Editing Formby (section)

==Sport==
This stretch of coast is famous for links golf courses such as [[Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club|Southport & Ainsdale]], [[Hillside Golf Club|Hillside]], West Lancashire, Hesketh and [[Royal Birkdale]]. Formby is home to another championship quality golf course – [[Formby Golf Club]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.southportreporter.com/139/southportreporter139-11.shtml|title=Curtis Cup 2004 Formby|work=Southport Reporter|date=12 June 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716112733/http://www.southportreporter.com/139/southportreporter139-11.shtml|archive-date=16 July 2011}}</ref> However, the club, unlike its neighbour Royal Birkdale, does not have the capacity to host large events such as The Open Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.englandsgolfcoast.com/site/courses/formby-golf-club|title=Courses|work=England's Golf Coast|access-date=30 November 2015}}</ref> Formby has a cricket club based down Cricket Path in Freshfield that plays in the [[Liverpool and District Cricket Competition]]; this also has squash courts and a large [[AstroTurf]] hockey pitch.

The town also had a football team called [[Formby F.C.]] who played in the [[North West Counties Football League]] [[North West Counties Football League Division One|First Division]]. They played at Altcar Road, behind Tesco just off the A565 Formby Bypass, having moved in the summer of 2002 from their town centre home at Brows Lane. That site is now occupied by Formby Pool which opened on 27 January 2007. The biggest game in the club's history was in November 1973 when they faced [[Oldham Athletic F.C.|Oldham Athletic]] in the First Round of the F.A Cup.

In addition, a variety of youth sporting groups are based in Formby. These include Formby Junior Sports Club (FJSC) known locally as "Rourke's League" after Jim Rourke [[Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire|MBE]] (1912–2006)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.southportreporter.com/226/226-16.shtml|title=Formby Loses Favourite Father Figure, Jim Rourke MBE, 1912 – 2006|work=Southport Reporter|date=13 February 2006|access-date=30 November 2015}}</ref> who founded the club on 2 January 1959.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.formbytimes.co.uk/formby-sport/2009/01/21/fjsc-celebrates-its-50th-anniversary-this-month-phil-kirkbride-looks-back-66401-22735744|title=FJSC celebrates its 50th anniversary this month. Phil Kirkbride looks back|work=Formby Times|date=21 January 2009|first=Philip|last=Kirkbride|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123235222/http://www.formbytimes.co.uk/formby-sport/2009/01/21/fjsc-celebrates-its-50th-anniversary-this-month-phil-kirkbride-looks-back-66401-22735744/|archive-date=23 January 2009}}</ref> Rourke continued to attend the club into his 90s.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2004/09/17/junior-jim-a-real-marvel-100252-14653277|title=Junior Jim a real marvel |work=Liverpool Echo|date=17 September 2004|access-date=30 November 2015}}</ref> Over 600 children ranging in age from 5 to 16 years meet at Deansgate Lane Playing Fields to play football at various times throughout Saturday mornings during the football season. The club welcomes children of all abilities, there are no trials or criteria to meet; every member plays every week. The club also fields numerous representative teams in local junior leagues (e.g. the Craven Minor League).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.formbyfcjuniors.co.uk/MATCHREPORTS22.html|title=Formby FC Juniors}} {{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Formby is also home to Formby Dons Football Club, who operate 3 teams, playing their home games at Duke Street Park. In 2007, Formby Vikings Rugby Union Team was established to include a wide range of ages including a colts first 15 team.