Announcements Archives - Hythe & Dibden Youth Football Club

End of an era for U18 Panthers Girls

November 3, 2025/in Announcements, Girls Football/by James Golding

It is with great sadness that we must announce our first ever girls team has reached the end of the road. U18 Panthers in their final season of girls football, will not be able to complete the season.

The Panthers players and coaches have been an absolute inspiration, blazing a trail for countless girls teams to follow at Hythe & Dibden YFC. The club could not be prouder of the group, and all they’ve achieved with this wonderful group of young women.

Ella, one of the original players who has been with the team since their inception, has provided a statement on behalf of the girls.

Some of you may know our team as panthers, some of you may know our team as Starlights and some of you may know our team as the very first girls team to be formed at Hythe and Dibden YFC.

Panthers has been formed since 2015 and has developed massively throughout the years. Unfortunately, after going from having 5 subs to struggling to get the bare 11, we have had to collectively make the decision to fold. When you get to our age other commitments take priority, college, work and fitting in that reset time that we all need. As well as this, some of us are leaving to take our next steps into the world of adult football which is an amazing opportunity not only for personal development but for all girls wanting to go further with their football journey when the time is right.

As upsetting as this is for us all, we are all leaving proud knowing we have inspired the younger age groups of girls to get involved and sign up to the amazing club that hythe and dibden is. I have played for panthers since the very start in 2015 and have been lucky enough to be the vice captain of the team for a little over 2 years along side Isabelle as our solid captain and incredible Centre back.

Since 2015 where girls football at hythe and dibden yfc all begun, more and more girls have got themselves involved with now 16 girls teams, ages ranging from under 7’s to under 16’s, not including the girls only soccer school too. i am forever grateful for being able to play for such an amazing team with friendships that i’ve formed for a life time. sometimes situations aren’t ideal and it is unfortunate that this is how we’ve had to end our journey together, but we leave with our heads held high after so many impactful years.

From myself and all of us at panthers, we would like to give the biggest thank you to our coaches, Ian and Mark. They, as well, have been here from the beginning and we are all so incredibly grateful for their dedication week after week. From myself personally i would like to give an extra big thank you to Ian and Mark for never giving up on me as an individual player. They have been with me through my entire footballing journey and as much as i know it’s not always been easy, you guys have helped me think more positively, and developed my self confidence much more than i ever thought somebody could.

Although we’ve suffered losses for the majority of those weeks, they never gave up on us. We couldn’t have done it without you guys. Those of us who have played in the past few weeks know how much each of us have fought for this team to remain however with lack of numbers this just isn’t possible. Although our journey together is over, our individual journeys are just beginning.

I wish you all the best of luck for what you all choose to go on and accomplish.

lots of love
Ella O’Reilly
U18 Panthers player

A huge thanks to Ella, coaches Ian and Mark, and all the girls who’ve played a part in the story of this team. Once a Panther, always a Panther. 🇳🇬⚽️🐆

Introducing… Hythe & Dibden Womens Football Club!

April 22, 2024/in Announcements, Girls Football/by James Golding

• OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE •

We’re delighted to announce that our adult women’s partner club, Eling Ladies FC will now be known as Hythe & Dibden Womens Football Club!

Incredible news, that we now have the pathway to adult football for females in the area. Over the last 5 years we have seen the growth of girls football skyrocket, to the point where in the last few seasons we’ve been able to offer football to girls from the ages 5 to 18, with a girls only soccer school for year R and 1 girls, and a team at every age group from U7’s right through to U18’s. Several age groups now have multiple girls teams, including 3 girls teams at U10s!

Making our partnership with Eling Ladies FC more official, and bringing them under the Hythe & Dibden umbrella is an amazing milestone, and really puts Hythe & Dibden on the map as one of the leading providers of female football in Hampshire, and will soon be featuring in a female football case study for Hampshire FA!

Luke Smith has been passionate about womens football since he started Eling Ladies, and has been a driving force behind the development. As current Eling Ladies chairman, shall remain in control of the Women’s section as the new ‘Head of Womens Football’ and shall still remain as manager of the team.

Home games on the main pitch on the main pitch at the Hythe Garage Stadium, have access to the changing rooms, physio room, access to the clubhouse on Sundays for after match socialising and hosting of away teams, whilst also having access to the side pitch for Summer training.

Training will be at Applemore school, alongside the U18 girls, to create a close link and relationship between those looking to make the next step into adult football. We are really excited to be able to offer young girls the opportunity to train alongside the women, and be inspired by them!

And similarly, we are excited to get the Hythe & Dibden FC mens team training at Applemore next season, where we will be looking to do that same thing in terms of creating a pathway and giving U18s the opportunity and visibility on what the next step looks like.

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“We’ve been working with Eling Ladies for over a year now to create a pathway for girls into adult football, and couldn’t be happier with the result. The U18 girls that have played adult football with Eling this season have found a positive, nurturing, enjoyable and well run environment that aligns perfectly with our values as a Youth Football Club. To make this partnership official and connect with the mens team at the same time is fantastic for everyone involved, and for the community. With 170+ girls at Hythe & Dibden YFC currently and growing fast, it’s amazing to know that all the young girls coming through have an opportunity in the area to continue playing football, and enjoy all the benefits that it brings. A massive thanks to Luke Smith, Neil Wright, Steve Norris, Dave & Vanessa Cox, and everyone involved in making this happen. This is a huge step forward!”

James Golding

Hythe & Dibden YFC Chairman

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The future’s bright in green and white!

#WeAllCanPlay

Eling Ladies FC

Hythe & Dibden FC

Hampshire FA Grassroots Club of the Year WINNERS 2023

July 3, 2023/in Announcements/by James Golding

We’re incredibly proud to announce that Hythe & Dibden YFC have been awarded the Hampshire FA Grassroots Club of the Year 2023 award… again!

After receiving the same accolade in 2019 we weren’t sure how we would top such a high level of recognition from English football’s governing body. But to receive it twice in the space of four years is an incredible honour, for everyone involved at the club.

This award belongs to all of us. Players. Parents and spectators. Coaches. Helpers who run the line and referee, collect subs, man the kiosk, arrange socials and more. Your hard work and excellent conduct as well as belief and support in what the club is trying to do is fundamental to this success. And of course our incredible club committee, volunteers who put in a huge level of effort, consistently going above and beyond to keep the club operating at the highest possible standards.

A huge thanks also for our sponsors, MIMO Connect and Robertson ETOs. Their support makes a huge difference to the club’s ability to operate and provide excellent kits for the children and young people at the club.

It’s fantastic to hear that we were cited by Hampshire FA as being “incredibly inclusive“, as inclusivity is incredibly important to us. At Hythe & Dibden YFC it’s our mission to empower as many children and young people as possible with positive skills and values through football. Our club motto is ‘We All Can Play’. This comes from our belief that the benefits of football should be available to all.

Hampshire FA also informed us that one of the other reasons for the award was to do with the excellent learning experiences delivered by our volunteer coaches.

“The teaching and learning experience offered was of high quality, allowing all children the opportunity to shine and thrive in the environment and with a workforce that truly cares about its participants.”
Hampshire FA

This is particularly pleasing also, as many of our team of dedicated volunteer coaches put in so much effort behind the scenes attending education workshops and CPD events, researching practices, and working together and with the club mentors to develop their teaching skills and techniques.

We will not rest on this achievement, and are looking forward to pushing the club in the right direction for the coming 2023/24 season, with lots of exciting plans including coach mentoring, facilities improvements, and pathway. Watch this space.

The future is bright in green and white.

See the Hampshire FA awards page

We’re backing Play Safe

September 12, 2022/in Announcements/by James Golding

Hythe & Dibden YFC is lending its full support to Play Safe – an ongoing national campaign led by The FA to raise awareness of the importance of safeguarding in football.

Although it runs throughout the year, Play Safe really comes to the fore over football’s National Safeguarding Weekend, held this year on Saturday/Sunday 17^th and 18^th September.

The main focus this year is on parents and carers, with two key messages to convey:

Awareness of the vital safeguarding role parents/carers play in football; and
Encouragement to take the short, new and free online safeguarding course that’s been created specifically for parents/carers. You can access the course here.

Importantly, encouragement to take the new course has come from FASSSAG – The FA’s Survivor Support and Safeguarding Advisory Group:

“We have inputted into the course and helped frame its key messages from our collective experiences. It’s vitally important to us that every parent/carer understands they role they need to play in football. Taking this course can make a real difference – we are asking every parent/carer to commit to help ensure football is ever-safer.”

The support of FASSSAG has been welcomed by FA Chief Executive Mark Bullingham, himself a parent and youth football coach. “The FASSSAG has been important in helping us create our new strategy moving forwards and we really appreciate their input into the new course. I have taken the new course and encourage all parents/carers across football to take it too.

“Ultimately, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. We all need to ensure that everyone involved in football – particularly children and young people – has a consistently safe and positive experience of our great game. Play Safe reminds everyone of that responsibility and keeps safeguarding front of mind, which is exactly where it should be.”

Hythe & Dibden YFC Chairman James Golding said:

“Safeguarding is something that’s always been important to Hythe & Dibden YFC as a club, so we’re pleased that the FA is promoting these important messages to all involved in the wider footballing community.”

Play Safe is being run in partnership with the NSPCC and has the full backing of the Premier League, EFL, Barclays Women’s Super League and Barclays Women’s Championship. It’s also supported and being run across every other level of the game.

A LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

June 10, 2022/in Announcements/by James Golding

Wayne Harris – Club Chairman, Hythe & Dibden YFC

Well it seems like the season has flown past as just like that we enter Tournament season having completed another successful year at the club. It was great to finally have an undisrupted season following the 2 previous seasons with lockdowns.

Following COVID we were delighted to see the club grow even more with more teams then ever playing. The children were excited to be back playing with their friends and enjoying being outside again. It wascertainly a testing time for the club with new guidance and guidelines week on week but with the help from parents, players and coaches we made it work. Thank You.

Starting on the pitch we once again saw our number of local girls joining the club increase. By far one of the proudest achievements the club has had. From 2 girls 5 years ago, we now have over 100 girls within the club. A truly remarkable effort. A personal Thank you to the coaches who have inspired and driven girls’ football to a new level on the waterside. #weallcanplay

Once again there were multiple teams in every age group representing and this will grow again next season following another remarkable mini’s programme of futsal and soccer school. This really is the future of the club and remains a hugely important part of our continued success. Well done to Josh and the team.

Off the pitch saw us secure our long-term future with Applemore School and the wonderful playing facility, a partnership we are very proud of. Moving forward further investment into the facility will see the clubs home go from strength to strength.

We are also delighted to announce that for the first time in 3 years we can host an annual tournament and presentation evening. Both events have been sorely missed so we can’t wait for the summer to arrive.

On a personal note, this will be my last year with the club. My football journey has always followed my eldest son’s team as the team coach and now that team are beginning to enter senior football it seems the right time to say goodbye.

I joined the club in 2013 and have spent 8 of those years on the committee, 4 of them as chairman and I’ve loved every minute. I was lucky enough to work alongside Phil, Paul and Terry as previous Chairmen and learnt a lot from them and I feel I’ve been able to continue the growth and excellence of the standards set before me. When I look back at our development plan we have certainly achieved a lot in the last 4 years together.

Obviously, the strength behind any voluntary organisation is the people and this club has been blessed with an amazingly dedicated group of committee members, some of the most hard working, loyal, wonderful people I’ve ever met and I really can’t Thank you enough.

A personal Thanks to Steve, John, Kati & Paul who have been there from the beginning of my time on the committee, you truly are the reason this club is so great. Thank you.

I can’t name every coach who has been a part of the club but to you all Thank you and well done for giving up your time to volunteer. True heroes of the local community.

Lastly, Thank you the children and parents. You are the reason the volunteers are so dedicated. You are their inspiration.

A good friend of mine told me when I took the role, “buddy, remember you can’t please all of the people all of the time” and he was right, but I promise it never stopped me trying!

Best Wishes

Wayne Harris – Club Chairman, Hythe & Dibden YFC

HYTHE & DIBDEN YFC FINALISES THE DONATION OF USED FOOTBALL KITS TO AFRICA

June 7, 2022/in Announcements/by Oliver Berry

PRESS RELEASE: JUNE 2022

We our proud to announce that we have completed our Kit-To-Africa campaign, with hundreds of used football kits now on their way to Africa to be donated to under privileged children and young people.

Over the last few years we have stockpiled as much kit as possible, in order to send a sizeable contribution, and have finally managed to get the shipment arranged. The donation consists mainly of old playing and training kit from the club’s children, but was also bolstered by kit donations by children from other local clubs, including boots and training equipment.

Several local businesses have helped with the collation of the kit, as well as some of the young players from the club.

We are confident the kits will be put to good use and improve the football experiences of many young people in Africa. Many children in the communities we’re supporting have so little they play barefoot, and only own one or two sets of clothes. Football is an incredible tool for teaching values, having fun and bringing communities together, and hopefully some proper kit and equipment will help with that.

Hythe & Dibden YFC committee member James Golding said “As a youth football club we’re all about inclusivity and giving as many young people the opportunity to enjoy the sport. We’re very fortunate to be in a position where we can provide our young players with good quality playing kits, but weren’t comfortable with the idea of old kit going to waste. Putting this kit to good use in Africa is the perfect solution, it will give young people in less privileged parts of the world the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful game as we do. And it’s fantastic to know we’re making a positive difference to the lives of young people in another part of the world.”

Following the success of this campaign the club will continue the partnership every season, and hope to deliver an even better package next summer.

We’re currently looking for applications for players to join our Junior Committee!

April 30, 2022/in Announcements, Junior Committee/by James Golding

Is your child a future leader? Would they like to have their say about the running of their football club?

We’re currently looking for applications for players to join our Junior Committee!

We’ll get together with them periodically to listen to their opinions/views and to come up with ideas for the running of the club, and make sure we’re all making decisions that benefit the people we’re all here for – our young players! Hopefully we’ll also help develop their teamwork and diplomacy skills, and have a bit of fun along the way.

We ideally need one or two per team or age group. Anyone interested can email Kati at [email protected]

This is open to any player registered at the club, whether they’ve been part of the junior committee previously or not.

#WeAllCanPlay #YouthEmpowement #GrowingFutureLeaders

We’re backing Play Safe

November 20, 2021/in Announcements, Parents/by James Golding

A message from the Chairman

September 3, 2021/in Announcements/by James Golding

Well, as the start of the season is almost here I’m surely not the only one wondering how quickly the summer holidays went. It all started off with the country being bought together with the incredible performance of our national team who came so close to making history. In doing so it’s clear another generation has been inspired, our ever increasing soccer school numbers back that up.

It’s been a strange year for our football club, another stop start season, another year without a tournament or presentation. I really hope our children and parents get to enjoy an un disrupted season and next year we can all look forward to a fantastic tournament and presentation.

We welcome new teams and volunteers to the club who I’m sure will have lots of fun along the way and make lots of new friends.

It’s also another success for our growth of girls football in the area. 6 years ago we had 2 girls participating within the club but after a successful girls festival followed by a hugely effective Wildcats program we now have almost 90 girls within the club which includes 6 girls teams as well as many girls who play in mixed teams. Outstanding achievement by our dedicated volunteers.

I’d like to use this opportunity to thank the club committee, with the season stopping and starting this has brought lots of extra meetings, discussions and difficult decisions. Often guidance and risk assessments being worked on late into the night to ensure everyone was kept up to date. It’s this work that people don’t see but is vital to keep the club running and more importantly to keep everyone as safe as can be. Guys, thank you.

I’d also like to thank New Forest Care and particularly Rich White as we enter our last year of sponsorship with them. NFC and Rich have supported the club for a number of years and have played a huge part in our growth. They’ve not only offered financial support but also have been hugely important at our tournaments. NFC and its staff always went above and beyond to ensure we could deliver the best tournament possible. Thank you Rich and the team at NFC.

Lastly, a message to our players and parents. thank you for your support, patience and understanding during the last year as well as your co operation during some really testing times. We hope things are in place now to ensure you all have a fantastic season in Green & White.

Play well, play fair but above all have fun.

Best Wishes

Wayne Harris
Chairman – Hythe & Dibden YFC

New Training Kit released for the 2021/22 season

June 22, 2021/in Announcements/by James Golding

Say hello to black and yellow!

Here’s our new training kit in all it’s glory. It’s top quality gear as always from PUMA Teamwear and our kit partners FootballKitsDirect.com. The kids will stand out in these bright yellow tops, with the monotone club badge and logo of our amazing kit sponsor, New Forest Care. We hope you like it! Can’t wait to see the kids training with this one next season! They won’t be missed!

Please follow our Facebook page to stay up to date with more news and announcements coming soon. #NewKit #WeAllCanPlay