Trafford Athletic Club
Trafford Athletic Club is a British athletics club based in Stretford, Greater Manchester, England. The club is based primarily at Trafford Athletic Stadium, also known as the Longford Park Stadium on Ryebank Road.
History
In April 1961, Stretford Council approved plans to build a new athletics stadium in Longford Park but the construction did not start until three years later in 1964.In September 1964, the opening of the new stadium at Longford Park took place but the Mayor of Stretford, Councillor William Fearnhead, then called for a club to be set up there. A club duly followed with Ken Owen and Roger Colson sharing the club secretary role and Bill Murphy being the fixture secretary.
In October 1965 the club officially set up their winter headquarters at Longford Park and in February 1966, Streftord AC amalgamated with Cheadle and Gatley AC. Cheadle and Gatley had been based at Scholes Park in Gatley and had produced athletes the calibre of Derek Ibbotson and Peter Warden. Additionally the Cheadle stick man logo was retained by Stretford AC.
The club's first star was Jannette Champion who represented England at the 1970 [British Commonwealth Games|England] at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.
The club excelled at the 1971 AAA Championships with Sharon Colyear and Jannette Champion both winning titles.
The club's first Olympian was Andy Carter in the 800 metres, although Jannette Champion was also selected but did not start. In 1975 Christine Tranter won the English National Cross Country Championships for the club.
The club was renamed in circa.1992 to Trafford Athletic Club, although the press continued to refer to Stretford for some time afterwards. In 1998 the club received a national lottery award of £750,000 to improve facilities.
Honours
- British Athletics League, runner-up; 1977
- UK Women's Athletic League; champions 1979, 1981, 1985
- English National Cross Country Championships winners; 1975,
Notable athletes
Olympians
| Athlete | Events | Games | Medals/Ref |
| Andy Carter | 800m | 1972 | |
| Jannette Roscoe | 1972, 1976 | ||
| Sharon Colyear-Danville | 100m, 100m h, | 1976, 1984 | |
| Janet Marlow | 1500m | 1980 | - |
| Shirley Strong | 100m hurdles | 1980, 1984 | |
| Paula Dunn | 100m, 200m, | 1988 | |
| Lesley-Ann Skeete | 100m hurdles | 1988, 1992 | |
| Sandra Douglas | 40m, | 1992 | |
| Louise Fraser | 400m hurdles | 1992 | |
| Phylis Smith | 400m, | 1992, 1996 | |
| Diane Allahgreen | 100m hurdles | 2000 | |
| Chris Rawlinson | 400m hurdles | 2000, 2004 | |
| Janine Whitlock | pole vault | 2000 | |
| Andrew Steele | 400m, | 2008 | |
| Seren Bundy-Davies | 400m | 2016 |