Vauxhall Motors F.C: More than a name

Picture Credit: Vauxhall Motors FC

When you think of the word Vauxhall, usually one thing springs to mind. The blaring sound of an Astra’s engine, a Corsa, or maybe even the slow bulk of a Vivaro van. Vauxhall has made itself one of the most successful car companies in the world. However, just across from their factory at Ellesmere Port, over the M53, sits something else that has a somewhat similar name, Vauxhall Motors FC.

Initially the club, known by its fans as  the Motormen, was created to be a works team for the factory next door, before becoming an independent club who’s only similarity to the factory is their name and the iconic logo on their badge.

“A lot of people get confused between the two of us,” said Alex Garbe, the Media Officer at Vauxhall Motors F.C since 2021.

“We have had people in the past, as recent as last week, go to the factory to watch the match on the other side of the motorway rather than to us!”

“However, at times it has helped. A lot of people know it more than if we were called a “normal” name where people maybe wouldn’t recognise it as easily.”

The club have a lot more to their history than simply being linked to a factory though. Formed in 1963, the Motormen spent time in the Conference League North up until 2013 before they unfortunately had to resign from the league, sliding them all the way back down the pyramid. Falling from the 6^th tier down to the 11^th tier of the game.

They set out a plan to get back though. Aiming for each year to get to a certain level, to fight for promotion to get back up the leagues, then COVID-19 hit.

“With the two years out because of COVID, our plan was disrupted massively,” said Alex, “The first COVID season, we had mathematically achieved promotion by March, which we achieved a week before lockdown, there was no way that we couldn’t get promotion.”

“Then the lockdown came, and we were denied promotion to the NWCFL Premier Division.”

The next season they went again, stung by the league’s decision to not allow them to go up, they went unbeaten, sitting high top of the league, before COVID-19 struck again, and they were put into a lockdown.

Thankfully, the club were allowed to be promoted this time, despite the lockdown due to a restructuring of the leagues and then they quickly went up again and they began to get back on schedule.

However, one thing that has come from dropping down 5 tiers and not being allowed promotion in 2020, is the coming together of the fans.

“We have a proper family atmosphere. Most people come down and watch every home game, so everyone knows everyone – from the supporters to the players and staff, the volunteers in the food hut and the bar, the turnstile, the programme sellers, everyone says hello and look forward to seeing each other and watching the match on a Saturday. Football without fans is nothing and without them, ultimately the football club can’t run.”

It’s not easy keeping a club afloat, especially one on the side of a motorway, hidden under the spotlight of a factory. And that’s before you even get to the clubs around them. Liverpool, Everton, the Ryan Reynolds owned Wrexham, as well as Tranmere Rovers all just a 30-minute drive away.

But Vauxhall Motors FC is more than a club that has the funny name of a car factory attached, it’s a family. A family fighting its way back up the leagues. A family with over 50 youth teams helping the kids in the local community. And it’s a family where you can buy a programme, a pie and a pint for less than a tenner.

What’s not to love?