The Football Club - Bringing Football back to the Village
In the beginning … a number of parents of children at Hollingbourne School, past and present, recognised the absence of opportunity for our village kids to experience and enjoy our nations number one sport.
They witnessed the school’s headmaster, Ralph Baldock, go to tremendous lengths to create fixtures with far less motivated local schools. It was clear that children in Hollingbourne and surrounding villages were missing out. This was highlighted by the fact that six of the older boys were obliged to join a Maidstone-based team after leaving Hollingbourne Primary School.
The manager of that team made an initial attempt to bring his team — with its nucleus of Hollingbourne boys — to play in the village under a new name. He was thwarted due to his misunderstanding of the workings of local league football. He had not anticipated other member clubs’ concerns about a new team joining whereas it was only a name change in real terms.
It was at this stage that it was decided that we should look beyond that one team and create “Hollingbourne Football Club”.
Our objective is … to create a complete club, generating teams in several age ranges, inviting boys and girls from Hollingbourne and adjacent local villages to take up the chance to be coached toward competitive football, learning the basic skills, developing the right attitudes, having fun and being active.
We want to give kids from our villages a choice other than to roam the streets for entertainment. We believe that a team sport like football is good for the individual child, teaching them a number of important life-skills, and good for village life in Hollingbourne in particular.
In this day of ‘use it or lose it’ the utilisation of a key village facility — the sports field — can bring new life to Hollingbourne as well as enhancing relationships with its neighbours.
The story so far … is that we have tested the market.
After circulating leaflets in the latter days of the last school year, we began offering football coaching from 7 August 2003 to boys and girls from age 6 up to school year six. We created funds to buy equipment and, under the watchful eye of a qualified coach, waited to see if there was any interest.
Had we over-estimated the demand? Had we wasted our time?
No. Numbers have grown steadily and the word is spreading now that schools are back.
Charging only £1 per session, we have ensured that the kids have fun whilst taking on the rudiments of the game. All monies have been invested straight back into more equipment: footballs, mini-goals, poles, etc.
The success so far has been in no small part down to a few dedicated soles but more people are stepping forward to get involved.
The problem is … that those involved insist on doing it the right and proper way for the kids. If the club is going to have a future, it must be built on solid foundations.
It is essential that all adults associated with running teams fulfil the FA’s Charter Mark requirements by gaining the appropriate coaching qualification and getting clearance on a police check. The children must have that level of protection.
Secondly, we need to maintain a mid-week facility for training in the village. As no indoor facility exists we need adequate lighting for sporting activities erected on the field. This must be multi-directional (to eliminate shadows) and of a high enough brightness (lux value) to make the environment accident free.
There is also the problem of providing league application fees, kit for all teams, more equipment (balls, goals, cones, etc), finding or training referees and an army of volunteers!
We have the financial support … from within the Club and outside authorities.
The essential investment, needed to ensure that the club is built on strong foundations, will come from the club itself and Hollingbourne Parish Council. Together we have already secured major grant funding from Maidstone Borough Council, which will allow us to build a secure future for the Club.
The Parish Council are continuing to investigate ways to support the Club, including a scheme to build an all-weather multi-sport floodlit area that could also be made available to other local teams.
Thanks also to the Parish funding, the cost of training our junior managers will not fall entirely on the individual.
Several local companies are keen to sponsor teams and fund-raising quizzes, supported by village residents, have already raised valuable contributions.
Last but not least, our facilities allow us to offer teas, coffees and bacon-butties to visiting teams and their supporters. This is already proving a reliable source of additional income.
We have the facilities … to run several teams at the Lance Memorial Playing Field, in Hollingbourne, which includes use of the Cardwell Pavillion and car park adjacent to the field. The field currently is laid out to provide an 11-a-side pitch, with space remaining to establish two mini-soccer pitches. We are also negotiating use of Hollingbourne School’s pitch as a back-up. The Pavillion facilities include dressing rooms, showers and toilets. Kitchen facilities allow us to offer welcoming hot and cold food and drink. This is already proving popular with visiting clubs, especially on those bitter cold winter mornings. We have raised sufficient funds to date to have a selection of training accessories, which we will add to as money allows.
We have the people … to run the teams, do the coaching, raise the funds and lend support.
Our chairman, Glenn Aitken, is an ex-professional footballer (Gillingham, Wimbledon and Maidstone United) and qualified coach, with a diploma in sports psychology. He is currently chief executive and a director of Gravesend & Northfleet Football Club, in the Nationwide Conference League.
Treasurer Brendan McLoone has years of experience in senior and project management, whilst our secretary, Sarah O’Connell is a previous Parish Clerk.
We have two qualified coaches and three parents who are now registered on level one training courses. Plus, a host of helpers and volunteers.
The support we get from the Parish Council is more than just words. It is active and committed support.
To whom it may concern … we, the committee for Hollingbourne Football Club, invite you to support our efforts with your ideas, your advice, your money or your vote.
The objective is to have a healthy football club, with teams in several age groups, consisting of a minimum 60% of players from Hollingbourne and its school. This is the commitment we have made to the Parish Council.
Additional players will come through our coaching schemes, which will be open to neighbouring villages.
The result could ensure a healthy football club capable of generating fresh blood each year from the new intake of junior schools around the area.
Please contact any of the following;
Chairman: Glenn Aitken 07770 454444
Vice-Chairman: Mark Phelan 01622 880766
Secretary: Sarah O’Connell 01622 880340
Treasurer: Brendan McLoone 01622 880197
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The Cricket club
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