Shelf Juniors AFC early days
Nigel Wood and Paul Waggett founded Shelf Juniors AFC in 1992, recognising a need for more football opportunities for young aspiring players in the local area.

Their initial player recruitment drive consisted of simple posters placed at St Michael’s and Shelf Junior & Infant primary schools.

This generated enough interest to form the very first team with over 40 players attending shelfs 1st ever training session.

The club’s distinctive ‘windmill’ badge was inspired by the last surviving corn windmill in the district, which stood on Burned Road, leading to Stanage Lane in Shelf, until the early 1960s.

The community of Shelf Juniors started to grow and parents started to do a lot of fundraising raffles/ jumble sales race nights.

Monies raised went towards equipment, kits to help grow the club.

While the club's first-ever game was a promising 4-3 win over Illingworth at St Michael’s Primary School.

Shelf moved to the Shelf j&I school where Nigel bought a old oil rig shipping container,which would be used as new changing rooms. Parents and coaches helped converting this dirty old container into a great set of changing rooms for the players.

Shelf Juniors started to grown at a fast rate,within 1 year Shelf had over 5 teams from u8s-u12s. Nigel and Paul decided to speak to Calderdale council and got a pitch on shelf park a second home.

Although the team was full of enthusiasm, they faced challenges competing against more established clubs.

losing one cup final before securing a Halifax league title win in 1996 and a cup victory at the Shay .

Nigel and Paul's vision for the club was to provide a positive and supportive environment for young players to develop their skills and love for the game.

Shelf Juniors established in 1992 and are still going strong to this day with over 18 teams inc 3 open age and 5 girls teams.

1000s of kids,Adults have played the beautiful game,Thanks to Nigel and Paul, sat in the windmill pub shelf and having the idea of bringing the community together and establishing this great club.

unfortunately, Nigel is no longer with us who sadly passed away in December 2024

https://www.online-tribute.com/NigelWood

Paul is still living in Shelf and is proud of his and Nigel's achievements, Who's granddaughter is just starting her football journey with shelf.