Shaftesbury FC, have run teams on both Saturday and Sunday for a number of years, and have illustrious neighbours in Tranmere Rovers FC, as 'The Shaftes’ own pitch, the Memorial Ground, is right next door to Prenton Park. If the formation date is correct, (and I have no reason to beleive it isn’t), they will be amongst the oldest clubs in Cheshire, formed in 1870.  Despite this fact though, my records don’t show Shaftesbury entering the West Cheshire League until 1934, as 'Shaftesbury Old Boys'. The West Cheshire League at the time, was going through something of an identity crisis.   Having decided to change its name to ‘The Football Combination’ in 1930, and then the Cheshire Combination in 1932. In 1934 to their credit, 'Shaftes' along with a number of other Wirral football clubs, were instrumental in the move to revive the league and the name ‘The West Cheshire Association Football League’ That name still remains. What happened to ‘Shaftes’ after the Second World War is a mystery, as they didn’t appear in the West Cheshire league again, until the 1962/63 season, entering Div 2, and finishing as Runner/Up in that first season, therefore gaining election to Div 1 for the start of the following season. Shaftesbury Old Boys remained in Division One for ten seasons, before relegation to Division 2 in 1973. Their relegation then brought on another mysterious disappearance, because after finishing mid-table in Division 2 in that 1973/74 season, Shaftesbury failed to appear in the league the following season.   In fact they didn’t appear again until 1998-99 season, when they joined the new Division 3. We wish them good luck for the future and congratulate them on their return to West Cheshire football. Ground: Memorial Ground, Borough Road, Birkenhead, Wirral. phone:- 0151 608 7165 Directions / Approach: Adjacent to Tranmere Rovers ground, Borough Road, Birkenhead. Entrance and car park via Mendip Road, off Mount Road. Public Transport: Frequent bus services from Hamilton Square Station and Woodside, Birkenhead.