Wealdstone Football Club ( ) is an English semi-professional football club based in Ruislip, London Borough of Hillingdon, and affiliated to the Middlesex County Football Association. They currently play in the National League, the fifth level of the English football league system. Their traditional colours are royal blue and white, and they are nicknamed "The Stones" or "The Royals".

Whilst formally established in 1899, the club has roots dating back to 1887 and was created through a series of local team mergers. Wealdstone has never been a member of the Football League so far.

History

Early years

thumb|Approximate location of what was the original ground of The Oaks F.C. in 1887

The club was formed at the start of the 1899–1900 season, joining Division Two of the Willesden & District League. A previous "Wealdstone F.C." existed, for workers at a local gunsmith in Wealdstone, a Middlesex village to the north of Harrow Hill - itself has its origins in a club called The Oaks. An article published by the Harrow Observer states that the Wealdstone football club formed in about 1890, playing home games in a field in Hindes Road (present-day Harrow) and meeting at the Railway Hotel, close to Harrow and Wealdstone station. This club merged into another local club called Harrow Athletic F.C. in September 1894, while other clubs bearing the Wealdstone name soon formed. A merger between clubs called Wealdstone Rovers and Wealdstone Juniors resulted in the formation of Wealdstone Albion F.C. for the 1898 season, and using the same blue and white striped colours of the old Wealdstone F.C. A year later, Wealdstone F.C. took its place. At this time their home turf was a field between Headstone Drive and Marlborough Hill, Wealdstone.

Their first game was a friendly match on 7 October 1899 against Northwood, which they won 6–1. They were promoted to the league's Division One for the 1900–01 season after Division Two was scrapped. Wealdstone reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, losing 1–0 to Port Vale.

In 1951–52 the club won the Athenian League, and went on to win the Middlesex Senior Cup in 1959, 1963 and 1964.

Amateur Cup win and turning professional (1964–1979)

In 1964 they switched to the Isthmian League. In 1965–66 the club reached the first round of the FA Cup again, losing 3–1 at Millwall, but went on to win the FA Amateur Cup, beating local rivals Hendon 3–1 in the final. The following season saw Wealdstone entered at the first round of the FA Cup, losing 2–0 at home to Nuneaton Borough. Later that year, Wealdstone re-joined the Isthmian League to further reduce their travelling expenses, having to agree to drop a level into Division Three in the process. Yet again, they moved grounds, this time entering into a ground share with Edgware Town at their White Lion ground that was to last ten years. The club's first two seasons at Premier Division level saw them steer clear of relegation, with back to back 18th-placed finishes.

2011–12 saw Wealdstone embark on an FA Trophy run in which they reached the semi-final, knocking out three teams from higher divisions in the process. A 2–1 win at home to Conference side Barrow and a 1–0 win in a replay against Dartford of the Conference South set up a quarter-final away at Cambridge United which Wealdstone won 2-1 thanks to a Richard Jolly brace, before eventually losing 3–1 on aggregate to Newport County in the semi-final. They also reached the promotion play-offs in the Isthmian Premier Division that year, but lost 2–1 to Lowestoft Town in the semi-finals. The following season saw them losing in the play-off semi finals again, this time losing 2–1 against Concord Rangers. However, in 2013–14 did win promotion as league champions,

Wealdstone did not win any of their first 9 games in the Conference South, with the run ended by a 1–0 victory away to Whitehawk. An upturn in form meant that they finished the 2014-15 season in 12th place, and they would go on to finish 13th the following season. The summer of 2016 saw the club change ownership when Peter Marsden, previously chairman of Accrington Stanley, took over the club in late July. The 2016-17 season saw Wealdstone experience a greater degree of success on the pitch, with the club pushing for the playoffs. However, their hopes were dashed when it was announced that they would be ineligible to compete in the playoffs due to missing the cut off point to meet ground grading requirements. Wealdstone's eventual 8th-placed finish would not have seen them compete regardless. A day later, Bobby Wilkinson, formerly of Hungerford Town, was appointed manager. Wilkinson's first season at Wealdstone ended in an unremarkable 11th-placed finish in the league, although the club reached the semi-final of the FA Trophy, where they lost 3–0 on aggregate to eventual winners Brackley. In January 2019, chairman Peter Marsden was voted out of his position, and replaced by Rory Fitzgerald. On the final day of the 2018–19 season, Wealdstone rose from 10th to 7th on with a 2–1 win over Hemel Hempstead to ensure a place in the playoffs. Wealdstone began their playoff campaign with a win away at Bath to secure a semi final against Woking, which Wealdstone narrowly lost 3–2. Wilkinson subsequently left the club at the end of the season.

Title win and the National League (2019–present)

On 21 May 2019, Dean Brennan was appointed as new manager, with Stuart Maynard joining as his assistant. 10 wins in the first 11 games of the 2019–20 season saw Wealdstone rise to the top of the league. On 26 March 2020 the season was suspended due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, with Wealdstone still top of the league. On 17 June it was confirmed that the club were to be promoted to the National League as champions of the National League South, on the basis of points won per game.

Wealdstone's first season in the fifth tier for 32 years started positively, with the club winning 5 of its first 8 games. However, following a slump in form, Brennan departed his role as manager on 2 February 2021. The club subsequently appointed assistant manager Stuart Maynard as manager, with Matthew Saunders as his assistant. With matches being played behind closed doors and the level below having been voided, Wealdstone furloughed a number of first team players in the second half of the 2020–21 season, which contributed to the club suffering a number of heavy defeats. Despite this, they ended their first season back at National League level in 19th place, clear of what would have been the relegation zone.

In the 2021–22 season, Wealdstone recorded a 16th-placed finish, their highest league position for 35 years. The 2022–23 season began with Wealdstone winning 4 of their first 5 league games, seeing the club go top of the National League. They ultimately ended the season in 13th place.

On 16 November 2023, they announced plans for a new stadium after being allocated land by London Borough of Hillingdon.

On 18 January 2024, Maynard and Saunders left their roles at Wealdstone to join League Two side Notts County. Eight days later, then St. Albans City manager David Noble was named as Maynard's successor. His tenure saw only 2 league wins in 15 games, leaving the club in 20th and only above the relegation zone on goal difference. 73 days after his appointment, Noble was relieved of his duties after a 4–0 loss away to relegation rivals Boreham Wood. First team coach Sam Cox took charge for the remainder of the season. He guided the team to 3 wins from their last 5 games, finishing in 16th and 4 points clear of Boreham Wood in 21st.

In May 2024, former Walsall and Shrewsbury boss Matt Taylor was announced as manager. This was coupled with the news that the club would transition to a hybrid training model for the 2024–25 season. On 2 November 2024, Wealdstone made the FA Cup second round for the first time since 1983–84, after beating League Two side Grimsby Town 1–0. They were drawn against League One side Wycombe Wanderers but lost 2–0 in front of a then record crowd of 3,534 at Grosvenor Vale. In January 2025, with the club sat 21st in the league, Taylor left to join Solihull Moors. Neil Gibson was appointed as his replacement four days later. Wealdstone began the final day of the season in the relegation zone, however a 3–1 win over FC Halifax Town, combined with Dagenham & Redbridge only drawing with Solihull Moors, saw the club stay up by a point. Gibson subsequently departed by mutual consent.

In June 2025, Sam Cox was reappointed as manager on a permanent basis. He was relieved of his duties on 22 February 2026, following a run of one win in 13 league games.

On 28 March they played Marine in the FA Trophy semi-final in which a 94th minute stoppage time goal from Micah Obiero clinched the club’s first trip to Wembley Stadium since 1985 in front of a record Grosvenor Vale crowd of 4,000.

Club crest

The club's crest first appeared on team shirts in the 1960s. It contains four quarters representing the traditional colours of the club (royal blue and white); the "Three Lions" representing England; a football representing the club's sport; and the emblem of Middlesex, the historic county of the London Borough of Harrow where the club is from.

Rivalry

Wealdstone's main rivals are often considered to be Barnet. The clubs were both founding members of the Alliance Premier League and played each other regularly throughout the 1980s, although games were rarely played after that with the clubs being in different divisions. The rivalry came back to prominence when Barnet moved into The Hive Stadium which was originally intended for Wealdstone. With the two clubs playing in the same division (until the 25/26 season), the rivalry has become heightened after ex-Stones manager Dean Brennan joined Barnet, originally as Director of Football before becoming manager in late 2021. Other rivals have included Harrow Borough (with whom the "Harrow Derby" is contested), Enfield, and Hendon, with Wealdstone beating the latter in the 1966 Amateur Cup final.

Players

Current squad

Out on loan

(on loan at Carshalton Athletic)

Notable former players

For all Wealdstone F.C. players with a Wikipedia article, see

The club's all-time leading goalscorer is George Duck. Duck scored 251 goals for Wealdstone in 370 appearances between 1972 and 1979, and additionally set unmatched scoring records for penalties and hat-tricks. In every season he played for the club Duck was top scorer in league and cup competitions.

Amongst former players who have gone on to notable careers at the highest level of professional football are Stuart Pearce, Vinnie Jones and Jermaine Beckford. Harold Smith was the first ever player to leave Wealdstone FC for a professional career, joining Notts County in 1930.

Non-playing staff

As of 20 February 2026

Management

:As of 6 October 2025

{| class="wikitable"

|-

!Name

!Role

|-

| Rory Fitzgerald

|Chairman

|-

| Dominic Whyley

|Vice-chairman

|-

| Darren Linden

|Executive Director Engagement and Media

|-

| Nick Symmons

|Executive Director Operations

|-

| Danny Kindell

|Executive Director Academy and Community

|-

| Quentin Fox

|Executive Director Legal

|-

|-

| Peter Worby

|Associate Director

|-

| Paul Fruin

|Associate Director & Club Secretary

|-

| Joe Campbell

|Head of Media

|-

| Richard Hopwood

|Chief Operating Officer

|-

| Andrew Lane

|Company Secretary

|}

Managerial history

  • Pre 1961 Team selection committee
  • June 1961 – April 1968: Vince Burgess
  • May 1968 – December 1969: Dave Underwood
  • December 1969 – June 1970: Howard Moxon
  • June 1970 – March 1972: Alan Humphries
  • March 1972 – March 1974: Syd Prosser
  • March 1974 – March 1976: Eddie Presland
  • April 1976 – February 1977: Geoff Coleman
  • February 1977 – September 1979: Alan Fogarty
  • September 1979 – November 1980: Ken Payne
  • November 1980 – August 1983: Allen Batsford
  • August 1983 – January 1987: Brian Hall
  • February 1987 – September 1987: Colin Meldrum
  • September 1987 – November 1987: Terry Burton
  • December 1987 – October 1989: Tony Jennings
  • October 1989 – December 1990: Alan Gane
  • December 1990 – September 1992: Brian Hall
  • September 1992 – September 1993: Dennis Byatt
  • September 1993 – June 1995: Fred Callaghan
  • July 1995 – August 2017: Gordon Bartlett
  • August 2017 – May 2019: Bobby Wilkinson
  • March 2021 – January 2024: Stuart Maynard
  • April 2024: Sam Cox (interim)
  • May 2024 – January 2025: Matt Taylor
  • January 2025: Paul Hughes (interim)
  • January 2025 – May 2025: Neil Gibson
  • June 2025 – February 2026: Sam Cox
  • February 2026: Danny Payne (caretaker)
  • February 2026 – Present: Gary Waddock

Records

  • Best FA Cup performance: Third round, 1977–78
  • Best FA Trophy performance: Winners, 1984–85
  • Biggest victory: 22–0 vs 12th London Regiment, FA Amateur Cup, 13 October 1923