Sandbach United - Sandbach Community Football Centre

Sandbach United FC

Sandbach Community Football Centre

Hind Heath Road

Sandbach 

Cheshire

CW11 3LZ

Official Website

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Ground Number: 1495
Saturday 18th October 2025

Sandbach United 1-0 Barnton
NWCFL D1 South

SANDBACH UNITED FC - A BRIEF HISTORY

The club was established in 2004 as a result of a merger between Sandbach Albion (established as Hays Juniors in 1994) & Sandbach Ramblers (formed in 1995). Both were primarily youth sides, but an adult team was established in 2006 and joined the Crewe & District League. They only stayed for a single season before moving to the Staffordshire County Senior League. Starting in the step 8 Senior Division, they were runners-up to Stretton Eagles in their debut season, earning promotion to the Premier Division. After a couple of lower-end finishes, they moved to the Cheshire League Division Two, back at step 8. In 2014, they finished as runners-up to Poynton to earn promotion to the renamed Premier Division. In 2016, a 4th place finish was good enough for elevation to the North West Counties Division 1. This became a regionalised South division in 2018, and Sandbach United have finished as high as 3rd twice - in 2023 & 2024. They have had four unsuccessful playoff campaigns, losing in the semi-finals to Litherland REMYCA in 2017, Abbey Hey in 2023 & Stafford Town in 2024. When they did overcome Brocton 3-1 in the 2023 semis, they lost by the same scoreline to Cheadle Town in the final.

In 2018, Sandbach United entered the FA Cup for the first and only time, losing 2-0 at Parkgate. Nine seasons have been played in the FA Vase. Their best season came in 2021 when they beat Dudley Town, Eynesbury Rovers and Hanley Town before losing 4-0 at Loughborough Students in the 3rd Round. Local cup wins include the Crewe and District Cup in 2016, the NWCFL D1 Challenge Cup (latterly known as the Edward Case Cup) in 2018 & 2019. Sandbach, probably most well-known for its services on the M6, is a town in East Cheshire with a population of just under 22,000. Known as Sanbec in 1086, Sondbache (also Sondebache) in 1260, and Sandbitch in the 17th–18th centuries, Sandbach derives its name from the Anglo-Saxon sand bæce, which can mean "sand stream" or "sand valley".

Other teams in Sandbach have included the former Sandbach Ramblers, who were established in the early 1900s. They played on Newall Avenue and initially folded in 1975 before reforming four years later as a result of a name change for the existing team, G.E.C. Villa. The first incarnation played in the Cheshire League and reached the FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round in their last season. The second incarnation folded again in the mid-80s. The third incarnation played one season in the Midland League in 1995/96 and carried on to this day under the name of Sandbach Town, having previously played under the name Sandbach Town Ramblers and been one of the two clubs that made Sandbach United. They play at the same venue, albeit one of the outer pitches and compete in the Cheshire League Division 2, which sits at step 9 of the non-league pyramid. There is also Sandbach Curshaws, who play in the Crewe & District Football League.

MY VISIT

There were a few grounds that I needed to catch up with Groundhop UK for the North West Counties Hop, and the two most southern ones were the easiest. I'd already been to Eccleshall last month as that was the closer of the two. That left me with Sandbach United to do, and happily, it would mean a new Wetherspoons too. As ever, I would double it up with a Midland League U21 game. Initially, I thought SJB Juniors, as it was a ground that I'd not been to. But then Colin started whining that it was not in a Futbology league. As I couldn't be bothered to try to write two new blogs, and he thinks that the world revolves around him, I considered changing plans. It wasn't much of a ground to be honest, and there wasn't much in the way of history to write about. Instead, I looked at the grounds I'd not been to for ages. Sporting Khalsa fitted the bill as I'd not been there since 2016. It would be nice to get new pictures. There was a Wetherspoons tick for breakfast, and the very, very slim chance that they might be doing samosas or something else delightful in terms of food.

From our game at Wincanton, I drove us home. A bloke at the football warned us that some of the A303 would be closed, and indeed it was, for a fair bit. We were diverted via some horrible backwater route that did no favours for my fuel economy, although the time added onto the journey wasn't terrible. I dropped Colin off at midnight and got home fifteen minutes later. It took me ages to fall asleep, and I got less than three hours of sleep before my 3:50 a.m. alarm. Luckily, it was a short day at work, and I was out by 11, allowing me to grab a nap in the afternoon.  Thursday was a bit of a heller at work, thanks to a chimpanzee in a baseball cap being overly negative and picky. The twazzock was off on Friday, so although it was busy, I was in a good mood and the time went quickly. I was out at 1 and spent the afternoon catching up with things and planning future trips. With no football, a few drinks were enjoyed, and for the immediate future, I resisted switching out my revisit to Rugby Town on Tuesday for a visit to Mendip Broadwalk. Instead, I booked a coach on 1st November for less than £12 from London. A few ciders in one of my favourite cities should be just the ticket and will save a midweek drive.

It was an early night, and as a result, I woke at 6, still a two-hour lie-in. I had plenty of time to watch YouTube, get ready and have breakfast before leaving at 7.35. We had a good drive up to Wednesfield for my revisit to Sporting Khalsa, covered elsewhere on this blog. We left Khalsa at 12.25 with an estimated journey time of an hour. We were doing great until about 1.5 miles from the junction, where we were told 20-minute delay. The number of people getting off and turning right towards Holmes Chapel delayed us for an hour, though. We eventually got to Sandbach, and it was a bit of a pain for motorists. Lots of parking restrictions and only a tiny car park. I chucked my car in a side street and walked the six minutes to the George Inn Wetherspoons, a landmark 450 for me. I had Shawarma Chips and a pint of Black Dragon, which came in at £8.15. Colin had three big plates of food, but his eyes were bigger than his belly. These were both excellent, and we got to the ground ten minutes before kickoff. The organisation was excellent, with us directed to an overflow car park. We then walked to the ground, £6 entry, great value and a pen for £2.

Sandbach United were in 7th place and had won six, drawn one and lost three of their games so far. In their last game, they won 5-0 at Foley Meir. Barnton were 4th, having won seven, drawn two and lost three. In their last game, they lost 4-3 at strugglers Haughmond. The game was nice and competitive, but with not too much quality. Just before half-time, a good scrap after a late Sandbach tackle and a Barnton punch, which resulted in a red card apiece. There were around six dogs and 202 humans in attendance. Sandbach were much the better side, but a combination of good defending, a good save and wasteful finishing kept it goalless. Finally, they scored after a goalmouth scramble on 82 minutes, credited to substitute Goodwin. The game deserved a goal, and it probably went to the right side.

THE GROUND

SANDBACH FOOTBALL CENTRE is a nice setup, despite the seating consisting of two metal drop-in stands; at least these have been given some individuality with them being named in memory of former club stalwarts. There were also a couple of small wooden shelters. The pitch was surrounded by a wooden rail, which was rather unique and aesthetically pleasing/ Food and drink were pretty good, for a wider range, the pleasant town was a half-hour walk away. Parking was great and very well organised. Otherwise, there is a train station in the town. There was also a reasonable range of merch, and I really enjoyed my visit.