Waterloo Dock A.F.C. is a football club from Liverpool, England. The club is currently in the Liverpool County Premier League Premier Division and plays its home matches at Anfield Sports and Community Centre.

Waterloo Dock
Waterloo Dock AFC crest
Full nameWaterloo Dock Association Football Club
Nickname(s)The Dock; Dockers
Founded1963
GroundAnfield Sports and Community Centre
LeagueLiverpool County Premier League Premier Division
2023–24Liverpool County Premier League Premier Division, 10th of 12

History

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Waterloo Dock Football Club were established in 1963 and played in Liverpool Business Houses Leagues until the 1969–70 season, winning the Second Division, First Division and Premier Division titles. They joined the Liverpool County Combination in the 1970–71 season, gaining promotion at the first attempt, winning the Second Division championship. This was the start of a 34-year spell in the top flight of the Liverpool County Combination where the club was to win the First Division championship no less than twelve times and finish as runners-up on a further ten occasions.

The club's best performance in the FA Vase came in 1985–86 when the club progressed to the 4th round, eventually losing to Warrington Town.[1]

The Liverpool County Combination merged with the I Zingari League to form the new Liverpool County Premier League at Step-7 in the National league System for the start of the 2006–07 season and Waterloo Dock have dominated the new league, winning the Premier Division title in each of the first five seasons,[2] although the 2011–12 season saw them lose the title for the first time to Aigburth Peoples Hall when they finished 3rd, their worst league finish since 2001–02.

The club was accepted into the Liverpool Senior Cup in 2006–07 and the club fought their way past AFC Liverpool,[3] Tranmere Rovers and Burscough in the 2008–09 season to become the first side from the Liverpool County Premier League to reach the final. Facing a Liverpool Reserves side containing many of then manager Rafael Benitez's young talents, The Dock were only sunk by a late goal from Krisztian Nemeth after matching Gary Ablett’s side for most of the game.[4]

In November 2008 the Football Association confirmed that club manager Jimmy Davies was the longest ever serving football manager recorded in the country after he had completed 45 years in the job.[5] The record had been held by another Merseysider, Roly Howard, who managed Marine for 33 years. In May 2013, Davies announced that, at the age of 71, he was to retire at the end of the 2012–13 season after 50 years at the helm.[6]

League history

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Season League Final position
1963–64 Liverpool Business Houses League Second Division
1964–65 Liverpool Business Houses League Second Division
1965–66 Liverpool Business Houses League Second Division 2nd – Runners-up[7]
1966–67 Liverpool Business Houses League Second Division 1st – Champions[7]
1967–68 Liverpool Business Houses League First Division 1st – Champions[7]
1968–69 Liverpool Business Houses League Premier Division 2nd – Runners-up[7]
1969–70 Liverpool Business Houses League Premier Division 1st – Champions[7]
1970–71 Liverpool County Football Combination Division Two 1st – Champions[7]
1971–72 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 3rd[8]
1972–73 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 2nd – Runners-up[8]
1973–74 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 5th[8]
1974–75 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 1st – Champions[8]
1975–76 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 1st – Champions[9]
1976–77 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 2nd – Runners-up[9]
1977–78 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 1st – Champions[9]
1978–79 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 1st – Champions[9]
1979–80 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 3rd[10]
1980–81 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 1st – Champions[11]
1981–82 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 3rd[12]
1982–83 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 5th[13]
1983–84 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 5th[14]
1984–85 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 2nd – Runners-up[15]
1985–86 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 2nd – Runners-up[16]
1986–87 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 1st – Champions[9]
1987–88 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 2nd – Runners-up[17]
1988–89 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 1st – Champions[18]
1989–90 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 1st – Champions[9]
1990–91 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 4th[9]
1991–92 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 5th[9]
1992–93 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 5th[9]
1993–94 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 5th[9]
1994–95 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 2nd – Runners-up[9]
1995–96 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 2nd – Runners-up[9]
1996–97 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 1st – Champions[9]
1997–98 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 3rd[9]
1998–99 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 4th[9]
1999–2000 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 1st – Champions[9]
2000–01 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 2nd – Runners-up[9]
2001–02 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 3rd[9]
2002–03 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 2nd – Runners-up[9]
2003–04 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 1st – Champions[9]
2004–05 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 1st – Champions[9]
2005–06 Liverpool County Football Combination Division One 2nd – Runners-up[9]
2006–07 Liverpool County Premier League 1st – Champions[19]
2007–08 Liverpool County Premier League 1st – Champions[20]
2008–09 Liverpool County Premier League 1st – Champions[21]
2009–10 Liverpool County Premier League 1st – Champions[22]
2010–11 Liverpool County Premier League 1st – Champions[23]
2011–12 Liverpool County Premier League 3rd[24]
2012–13 Liverpool County Premier League 2nd – Runners-up[25]
2013–14 Liverpool County Premier League 2nd – Runners-up[26]
2014–15 Liverpool County Premier League 3rd[27]
2015–16 Liverpool County Premier League 2nd – Runners-up[28]
2016–17 Liverpool County Premier League 3rd
2017–18 Liverpool County Premier League 4th
2018–19 Liverpool County Premier League 1st – Champions[29]
2019–20 Liverpool County Premier League Season voided after COVID-19 pandemic[30]
2020–21 Liverpool County Premier League 2nd (season shortened)
2021–22 Liverpool County Premier League 3rd
2022–23 Liverpool County Premier League 7th
2023–24 Liverpool County Premier League 10th
2024–25 Liverpool County Premier League

Records

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  • Best FA Vase performance: 4th round, 1985–86

Honours

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The club has won over 70 trophies since its formation.[31] Honours include:[7]

League champions

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  • Liverpool County Premier League (6): 2006–07; 2007–08; 2008–09; 2009–10; 2010–11; 2018–19
  • Liverpool County Football Combination – First Division (12): 1974–75; 1975–76; 1977–78; 1978–79; 1980–81; 1986–87; 1988–89; 1989–90; 1996–97; 1999–2000; 2003–04; 2004–05
  • Liverpool County Football Combination – Second Division (1): 1970–71
  • Liverpool Business Houses League Premier Division (1): 1969–70
  • Liverpool Business Houses League First Division (1): 1967–68
  • Liverpool Business Houses League Second Division (1): 1966–67

League runners-up

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Cup-winners

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  • Liverpool County Football Combination – George Mahon Cup (11): 1974–75; 1975–76; 1977–78; 1982–83; 1986–87; 1991–92; 1995–96; 1996–97; 2000–01; 2004–05; 2009–10
  • LA County Challenge Cup (9): 1976–77; 1988–89; 1994–95; 1998–99; 2003–04; 2004–05; 2005–06; 2009–10; 2012–13
  • Liverpool FA Amateur Cup (1): 1975–76
  • Liverpool Business Houses Senior Cup (2): 1967–68; 1969–70
  • Lord Watertree Cup (1): 2002–03
  • Lord Mayor's Charity Shield (2): 2004–05; 2005–06
  • Fred Micklesfield Cup (1): 1976–77
  • NDLB Newlands Cup (1): 1968–69

Cup runners-up

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Notable former players

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1. Players that have played/managed in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
2. Players with full international caps.
3. Players that hold a club record or have captained the club.

Managers

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  •   Jimmy Davies and John Morton (1963–2013) (1995–2000) (50 years – longest serving manager in English football)

References

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  1. ^ "Club Entry: Waterloo Dock". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  2. ^ "Waterloo Dock champions for a fifth year in a row". Liverpool Echo. 14 May 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  3. ^ "AFC Liverpool 1 – 6 Waterloo Dock". AFC Liverpool. 24 September 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  4. ^ "Krisztian Nemeth's late strike wins Liverpool Senior Cup final". Liverpool Daily Post. 28 April 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  5. ^ "England's longest serving football manager". BBC. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  6. ^ "Longest-serving football manager to retire after 50 years". BBC Sport. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "Club History". Waterloo Dock AFC. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  8. ^ a b c d "Liverpool County Combination Tables 1950–1975". NonLeagueMatters.net. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "Liverpool County Combination Tables 1975–2006". NonLeagueMatters.net. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  10. ^ "Non League Tables for 1979–1980". NonLeagueMatters.co.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  11. ^ "Non League Tables for 1980–1981". NonLeagueMatters.co.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  12. ^ "Non League Tables for 1981–1982". NonLeagueMatters.co.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  13. ^ "Non League Tables for 1982–1983". NonLeagueMatters.co.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  14. ^ "Non League Tables for 1983–1984". NonLeagueMatters.co.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  15. ^ "Non League Tables for 1984–1985". NonLeagueMatters.co.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  16. ^ "Non League Tables for 1985–1986". NonLeagueMatters.co.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  17. ^ "Non League Tables for 1987–1988". NonLeagueMatters.co.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  18. ^ "Non League Tables for 1988–1989". NonLeagueMatters.co.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  19. ^ "Liverpool County Premier League Final Table 2006-2007". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  20. ^ "Liverpool County Premier League Final Table 2007-2008". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  21. ^ "Liverpool County Premier League Final Table 2008-2009". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  22. ^ "Liverpool County Premier League Final Table 2009-2010". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  23. ^ "Liverpool County Premier League Final Table 2010-2011". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  24. ^ "Liverpool County Premier League Final Table 2011-2012". Liverpool County Premier League. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  25. ^ "Secretary's Report & Honours List 12–13". Liverpool County Premier League. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  26. ^ "League Table 2013-14". Football Association. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  27. ^ "Tables - Liverpool County Premier League". lcpl.pitchero.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2016.
  28. ^ "Tables - Liverpool County Premier League". lcpl.pitchero.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2015.
  29. ^ "Table | PREMIER DIVISION | Liverpool Premier League".
  30. ^ "Liverpool Premier League".
  31. ^ "Waterloo Dock AFC manager Jimmy Davies says he can't wait for their Liverpool Senior Cup final against Liverpool Reserves". Liverpool Echo. 27 April 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  32. ^ "Match Schedule: George Mahon Cup 2011–12". Liverpool County Premier League. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
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