Established football club Westland United has changed its name to Uphill Castle Football Club.

SOMERSET County League side Westland United Football Club has changed its name to Uphill Castle.

Established in 1962, Westland United was formed by Westland Helicopters, playing in the Somerset County and Weston and District Leagues and success followed through the years winning many leagues and cups.

In 2010, the committee began to discuss the long-term future of the club and how it could support football at a higher level, providing a greater opportunity for those wishing to participate in the local area. Wheels were set in motion to find a new home away from the facilities that they had spent so long at on Winterstoke Road.

By 2011, discussions were in the advanced stages with Uphill Castle Cricket Club as to how a partnership could be worked, with a view that a long-term plan of having an all-year round sports club at the Bridgwater Road ground.

Neil Keeling was instrumental in securing the move and the wider committee all played their part in a host of meetings between the two clubs to make the move a final reality.

From the extensive work to make sure the ground was fit to meet county league standards to keeping the whole team motivated to remain on board through what ended up to be a long, but in the end, fruitful exercise.

The first full season at the new home was a challenge, in particular in no great thanks to the weather. But again the resolution of the entire committee ensured that the success and future growth of the club was going to happen.

By December 2012, the first team had won no games, were bottom of the league and the pitch had been played on twice. By the end of the season, there was a new lease of life at the club, new committee members were joining, a new junior section had been formed and there was a near mid-table finish for the first team.

After more than 50 years as Westland United, the club is now in the final stages of amalgamating with Uphill Castle to become one club. The future could not be brighter and the prospects of many years of success to come are almost a certainty.

To get involved with the exciting things that are happening and for details of pre-season training, please contact Anthony Askins (first team manager) on 07590 499908 or Andy Whyte (reserve team manager) on 07549 041434.