History of the Club
The club was formed in January 1997, the reason for the club starting was to give a small group of boys more of an opportunity to play competitive football every week as opposed to an occasional foray into the first team, which at that time seemed to be the only option open at an existing clubs. The parents were asked for £25.00 each and Keith Osborne and Alan Green were able to secure sponsorship and kit to get the club off the ground. Within two weeks of the formation of the Club Membership rose from 9 to14, at which point we played our first ever game against Woodingdean which ended in a draw. By the middle of the summer membership was up to 16 players. We affiliated to the Sussex County FA so we could initially play friendly matches and enter tournaments, following which we entered the Sussex Sunday Youth League, where the team enjoyed a number of successful seasons under the coaching of Iain Barron. We started an ‘Under 8’s team and ‘Under 14’s’ team in 1999, and 2000. In 2001 saw a new ‘Under 7’s’ team, bringing our total membership up to over eighty boys. 2001 was a difficult year for the club with Iain Barron and Alan Green leaving the club to continue their interest in youth football else where.
As ever willing sponsors have stepped forward to support each team, and we are justifiably proud of the facilities and equipment the Club now provide to each team and team coach.
A number of parents have helped to build the team from it’s first faltering steps to the efficient, well run club of today, and it is the family atmosphere that we believe as much as anything sets us apart from other clubs. On any Sunday match day, or Friday evening training session you will see parents involved in some way with training, helping prepare the pitch, or providing transport to and from venues. A number of parents have also trained as FA coaches, First Aiders and Referees to ensure the required expertise is always available.
We started a new group of Under 7s in May 2002, we now have 8 affiliated teams in 5 age groups and have 15 qualified coaches, the committee and coaches have attended a FA child protection workshop recently. We are already planning a further major expansion of the club in 2003.
In July 2002 the Club was awarded the FA Charter Standard Development Club, making us the first community club in Brighton & Hove to receive the award, and only the third in the county.
In May 2003 we started not only a new under 7s group but for the first time a girls group at under 11s
Expansion continued in 2004 06 07 with another three new age groups
In 2007 the club was ten years old and celebrations took place on Sunday 22ndApril 2007 we also started new u6 and u7.
we now have 12 teams and over 200 children
The FA Nationwide
Charter Standard Development Club Award
On Thursday 8th August 2002 the Chairman Ivan Over and Secretary Kevin Aughney attended a charity Football day in aid of the NSPCC at the FA headquarters at Lancing, our own under 10s were there by invitation of the FA to play in a seven a side tournament. During the course of the afternoon Ivan was presented with our newly acquired Charter Standard Development Club Award certificate from Ron Pavey Chairman of SCFA, also present was Ken Benham Chief Executive, Henry Millington Chief Coach and Development Officer and Kevin Tharme Assistant development Officer.
Receiving the award is a new landmark in the Clubs history, we are the first community club in Brighton & Hove to receive the award, and only the third in the county.
The other two Clubs with the award are Adur Athletic FC and Brighton & Hove Albion Ladies & Girls FC.
FA Charter Standard
The F.A.'s Football Development Team works with County Associations, leagues, clubs and schools all round the country to award Charter Standards to deserving recipients.
The Charter Standard, part of the on-going Charter for Quality scheme, aims to:
Providing a nationally recognised
quality control 'kitemark'
Improving the quality of
provision for boys and girls
Sustaining participation for
players over a longer period of time
Raising standards
