programmes, invited guests and players old and new present, there was a downside to the event as the electrical supply failed in the function room. This delayed food and alcohol consumption and practically wrecked the work of nearly two years of organisation, but most made the night a great collective evening with Howard Kendall providing a great insight to his footballing years. Plans are now being set in place for the 50th and it is hoped each and every club will help to make this an occasion to remember by winning as many trophies as possible across the board so we can have some more bragging rights and nostalgic moments to cherish from what I call The Wonderful Drug, which of course is local amateur soccer and this League in particular. In setting up the anniversary bash which took two years to organise, the likes of Billy Walker - who had much input in the running of the Rose & Crown team - and Brian Farrell worked tirelessly to support the occasion and to whom we are eternally grateful for their efforts.
On a personal note the first team I played for in this League was Mackenzie Villa, whose manager was John Trevitt (who sadly passed away in 2011), with players like Phil Roach, Peter Craven, Brian Symons, Billy Parsons, Paul Davey, Peter Boden and Tony Smith. The hair them days was somewhat longer, as some of the old photos prove, but the enthusiasm and commitment was always 100%. Funny aspect of our team was the centre back pairing of Peter Craven and myself, as he was 5' 8" and I was 5' 2", but we didnt do too badly in the ariel duels? I know this because you often heard the opposition manager shouting to his forwards 'get a grip will you, those two dwarfs are winning everything' ?? Those are the years I will never forget, along with the Black Horse Victoria times, plus the broken nose (3 times) the ruptured achilles tendons, dislocated shoulder, broken leg and numerous cuts and gashes- oh what fun we had?
Clubs that have supported this League have been New Brighton, with the use of the Tower grounds, Moreton FC, Ashville FC, Newton FC, West Kirby FC and Poulton Vics FC who have all allowed use of their facilities for cup finals, but funnilly enough never free of charge?
At one stage the number of grounds available was plentiful - as you can imagine when we had upto 60 teams at one time - but over the years the likes of Central Park has lost the use of the Bandstand, Wallacre Park has been reduced from 5 pitches to three and the Tower ground is now a housing estate. The same can be said of Moreton FC's ground, which was known as Arrowbrook and also Coronation Park and the Oval in Bebington (except for 2 teams), which we no longer have use of. None of the grounds mentioned have ever had any improvements to the facilities and are still the same size and School Lane still has no changing facilities. It's lucky we have the parent County FA and Wirral Borough Council looking after us? I wonder if the FA really know what grass roots soccer is??
When you consider the League has been in existence since 1963 and still the drainage at all these facilities and more has never been brought into the 21st century.
For a couple of seasons we had a representative team and Brian Yates helped to select and manage them, with games being played against the Birkenhead & Wirral League and the Wythenshawe League. When playing the latter away in a mid-week fixture a number of players became unavailable and so one of the travelling spectators - who was a registered member of the League, Keith Fletcher - filled the centre half berth and won the man of the match award for his efforts. Vauxhalls FC allowed the League use of their ground and facilities for home games and usually under floodlight, as the other local West Cheshire league clubs did not have them, but they do now. In fact some of those West Cheshire teams used to use the likes of Wallacre Park and Lingham Park before they moved to their more illustrious surroundings!
Many records of this League were lost when the former secretary Mr George Stephens died and unfortunately memorabilia and information relating to the League were discarded in error, but the memories can never be taken away from any individual and I am sure there are many ex players and committee who could add some tails to this history page?
Some stories to be added are the likes of the goalposts at Wallacre Park being cut down and burned - supposedly by donfire night idiots - but it did cause the postponement of a high profile fixture which some players were about to miss, but they did make it for the rematch????
We have also had anonymous phone calls informing teams not to attend games due to the games being cancelled for whatever reason and then the game being claimed because teams failed to attend the fixture??
Many games have started late due to the annual egg run organised by the bikers club, but there are never any complaints because of the fantastic gesture these people make for children and the local hospitals and the charity work carried out by these good samaritans.

Teams have come and gone over the years, but Windsor are still resident after all these years and credit goes to Gary Laycock for continuing what others had started back in 1963. Many teams have changed their name or moved to other pubs for funding etc, with funny names like Gogglebox, Quids In, Little Nelly and URL (Unilever Research Laboritories) coming to mind. I was reminded that the Plough in Moreton also had a long association with the league, with the Williams family being major players throughout, but I have stated that you cannot remember every single team and player over the past 48 years, but will keep trying and adding to the role of honour
But not only have names of teams come from public houses and clubs, but also street names and companies, but the best one ever was Reggies Ringers. Although not the correct name, it came about due to the amount of players used by the manager even though they were not signed on??
Some of the older teams that were in the league ran from the likes of The Stanley in Borough Road, The Leasowe (next to Cadburys), The 20 Row on Leasowe Road, La Banque off Borough Road, The Plough, Kings Arms and the Labour Club, but all are now either knocked down or boarded up.
Quotes from players and unforseen occurrences usually bring a smile to faces, with one from my old mate - God rest his sole - big John Anderson who shouted out at one of his team mates 'you are running around like a chickenless head', instead of a headless chicken? Or the day the St Josephs trainer was called onto the pitch to attend to an injured player, but instead of picking up the 1st aid bag he picked up an identical bag that contained bacon and sausage butties and flasks of tea?? Kevin Houlihan always used to urge his team on - the Eagle Arms - by shouting 'bring home the bacon' as a referral to winning the match. The day the North West Tugs played a cup tie in Central Park and had a priest on the line - dog collar and all - which kept the language to a minimum, only for everyone to find out it was one of the supporters who had not been home after attending a fancy dress party the night before? Leasowe Rangers players once claimed that as the pitch was frozen on one side they would only use the other half of the pitch so as no one could get hurt - What?? Or the player who forgot one of his boots and told his manager he could still play, as he would only kick the ball with the foot that had a boot on? Other events included a player replying to a sarcastic remark of 'why are you arguing - you haven't got half a brain' but the player replied 'Oh yes I have'? The laughter was uncontrollable. Another incident at a St Joeys game heard Harry Cunningham shout 'let Phil Kemble take the free kick', but was told he couldn't, as Phil wasn't even a sub and was standing next to him on the line??
Lots of players must remember having to carry the posts and cross bars to the pitch and erect them every week, with each team having their own set with their name on and all were made of wood. This ensured players did turn up on time and for a 10:30 kick off as well. On a couple of occasions the posts and bars at Harrison Park could not be put up because of high winds and also at Harrison, match officials would not allow a game to start as the barrier rope was not of the required thicknessfor a Cheshire Cup game? Paying subs has always been in problem with many teams, but some teams had a designated collector and if you failed to pay regularly, then you risked the wrath of the collector and even lost your place in the team for none payment? Cars were a luxury in the early years of the league, so public transport was a necessity, with players meeting in groups to ride to the grounds together. Those were the days of good public transport and reasonable prices. Other forms of transport were also used, like works vans or open back lorries, but the one I remember was the use of a furniture removal wagon to an away game in Bromborough, with all the players stood in the back in the dark. But the problem was when we had been travelling for about half an hour, we came to an extended stop and so we thought we had reached the ground and let the large tailgate of the truck down using the interior ropes. Only to find out we had stopped at traffic lights and had dropped the tailgate onto the bonnet of a car parked behind us in the queue?? A game in Central Park saw Dickie Rutter award a penalty, but as the defending keeper removed a dog from his goalmouth, the penalty taker ran up and slotted home the spot kick with the goalie nowhere in sight and Dickie gave the goal because he didn't see what the goalie was doing? What happened next is best left off the story.
Things that have always amazed me are the attacks on league officers by players and committee's for not getting the fixtures right, for failing to get the grass cut on park pitches, for allowing the goalposts to remain unpainted and for the sate of the pitches following bad weather. How we are supposed to control such things is beyond me, especially the weather conditions?? BUT BEING A SNIPER IS EASIER THAN BEING A TARGET!! That is why admiration should be extended to those people who actually take up the roles of administrators and organisers, because without them - there would be no leagues? Always remember that these people also conduct these duties on a voluntary basis and donate umpteen hours to the cause, just so others can have their own recreational fun of a weekend, which sadly includes torrents of abuse and bad language - WHICH IS SOMETHING WE COULD ALL DO WITHOUT!!

To be continued