WYFC
Worthys Youth Football Club
We are driven by a common passion, a love for movement, competition, and the joy of play. Founded with the belief that sports should be accessible and enjoyable for all, we've created a vibrant community where people of diverse backgrounds and abilities come together.
Our History
The existing junior section of the club was formed in 1997 with an U9s team who played in the North Hants Youth League. Until the 2005/06 season, the club operated under the loose umbrella of the Worthies Sports and Social Club. Within this all teams were run independently with separate funding, management and coaching.
There was co-operation between teams with players' kit, management of pitches, child protection and presentation evenings, but no formal structure existed. In January 2006, the Worthys Youth Football Club was established. The committee comprised coaches only, with Andy Court presiding as chairman, ably assisted for many years thereafter by Mike Bridge, Peter Wooldridge, Tim Beanland and Richard Allerston.
In August 2006, only eight months after joining forces, the club was awarded the FA Charter Standard Development Club status. This achievement has been recognised by the Hampshire FA, who have used the club as a model of good practice for other clubs in the county.
It was coach and committee member Richard Allerston who helped take the club to another level in the shape of the men's team - Worthys FC - set up in 2013/14. Richard's side went on to enjoy nine seasons playing together before teammates and coach decided to wind things down at the end of season 2020/21.
After founding club chair Andy Court stepped down in the 2008/09 season, Worthys coach Tom Andrew-Power felt the challenge was his to lead the club, which he did so successfully for the next decade. TAP lived and breathed the club's ethos of the spirit of equality and fun - a positive vision of children playing and enjoying their football as it should be played. When Tom hung up his boots in 2019, Worthys coaches Aaron Brown and Matt Russell were keen to take over from where Tom left off, joining up as co-chair and co-secretary and drawing together a fantastic committee made up of coaches and parents from within the club.
Today
We are very much a community club, now one of the largest in the Testway League, with 26 teams registered, including six girls’ teams. We pride ourselves in never holding trials, but welcoming and encouraging all youngsters aged five to 18 who simply want to play or train with the club and enjoy their football.
We believe this philosophy sets us apart from many grassroots clubs and we are proud to say that we have over 40 volunteer coaches who believe passionately in this inclusive and team-centred approach to youth football.
The growth and success of girls’ football continue at an incredible pace, both locally and around the world. Much of this success in the UK has stemmed from Wildcats football, introduced by the FA and then developed within clubs like ours and led by our awesome coaches.
The Future
We now enjoy a partnership with Kings Worthy Primary School and use their two pitches for the younger ages. We are also greatly appreciative of the relationships we share with Kings Worthy and Micheldever parish councils in terms of pitch provision. We are always welcoming new coaches and players where numbers allow as well as promoting teenagers towards their refereeing badges and parents/coaches to joining the committee.
We also welcome young adults assisting our teams in a coaching capacity as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award.
The club believes in investing in people and we would love some new faces to step forward and join our committee.
Should you wish to become involved, please email our chair at [email protected]
