Under 7 Team Win Heathfield Tournament Saturday May 3rd 2008
(see Club Photo Gallery for more photos)
2008/09 SEASON
I would like to welcome each and every one of you to Wadhurst United Junior Football Club.
Training has started for the new season and we have 150 players registered in 7 ages groups from Under 7's to Under 16's in the Crowborough & District League.
If you are interested in joining the club or want details on when we training please use the contact button above.
We have just celebrated one of our most succesful seasons to date and hear are just some of the highlights...
· The under 7’s winning the Heathfield Football for Peace Festival.
· The under 9’s and 12’s reaching the quarter finals at Pembury.
· 3 teams playing at West Ham, Upton Park - of which two reached the semi finals.
· The under 16’s and 12’s both coming third in their leagues.
· The under 9’s being promoted at Christmas to the top of 4 divisions, playing with the best of the best.
The quality of play from all our teams and players is getting better and stronger, building a club which its starting to take centre stage in the area and competing strongly against the best. And the quality of the players coming through in the under 5 and 6’s give the club a brilliant base for the future.
Our Unsung Heroes.....
Running this club takes the time and help of many! However, like many clubs, we don’t have many who come forward to volunteer their services, so we rely heavily on just a few. A number of these work tirelessly and without complaint behind the scenes… now is the time to say a big thank you to...
· Our fantastic treasurer Dave Kersse for running what is now a small business and keeping us all on track!
· The groundforce team - Keith and John for the hours of pitch marking, come rain, snow, fog or shine!
· The tuck shop crew - Thys and Jenny
· Nicholas Craig for always helping out.
· Lou Jones and Trudi O’Neill for going beyond the call of duty and keeping the wheels turning.
· Tamsin Beech for making sure our children are protected.
· All our coaches and helpers without whom there would be no club.
A HUGE THANK YOU!!!!
Wadhurst JFC Future Development
After a second successive season of growth both on and off the field, it is time to take a look at our plans for the forthcoming season and beyond. The primary aim of the Club is to achieve Charter Status, this will enable us to apply for funding that is crucial if we are to meet the needs of our rapidly expanding membership.
The club is in desperate need of new pitches both at Mini and Junior 11-a-side football. The current facility at Sparrows Green is limited to 4 mini’s pitches and one small training pitch, and we currently use 11-a-side pitches at both Stonegate and Ticehurst.
We plan through funding and our own fund raising to both improve and expand the pitches at Sparrows Green over the next two years, to give us not only 4 mini’s pitches and two Junior 11-a-side pitches, but a better and flatter playing surface.
At the same time we are going to improve the levels of coaching throughout the club. We recognise that Wadhurst is now the club of choice, and therefore we need to meet that demand and cater for the expanding membership. All helpers and coaches will be required to attain at least a FA Level 1 coaching badge, and a number will be trained to Level 2 and beyond. We will also be looking to bring in Specialist Coaches and to further improve our equipment with the purchase of not only new goals, balls, bibs and kit, but new training aids for each age group.
Finally, a lot of work has gone on this year by our Welfare Officers to get all our Managers and helpers CRB checked, this is a prerequisite of Charter Status, and by September only those with the appropriate CRB will be allowed to be involved with the teams.
The Club is definitely going in the right direction, we just need to ensure that we have the infrastructure in place- so we are always looking for those who can contribute in any way, either in terms of time, expertise or financially!
Tim Anstee
Chairman