ONCE DITHERING AT TYTHERINGTON: NOT NOW!

 

Tytherington is an area in the north of Macclesfield the place name Tytherington was first found in Cheshire at Titherington, a township in the parish of Prestbury. The name could well be related to "tithes", the early rent needed to live and work on the land. (A tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash or cheques or more recently via online giving, whereas historically tithes were required and paid in kind, such as agricultural produce.)

It is generally thought the place name dates back to the Domesday Book for Wiltshire where it was listed as Tidrentune. By the 13th and 14th centyury, the township was also known as Tyderinton and Tyderington. BUT this one I am interested in is this 0.9 hectare geological Site of Special Scientific Interest, near the village of Tytherington in South Gloucestershire, notified in 1989. The quarry is still working, operated by Hanson Aggregates, and is connected by rail on the Thornbury branch line.

Suitably named, Tytherington Rocks F.C., is a football club based in Tytherington, near Thornbury, Gloucestershire, England. The club competes in the Western League Division One and is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA. Below: 1901-2 Club photo.

Tytherington Football Club was formed in 1896 by the local Headmaster Mr Manuell and others including the Rev. John Bingley. Rev. Bingley stipulated that, to gain his support, the club should play in Amber & Black - his old college colours - Brasenose in Oxford.

In the early days the club played in the Wotton-Under-Edge League and travelled to away matches by Waggonetts, a four wheeled horse draw cart, with seats along both sides. The club played at many different grounds in the early days, one of which was Mill-Leaze Fields. This is the fields behind the village shop in Tytherington. They eventually found a permanent home at the Hardwicke Playing Fields. 

In the 1920s Tytherington F.C. were suspended by the Gloucestershire Football Association for non payment of a fine. The fine followed a referee being jostled into an adjoining brook after what the home side felt were some dubious decisions! No Pay – no play, so Tytherington disbanded until 1932 when Tytherington Rocks F.C. was formed, joining The Bristol Suburban League.

The club was re-formed in 1932 and with their new pavilion, joined the Bristol and Suburban Association Football League . The club used the Swan Inn as their changing rooms until a new pavilion was erected by the Parish Council, on the Playing Fields in 1938. 

A joint effort between the Club, Cricket Club and the Parish Council saw the facilities upgraded in 1978-80, with new showers and toilet block together with electricity! Candlelight and Rocks famous tin bath were consigned to history.

They continued to fluctuate throughout the leagues until they gained the correct ground grading ( eg floodlights added in 1987) and won the Premier Division One in 1997–98.

They joined the Gloucestershire County League in 1998 and after five seasons won promotion, finishing second in 2003–04.

For the 2004–05 season they became members of the Hellenic Football League Division One West, the highest level the club has achieved. They won the Division One West title in the 2011–12 and 2013–14 seasons.

Hellenic Football League (2004–2021). Having applied for promotion to the Hellenic League and their facilities passing the Ground Grading Criteria the club decided to take the opportunity to play at a higher level of football. Since 1998, there have been 15 managers including Portuguese Tiago Carreiras, briefly in 2021.

 In the 2017–18 season Tytherington finished bottom of the Hellenic League Division One West and failed to gain a single point.

In 2021 a new era was welcomed at the club as they were transferred to Division One of the Western League. The Rocks have also appointed a new management team of Tiago Carreiras and Jake Edwards.