Welcome to Colden Common Youth Football Club :: A brief history of our club

Colden Common YFC History

The Club played its first competitive game as Under 11’s in the Eastleigh Mini soccer league in driving rain at Leigh – on – Solent. For two years previously some of the boys had been involved in a very successful Cub team winning the local Cub league and a number of six-a-sides.

That first team played for 5 years under the present chairman Neil Smith’s management in the Saturday morning league and grew more powerful each year with their highlight coming as under 14’s winning the league cup 2-0 against Winchester Crusaders in 1984.

One member of that side Lee Cormack was a regular member of the England schoolboys’ team and later signed as an apprentice with Aston Villa before a serious leg injury ended a promising career.

Having taken that first team as far as the league structure permitted Neil was persuaded to start again and establish a new Under 11 side in 1986. In 1987-88 a second side was established under the guidance of Keith Thompson.

It was about 1990 that the Club really started to develop with a number of teams joining the Tyro league and Jim Nicholson’s side finished runners-up in two consecutive seasons in the Tyro Premier league.

Trevor Scott’s side secured the Under 13 Hampshire Cup and twice finished as champions of the Mid Solent top division.

By 1993 the Club was fielding a side at every age group in the Tyro league and as the junior pitch at the recreation ground could not accommodate all the teams, a number of other venues were being used for home games on a regular basis, particularly Hunters Park in Twyford.

In 1995 the chairman received a telephone call from Jenny Gray, then Parish Council Chairman, advising that 17 acres of land was available for purchase at Boyes Lane. Although on a slight slope it was just the opportunity the Parish and Club needed to provide much needed additional sports & recreation facilities.

The Club led the battle to secure planning permission and once obtained the Council acquired the site in 1996. Trenches for service provision, tree planting, car park excavation and major grants were all secured through the concentrated efforts of dedicated parents.

George Wimpey (house builders) provided portakabins to create changing rooms and the Club
organised the village celebration to open the park formally.
The park provided three pitches of different sizes and facilitated the continued expansion of the Club.

In 1999 following substantial work by the Parish Council Clerk, the National Lottery awarded a significant grant to enable the construction of the present magnificent Pavilion, excellent bowling green and cricket facilities which must make Colden Common the envy of amateur sportsmen and women all around the county.

Also in 1999 the Eastleigh Mini Soccer league was formed providing the first official opportunity for 6-9 year olds to play competitive football. The Club grasped the opportunity and has been a major supporter of the league fielding two teams at every age group.

The millennium saw another major development with the Club hosting its first ever August Bank Holiday Tournament at Thornden School for 50 teams in and around Hampshire. This has become a regular event in the Club calendar and is now held at the park with all the excellent facilities at hand.

One of the most significant developments in the Club’s history came in 2002 when the Football Association awarded Charter Standard status. This was regarded as a ringing endorsement of the Club’s dedication to high standards of behaviour and organisation.

And finally to the present season – 22 teams are enjoying their competitive football in local leagues
The disciplinary record continues to be excellent and seven teams have secured end-of-season awards.

The past 25 years represent a success story of which everyone involved can be very proud – let us hope that the next 25 years are equally successful.

In May 2007 Colden Common U11's A went to Holland and not only won every
single match, they also came back with the fair play award:

Well done to the Under 11's A Team for wining in Holland. Not only did they represent
Southampton Tyro in the Vlaardingen Tournament, they went on to win their age category
with 6 out of 6 wins scoring 24 goals with 2 goals against!
In all, Southampton Tyro came 2nd place with Our boys making the difference
in winning their age category.
Well to done to the boys and their Manager, Alan Fountain & Assistant, Tim Green.

The boys fully enjoyed the Tournament along with the Parents,
and how welcome we were all made to feel.
Not only have the boys done themselves proud, but the club as a whole.

Affiliated to the Hampshire FA

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