Club Background
Our History 1 of 2

1. Club Background


Central Ajax F.C. was founded in 1978 as Ajax FC, named after the much-admired European Champions of the time Ajax Amsterdam. The Club’s eventual name originates from their first ‘home’, three pitches situated in the grounds of the Central Hospital at Hatton. In 1989 the Club were informed of the future closing of the hospital and the development of the grounds for housing. The search for a new home culminated in the purchase of nearly 20 acres of fields in Hampton Road. Ajax Park was opened for play in 1994 with pitches having been levelled, drains inserted and seed planted. The pitches at the club are still renowned as some of the best around today and we are one of the few local football clubs to boast our own privately run site. Much like our counterparts in the Netherlands, the club albeit on a lesser level, is renowned for developing young talent. The most famous player to come through the club is former England and Manchester United Goalkeeper Ben Foster. The current West Brom stopper spent 10 years of his development at the club.