Founded in 1987, Wideopen FC has grown from a single junior team into one of the largest and most respected grassroots football clubs in North Tyneside.
Wideopen Juniors was established in 1987 by five founding members whose shared commitment to junior sport in the local community laid the foundations for everything the club has become.
The origins of the club lie in a Cubs team managed by John Stephenson. Having guided the group through two years of youth football, John recognised that when those players reached the end of their Under 10s season and moved on from Cubs, there was no local club for them to continue their development. Rather than allow that opportunity to be lost, John registered the team in the Northumberland Association of Boys’ Clubs League — and in doing so, created what we now know as Wideopen FC.
"To set up a junior football team you need volunteers, a good squad of players, coaches, pitches, money (from fund raising, sponsors etc.), insurances, and strips. It's a huge task. Setting it up was not quite as hard because we had the teams. It was extremely time consuming, and there was so much demand that by the 2nd season Wideopen had all the teams possible which meant it would take even more time."
"Wideopen's first strips were white. There was a vote and white came out on top because apparently white makes the players look bigger and so have the psychological advantage! I was not actually in favour of that colour. Eventually everyone was sick of the colour white as it was hard to get the stains out of it. So we decided to go for a coloured strip."
Those early observations remain as relevant today as they were in 1987. Building and sustaining a grassroots football club demands an extraordinary level of commitment from volunteers, coaches, committee members and the wider community. It is a challenge that Wideopen FC has met in every year of its existence.
Nearly four decades on, Wideopen FC has grown into one of the most significant grassroots football clubs in the North East. The club now operates across three sites, fielding over 60 teams and providing football for more than 600 players every week.
Full playing pathways exist for both boys and girls, from the youngest age groups through to adult football. The club is a proud FA Wildcats centre, runs FA Squad Girls teams across multiple age groups, and provides inclusive programmes including Just Play and walking football. Every player, regardless of age, ability or background, has a route into the game at Wideopen FC.
The values established by the founding members in 1987 — community, inclusivity, and a belief that sport changes lives — remain at the heart of everything the club does today.
A man determined to make sure that Tyneside youngsters get a kick out of soccer today issued an urgent appeal for help. John Stephenson, secretary of Wideopen and District Juniors — a new club hoping to operate in the Northumberland Association of Boys’ Clubs League — said:
“The whole idea is to give the kids an interest in sport and to keep them off the streets.”
“We need about £800 to get things under way and while we have received a couple of offers of help, the response has not been all that good.”
“There is no football for juniors in the Wideopen area. We intend to start with a team for Under 11s and Under 15s, eventually catering for all age groups from Under 11s to Under 16s and any more offers of help through donations would be a godsend.”
Newcastle Blue Star’s former QPR and Berwick striker Peter Davidson, and John Robson of Armstrong’s Hardware in Wideopen have come forward willing to help as Stephenson bids to attract youngsters from Hazlerigg, Dinnington, Seaton Burn, Dudley and Wideopen.
“We will train at Lockey Park, Wideopen, on Thursdays between 6.00 and 8.00 p.m. and on Sundays between 10.00 and noon. Anybody is welcome to come along.”
Wideopen and District Junior Football Club has just finished another successful season. In five years, the club has grown from one team to nine, for all ages up to 18, gathered from a five-mile radius.
Three aspects of their achievements, from which we can all learn, were particularly evident at the annual presentation evening.
The first is a belief in active participation in sport for all young people who are interested in fitness and fun — and hope that won’t stop at the ripe old age of 18.
Second is the obvious readiness of so many over 18s in the community.
Lastly, is a recognition that the most important award the club won was as most sporting team.
All credit to everyone involved and every success for the future.
The Parents Committee is one of the most important parts of Wideopen FC. Made up of parents and carers from across the club, they act as the vital connection between families and the committee — feeding back what matters to the people at the heart of everything we do.
From organising events and fundraising drives to building the sense of community that makes Wideopen FC more than just a football club, the Parents Committee gives their time freely and make an enormous difference. The culture, the atmosphere, and the spirit of the club on matchdays and beyond is shaped in no small part by their efforts.
If you are a parent or carer and would like to get more involved, we would love to hear from you. No experience is necessary — just enthusiasm and a desire to help.
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