Hythe & Dibden Youth Football Club

The pitch that became the heart of a community

Luke Mostran — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:14:57 +0000

The pitch that became the heart of a community

September 2026

Hythe & Dibden Youth FC has reopened its resurfaced 3G pitch and a new pavilion, with 650 children, more than 200 girls and 160 adult volunteers now at a club whose facility pays for its own future

Hythe & Dibden Youth FC reopened the resurfaced 3G pitch at Applemore College on Friday 4th September, alongside their new pavilion that gives the 27 year old club a permanent home for the first time in its history.

Teams from across the club took to the new surface after a ribbon cutting at 5pm, watched by families, volunteers and guests from Hampshire FA, New Forest District Council and Applemore College.

A facility that outgrew its own school

Nine years after the original pitch was laid, the scale of what it supports is easy to underestimate. Around 650 children now play for Hythe & Dibden, more than the number of pupils on roll at the secondary school the club plays at. Another 160 adults volunteer as coaches, managers and committee members.

Set against the local population, those numbers are striking. Based on census age estimates for the parish, around one in four Hythe and Dibden children of primary and secondary school age play for the club, and roughly one in every 25 residents is directly involved in it.

The site is busy year round. Training runs between 5pm and 9pm every weeknight, and it takes an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 visits a week, with teams travelling in from across Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and West Sussex.

“It is how far the club has come, having done so well in about ten years, and so quickly. Obviously it looks amazing, and the kids are here playing now, boys and girls of all ages. The legacy is fantastic. I am hoping that it allows everyone to be a part of the club and the community, and to enjoy sport.”

Terry Cox, former Chairman, Hythe & Dibden Youth FC

Girls’ football, from a handful to more than 200

The change has been sharpest in the girls’ game. Hampshire FA’s facilities case study credits the pitch with growing the club’s female pathway by 5,000% in eight years. More than 200 girls now play for Hythe & Dibden, with a clear route through to women’s football, and the club expects that number to keep climbing. The role the facility has played in the explosion of girls’ football is hard to overstate. Hampshire FA have published a video case study on these results.

The club’s Girls Football Development Officer Steve Norris told the county FA: “For a lot of our girls their time at the club is their only time in football, and I think if we were calling off training sessions left, right and centre we would have far less than the nearly 200 who we have today.”

“Going back to 2016, 2017, Applemore had not really been a community site before. There was a growing community club with capacity issues, and it had been difficult to get girls’ football going. There was a massive need in the area which needed to be filled. This project has been a real success story, and it shows what can be achieved if you do things properly.”

Sacha Nicholas, Facilities & Investment Manager, Hampshire FA

A facility that funds its own replacement

The original 3G pitch was laid in 2017 through a partnership of national and local funders, including Sport England, the FA, the RFU and the council. What has happened since is less common in grassroots sport. Rather than returning to funders for another grant, every fee paid to use the pitch goes into a dedicated resurfacing fund managed by Applemore College, which pays to replace the surface roughly every ten years.

As the site’s largest user, Hythe & Dibden Youth FC contributes the bulk of that fund. In practice, the people who use the pitch have paid for its renewal, and the model will pay for the next one too.

“That partnership, with the school, with the FA, with the club, has made sure that when it came to needing to be replaced, it is here. It is investment from everybody to ensure that everybody can continue to use a great facility.”

Jamie Burton, Health & Partnership Manager, New Forest District Council

A school gate selling point

For Applemore College, the shared site has become part of how the school presents itself to the families it recruits from.

“When you go into primary schools it is really clear as a selling point. There are loads of students we talk to in Year 6 who basically choose here because they play for Hythe and Dibden. It always gets a big cheer when you talk about it. From the community aspect, that is the biggest jewel.”

Clare Williams, Headteacher, Applemore College

From three shipping containers to a permanent pavilion

Since 2020 the club has operated out of three donated shipping containers on temporary planning permission. The new pavilion, built on top of that structure, adds home and away changing rooms, a classroom large enough for a full squad, a kitchen and kiosk, extra toilets and secure kit and equipment storage. The changing rooms in particular are what allow the club’s girls’ and women’s sides to keep growing.

“We’re proud to have been able to call Applemore our home for the last 9 years. Now it really feels like a home, for the long term. This building alongside the resurfaced 3G pitch will give us the platform to maintain and build on all of the great work that’s been done in the past, as well as being a legacy for future generations.”

James Golding, Chairman, Hythe & Dibden YFC

Notes to editors

Hythe & Dibden Youth FC was established in 1999 and plays and trains at Applemore College, Roman Road, Dibden Purlieu, Hythe, Southampton SO45 4RQ.
The club is a three star England Football Accredited Club and has twice been named Hampshire FA Grassroots Club of the Year, in 2019 and 2023.
It hosted the FA’s England DNA Roadshow in 2019 and features in Hampshire FA’s facilities case study on the long term impact of artificial 3G pitches.
https://www.hampshirefa.com/facilities-and-investment/facilities-case-studies
The club’s annual tournament draws 120 teams and around 3,500 people across three days.
Population comparison: the participation figures above are estimates, not official statistics. They apply the 2021 Census age profile for the New Forest to a Hythe and Dibden parish population of roughly 20,500, giving an estimated 2,650 children aged 6 to 18 in the parish. They assume the club draws its players largely from the parish itself; across a wider Waterside catchment the proportion would be lower.

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Pavilion Development Update – April 2026

James Golding — Mon, 04 May 2026 07:56:53 +0000

Pavilion Development Update

April 2026

Investing in the Future of Our Club

Over the past year, the club has made significant progress in developing our new pavilion facilities. We recognise that members, parents, and the wider community have questions about the purpose, cost, and delivery of this project. This short update aims to provide clear, transparent answers and reaffirm why this investment is important for our players, both now and in the future.

Why are we investing in the pavilion?

The old facilities no longer met the needs of a growing club. Participation has increased substantially in recent years, and with that comes a responsibility to provide safe, inclusive, and appropriate infrastructure. In addition, our temporary planning permission on the site was due to expire, in 2025. To obtain permanent planning permission and avoid losing the facility completely, we were required to have a permanent structure in place.

The pavilion project is designed to:

Replace ageing and inadequate facilities and securing a long term lease agreement and linked access to the 3G facility
Provide a safe and welcoming environment for all players
Support year-round use of the site, including a modern new kitchen area
Ensure the club meets safeguarding, welfare, and league requirements

As the largest youth football club in the New Forest area, with plans to increase our offering into adult and disability football, having these facilities and an operational base is important to the long term future of the club.

This is not simply a building project; it is a long-term investment in the sustainability and quality of youth football in our community.

What will this offer my child?

The new pavilion will directly improve the experience of every player at the club. Key benefits include modern and safe changing facilities, more toilet facilities, a covered area for players and parents with a screen for match video analysis and coaching. In addition, we want our players to suggest how they would like to use the space and will provide an opportunity for them to tell us.

How much has it cost and where has the money come from?

The decision to develop around the existing infrastructure was one taken at a point when we had not secured any significant external income, and as such represented a pragmatic solution to allowing a staged delivery of a facility, potentially across many years! Fortunately, through our incredibly generous club sponsors, MIMO connect and Robertson ETOs, along with the amazing efforts of our team fundraising, plus other contributions from the likes of Tesco, Asda and Howdens Game Changer Programme, we were able to complete the major external phase one works (roof and cladding).

We subsequently bid for, and secured, a Community Infrastructure Levy grant from the council to secure the phase two delivery, which will see the completion of the internal works (electrics, plumbing, internal walls, kitchen fitting, toilets and changing rooms).

Phase 1 – 2025

Costs	Income
Planning, design, building regs: £2,500	Sponsors: £10,000
Site prep, additional storage, groundworks: £10,000	Club reserves (multi-year for purpose of pavilion): £30,000
Structural frame, roofing steels (materials and installation): £20,000	Fundraising (teams, corporate and other): £12,500
Cladding and roofing (materials and installation): £30,000	Kit savings: £10,000

Phase 2 – 2026

Costs	Income
First fix internals; plumbing, electrics, insulation, boarding, etc: £30,000	CIL fund grant: £82,000
Second fix internals: Kitchen, toilets, changing rooms, etc: £25,000	Howdens kitchen grant: £5,000
Furniture and finishing; electrical items, changing etc: £12,000
Groundworks around pavilion: £20,000

Phase 1 (2025) Costs:

Planning, design, building regs: £2,500

Site prep, additional storage, groundworks: £10,000

Structural frame, roofing steels (materials and installation): £20,000

Cladding and roofing (materials and installation): £30,000

Phase 1 (2025) Income:

Sponsors: £10,000

Club reserves (multi-year for purpose of pavilion): £30,000

Fundraising (teams, corporate and other): £12,500

Kit savings: £10,000

Phase 2 (2026) costs:

First fix internals; plumbing, electrics, insulation, boarding, etc: £30,000

Second fix internals: Kitchen, toilets, changing rooms, etc: £25,000

Furniture and finishing; electrical items, changing etc: £12,000

Groundworks around pavilion: £20,000

Phase 2 (2026) Income:

CIL fund grant: £82,000

Howdens kitchen grant: £5,000

The above incorporates a notable Community Contribution from Rob Watkins Builders who have led project coordination and delivery via a significant input of unpaid time and expertise. In addition, other trades like Alan Gray Plumbing & Heating and Pegasus Total Homecare, have contributed their time and expertise. These inputs were central to securing CIL funding through demonstration of community engagement.

What is next?

Works will continue apace, but are restricted to outside of school hours for safety. This means that the summer holiday period will be a key one for pushing hard to get as much completed as possible, with our aim being to get the pavilion open by the end of the year.

How can you help?

Our players are the club. We know how central parents and carers are to enabling all of the amazing football and related activity that goes on at H&DYFC. Look out for opportunities to help directly with the pavilion, but also with related club activities and events – our tournament relies on your help for example.

We really do appreciate your support and patience. We are always open to hearing your views.

Layout plan

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End of an era for U18 Panthers Girls

James Golding — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 23:25:51 +0000

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. 🇳🇬⚽️🐆

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Introducing… Hythe & Dibden Womens Football Club!

James Golding — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 11:19:10 +0000

• 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

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

The future’s bright in green and white!

#WeAllCanPlay

Eling Ladies FC

Hythe & Dibden FC

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Women’s football is growing, but not for the first time

James Golding — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 22:22:37 +0000

Like the Euro’s did, the Women’s World Cup is putting female football in the spot light again, which is great to see. But why has it taken until now for women’s football to really take off?

With 11 girls teams including a girls only team in every youth football age group, and over 1/4 of the club now female, we are noticing a very strong shift in the participation of football at Hythe & Dibden YFC. Only ten years ago, we had a handful of female players signed on at the club. The sudden change is tangible and gathering pace, with no signs of slowing down.

Surely it can’t be the case that suddenly girls are more interested in playing than they used to be? Or that for some reason modern girls are better at playing the game?

If we rewind 100 years, women’s football was in a similar stage of ascendency. The First World War, with most men absent, opened the door for women to pick up the footballing mantle. By the time the men returned to the game, they were selling out stadiums, one game in 1920 getting a 53,000 sell out at Goodison Park with many other being turned away, and generating huge revenues.

But they were different times, and unfortunately prejudice was allowed to rear its ugly head. The FA banned women’s football, and all the progress was lost, which must have been heart breaking for those involved.

Read the full story here about How the FA banned women’s football in 1921 and tried to justify it.

Looking at the way they adopted football though, is it more to do with just having an opportunity? Or seeing it as acceptable? Or even just seeing it as something fun, that your peers and role models are doing?

Girls Football Development Secretary at Hythe & Dibden YFC, Steve Norris, has been pioneering the growth of girls football in the area for many years now, and sits on the committee for the Hampshire girls football league. He has some interesting observations about the reasons behind the recent upturn.

Girls football has grown both locally and worldwide through a combination of factors; exposure on media outlets has helped inspire girls to give footy a try, and this demand has been welcomed by grass roots clubs who now see similar interest levels from girls and boys alike.

I also see a huge snowball effect in girls locally who see their friends enjoying the game so much and come along as a result. A lot of the girls don’t watch football or play related computer games, so the first hand accounts given by their female peers is sometimes key to their decision making.

FA initiatives have also helped enormously with over 34000 girls moving through the Wildcats program, into girls only leagues which have exploded over the last 5 years.

Finally I’d like to point out the impact open minded parents have on the growth rate within the girls game. I’m pretty sure everyone now realises that football can benefit everyone equally and having parents who played a lot in their younger days, who now take time to volunteer or facilitate their child’s participation in the game, is crucial to the success we see today.

Steve Norris
Girls Football Development Secretary, Hythe & Dibden YFC

So the reality is there are multiple reasons for girls football seeing unprecedented growth. It’s not a 21st century phenomenon – but lets keep this momentum going, and make sure girls football is here to stay!

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Hampshire FA Grassroots Club of the Year WINNERS 2023

James Golding — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 01:35:24 +0000

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

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Fully Funded Coaching Courses & FREE FA CPDs

James Golding — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 14:36:50 +0000

Coaches! Please see an update of opportunities below…

Fully Funded Coaching Courses – Expires w/c 16^th Jan 2023

England Football Learning is delighted to run our Fully Funded Places Programme, which will cover the cost of a percentage of places on our Introduction to Coaching Football, UEFA C Licence and UEFA B Licence courses.

The places, which have been funded by Sport England, will be provided for coaches who qualify for additional support in accessing coaching provision.

The initiative is aligned to our wider goal of helping to increase participation within historically underrepresented groups (including female coaches and coaches from Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, disabled and female backgrounds) as well as supporting individuals from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.

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EE Playmaker – FREE – Ongoing

by England Football is our free online entry-level football course perfect for anyone interested in taking a more active role in grassroots football.

There are five modules in total and you don’t need any previous football experience or qualifications before signing up. In fact, all you need is an FA Number (FAN) and a laptop, tablet or mobile device. Then you’re good to go.

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The Introduction to Futsal Online – FREE – Ongoing

This CPD module aims to help learners gain insight into coaching the game of futsal.

This is an online module, and you don’t need any previous futsal experience or qualifications before signing up.

An overview of futsal: what is futsal and why does it require skilful players?
Getting started with your team: where can you play it and what might training look like?
Helping your players: team-based messages and core technical skills that you can share with your players.

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FA ONLINE CPDs – FREE – Ongoing

The FA website displays a range of interactive modules that cater for a magnitude of topics accessible in the comfort of your own home.

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Hampshire FA Online CPDs – Ongoing

A range of face to face and webinar CPDs across multiple topics!

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Hampshire FA Coach Mentor Support 22/23 – Ongoing

Want 1 to 1 support from our highly qualified coach mentors?

Look no further!

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Across The Boarder – Surrey FA – Ongoing

Explore or neighbours CPD events here:

https://www.surreyfa.com/coaches/ongoing-learning

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We’re backing Play Safe

James Golding — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 23:14:27 +0000

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.

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A LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

James Golding — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 10:08:51 +0000

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

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

James Golding — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 09:31:34 +0000

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.

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