THE BLOATERS STILL FIND THE NET

If one of your mates says he is having fish and chips for lunch in Great Yarmouth, then I have to do some quick research and announce that the " Bloaters" founded in 1897 play at the Wellesley Recreation Ground, which claims to have the oldest grandstand in the world, opened on 11th June in 1892. 

As an amalgamation of Yarmouth Fearnoughts and Yarmouth Royal Artillery, the club dominated local leagues in those early years. In 1947-8 they lost to Shrewsbury Town in the 1st Round of the FA Cup, in 1952-3 they got to the second round losing to Wrexham and then in 1953-4 they beat Crystal Palace before losing to Barrow Town in the second round. More recently the Bloaters reached the semi-final of the FA Vase. It is not all plain sailing for the Yarmouth "bouys", as money problems and changes in staff have led to one or two off and on field issues. They play in the Eastern Counties League Division One and have an away kit in shocking pink.