A Brief History of Our Beginnings
The origins of football in the Willerby and Ella community can be traced back to a preliminary meeting reported in an 1901 edition of the Hull Daily Mail more than a century ago. At that gathering, held at Willerby Hall and presided over by Mr. J. L. Fisher, local residents came together with a shared ambition: to form a new Association football club for the area.
The proposed team, named “The Ella and Willerby Football Club,” elected its first officers that same day, marking the earliest recorded effort to organise the sport within our villages.
Led by respected local figures including Mr. Fisher, Mr. W. Holmes, the Rev. Swann-Mason, and committee members W. Goulding and W. Moody, the club’s formation reflected a growing enthusiasm for football during a period when the game was still developing its identity. A follow-up meeting was planned to guide new players in “how Association football should be played,” showing the community’s eagerness to learn and participate in the expanding sport.
Although many years have passed since that first gathering, the spirit of local football, community involvement, and shared passion for the game continues to shape our club today.
Recent History
Westella & Willerby AFC has been a cornerstone of local football for over a century. Officially founded in 1901, the club spent many decades in the East Riding County League, enjoying particular success during the 1960s. After regeneration in the early 1980s, driven by an influx of young players from Wolfreton School, Westella became known not only for its competitive spirit but for developing talented young footballers. Future professionals such as Dean Windass, Linton Brown and Gary Hobson all began their senior journeys with the club—a tradition of youth progression that continues today. By the late 1990s the club recognised the importance of strong youth pathways and forged a pioneering partnership with a local boys' team, creating a clear route from junior to senior football. This work aligned perfectly with the FA’s Charter for Quality, guiding the club’s long-term Development Plan focused on youth football, coaching standards, facilities, and community links. These efforts were rewarded in 2003 when Westella & Willerby became only the third club in the East Riding to achieve FA Community Club status—the highest level of accreditation. Through the 2000s the club continued to grow, expanding its youth, girls', women’s and mini-soccer sections, and fielding more than 20 teams at one point. On the senior side, Westella was a founding member of the Humber Premier League before moving its first team into the Central Midlands League to bridge the gap towards semi-professional football.
