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Post by Uhtred on May 16, 2020 13:09:20 GMT
PRESS RELEASE Godalming Town Football Club partners with Kickstart Coaching
Godalming Town Football Club announced today that they have agreed a partnership with professional football coaching company Kickstart, with a view to providing outstanding football coaching and playing opportunities to all ages within Godalming and surrounding areas. Kickstart Academy provides an innovative football programme for talented young footballers aged 7- 12. Their training programme involves showcase matches and gives players the opportunity to play at top club venues, most recently including Reading FC, and AFC Wimbledon. Standards and ambitions are set high. The new partnership will see Kickstart Academy players go on to represent Godalming Town FC from 13s onwards.
Godalming Town FC and Kickstart have agreed a five-year plan designed to inspire local children and develop a pathway for youth footballers all the way from Under 7’s right through to the senior 1st team.
The association, with Kickstart providing quality youth coaching, will ensure that Godalming Town FC achieves its goal of becoming the focal point for football in our community. This exciting venture, along with the recent restructuring of the coaching and backroom staff at senior level will provide the environment within which players of all ages will thrive, and at the same time put Godalming Town FC back on the footballing map.
Phil Ruggles will continue to manage the senior first team squad, aided by experienced coaches Tony Roberts and Steve Peterkin. Phil has also brought in specialised goalkeeping coach Ben Chapples, as well as physiotherapist Steve Snelling. Mo Sher has also joined the club as first team coach and scout. The Godalming Town Ladies squad will be coached and managed by Jamie Rawlinson. The Under 18 Youth team squad will now be managed and coached by Kickstart, assisted by Godalming From September 2021, for the first time, Godalming Town FC will have a team in the Surrey Youth League at Under 13 level, progressing up the age groups as the seasons go on. After a period of five years there will be a representative team playing in all age groups through to the senior squads.
We are looking forward to working with Chris, Jack, Luke, and the whole Kickstart team on this exciting Glenn Lye Commercial Manager Godalming Town Football Club
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Post by cobblers72 on May 16, 2020 17:08:21 GMT
Mmmm,interesting, can I ask 2 questions please. 1- is this worth any money to the club? 2- where will all the players be coming from?
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Post by Uhtred on May 16, 2020 18:24:05 GMT
Two good questions.
Firstly let me say that this is an initial 5 year plan designed to provide a structured pathway for talented local players to progress through the youth ranks to hopefully senior football. Kickstart already coach squads of players at U7 through to U12. Next year the U12 will move to U13 and play under the Godalming Town banner. Each subsequent year that squad will move up a year and the next squad will fill in behind, eventually giving us competitive teams from U13 upwards.
The plan is that this pathway will ensure that we do our level best to develop and promote local talent and thus feed the senior ranks with a constant supply of players.
The business plan is to develop a 'Godalming Town Football Club' brand (a bit cheesy but necessary) that we can promote throughout the local community and attract interest from sponsors and advertisers alike.
By increasing the clubs standing and visibility within the community we will also attract more people through the turnstiles and reap the benefits of the secondary commercial opportunities that this will bring.
Our aim is to give you loyal supporters a football club that your commitment deserves.
All the best.
Glenn Lye Commercial Manager GTFC
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Post by cobblers72 on May 16, 2020 19:03:38 GMT
Mmmm, not sure i agree with that really, no financial benefits for the club, and it sounds like this kickstart will be possibly take players from the local youth set ups, like Milford, Chiddingfold, Elstead and farncombe youth. That could ruin other local youth set ups that have been around for along time,and especially farncombe youth who have been very supportive towards godalming Town over a few yrs now. Has this been thought about long and hard,the local youth set ups still have the chance to progress to a senior level surely,you mention the under 18 team alot,is there a reason for this please.
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Post by Shottermiller on May 18, 2020 8:31:03 GMT
Only you could be permitted to ask those questions Bally. some good and fair points there.
Yes, youngsters are the backbone of a club. Surely though it's a case though of getting things into winning ways at the top and then children will naturally filter across and want to be part of it.
Don't jump in, give Ruggs a chance at his end first. What about all the extra expense for running these children's (I don't like the word kids) sessions.
I know it was a step up from real junior youngsters but did the Cleevely Academy ever bring anyone through as were the great expectations?
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ruggs
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Post by ruggs on May 18, 2020 11:33:53 GMT
Afternoon guys,
Firstly I'd like to start by thanking all the local clubs for there help and support over the years before I came to the club,
I personally understand people's worries and concerns.
The intent of this set up was not to step on toes or upset ppl in the wrong way.
For me I feel that when players are old enough for the godalming town FC u18 side and they feel they should get the chance, then they should look to come across and trial for the side. Then after that,if it works out make it into the senior men's squad.
I'd like to see the younger lads coming through from local teams and progressing into godalming town FC first team regular players.
This is a youth team set up and helps provide a pathway into the senior set up.
We as a management team, want/ and working to being here a long time and we would really like to continue building relationships with local sides in and around the area to help & assist make godalming town FC move in the right direction again.
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Post by cobblers72 on May 19, 2020 16:08:42 GMT
I'm guessing the club has 100% made there minds up on this. Firstly,has any contracts been sorted out to safeguard the club on fines,whether its players fines,management fines or team fines,because if this isn't financially beneficial to the club then i would of thought that kick-start sort all that stuff out,just a question.
Secondly, I would of thought the club should be carrying on in building relationships with our local clubs and set ups,the pathway to godalming Town has always been there and has had worked in the past,so I really don't get why it has to be changed. It is very concerning that this would ruin some local youth set ups that have supported godalming Town for a number of years.
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Post by Shottermiller on May 19, 2020 17:57:48 GMT
Again you bring up some good and fair points Bally.
Another factor is surely KicK Start aint doing it for nothing or out of the goodness of their hearts. I just wonder if there's an slimy agent lurking in the back ground just incase a goodun appears.
What one needs to think about is all these children happily at their individual clubs have their parents involved guiding and looking after their welfare and the running of their clubs.
I don't think that would happen with Kick Start.
Well come on some of you others, you must have some thoughts on the subject.
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milky
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Post by milky on May 20, 2020 15:23:45 GMT
Kickstart as a business will still operate as it has always done over the past six years, and will themselves not have any teams. Kickstart are affiliated to Godalming Town and the under 13's will be a Godalming Town team, self funded in the same way that any other youth team is. The potential benefit to the club is both financial, more spectators through the gates for first team games, more volunteers will be available to the club. The welfare of the youngsters will, as always be the main priority. Godalming Town need to move forward and as part of this we require funding, this can be achieved in some part by applying for grants, many grants are not available to us as currently we only have three teams, First team, ladies and the youth team, therefore we have to expand. In order to do this we have to have the volunteers in place to run these teams and we simply cannot rely on the dwindling amount of hard working volunteers, therefore we need new blood and the affiliation with Kickstart will help us achieve that. We have no desire to loosen our links with Farncombe Youth, rather we would like to carry on as we always have but the fact is that in order to grow as a club, we have to grow in numbers. There are no agents involved at any level in the club. We feel that with Phil now in place as head of a, sizeable and progressive coaching team, we will move on and we have to have the ambition to be able to put structures in place to enable this.
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Post by Shottermiller on May 20, 2020 18:10:25 GMT
Fair enough. Thank you.
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Post by cobblers72 on May 21, 2020 11:27:39 GMT
Milky thank you very much for your reply,but it still doesn't answer the questions I asked
This morning I visited the kickstart website,very interesting as they are saying we insist all our players continue to play for their weekend grassroots teams.
So where are they going to get the players from then?
Also have any contracts been agreed that will safe guard the club,ie who pays for the kits,balls,equipment, pitches, fines,officials etc,as in the past the club has been stiched up financially when entering in to these deals.
Also why if kickstart an academy don't they enter the appropriate academy leagues as kickstart, or are they just using the affiliation to enter leagues,which I understand they wouldn't be allowed to do as leagues frown upon academy teams doing.
Look forward to yours and any other replies.
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milky
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Post by milky on May 21, 2020 14:55:23 GMT
Very Briefly The players will of course come from the local area as with any other local club, this will be a new side within Godalming Town FC which in effect means a new club at this level in the area There will be a contract in place detailed what is expected from both sides and both sides will be safeguarded. As explained in the previous post this arrangement suits both sides as we have to grow both our player and non player membership.
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Post by tg on May 22, 2020 8:45:55 GMT
The running proper teams seems a new thing for kickstart. From my experience these so called academies are all about making money. My boys did a few, always told there will be a trial but no one ever gets turned away as they charge over the top monthly fees and as I said it’s all about the money. Does help improve their skills but I think most kids stop developing after 12-18 months with each company.
i can see the benefit in getting coaching for the U18’s, their is some serious talent around the area, Godalming college generally have the best two teams in the Surrey area, maybe someone scouting up at their matches would be good, the only downside being the majority of them go off to uni after college. If its about developing the best local talent to help Godalming town then would it not be best to run a more professional training session (for 13-16 year olds) once or twice a week for selected players on top of them playing for their local clubs which they have done with their mates generally from a young age?
Will be interesting to see how it’s funded, as said by others too, kickstart is a business, it will either cost the club money or if they charge the players a monthly fee it will just be for Kids from more affluent families (statistically the kids most likely to go to uni at 18 again) and still a big pool of talent would be missed.
I think it’s great the club is looking at different options as we need more supporters, income and successful football, just hope this doesn’t alienate the likes of FYFC and Milford by trying to take players away from these local clubs when it could work to compliment and support them.
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milky
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Post by milky on May 22, 2020 10:17:57 GMT
All very valid points and all have been considered and discussed at length by all sides. We of course have the benefit of having had previous discussions and meetings to iron these points out. We have no intention of alienating either Farncombe or Milford and, as part of our vision going forward, we aspire to becoming a community club. As we all know money plays a large factor in surviving, let alone moving forward, and as we have discovered, running only three teams precludes us from any capital grants so it is imperative that we run more teams. To do this we need to increase the number of volunteers and, in our affiliation with Kickstart, running Godalming Town teams from under thirteens, we will be able to achieve this.
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Post by cobblers72 on May 22, 2020 11:49:46 GMT
Milky, thanks for confirming that players will come from the local set-ups.I might suggest then,that kickstart change there wording on there website,as it states they insist all our players play for there grassroots teams.Surely you can't play for both teams.
Do you mean new sides as aiming to have u13-u16,this would not be a new club at this level as there is already a u18 youth team.
Glad to hear there will be a contract in place,you are lucky to have the experience of Pete Hirons from FYFC on your committee who i would think could help ensure everything is covered.
Still do not understand comments, re,suits both parties. How is playing membership going to help,if all money paid will be used by either kickstart or godalming town to pay for all football related items. Non playing membership may increase if the club gets more functions booked up. As we all know success on the pitch with the 1st team ( which I'm 100% ruggs and his men will do) will encourage more people to watch but not necessarily become members.
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Post by onefinfarncombe on May 25, 2020 10:47:54 GMT
Hi All,
Just to answer Cobblers question re Peter Hirons.
He has resigned from the Committee at FTFC.
The main reason I am advised was the Press Release which did NOT portray what was agreed at the Committee meeting.
All that was agreed was to start up U13-U16 Godalming Town FC youth sides in the coming seasons affiliated with Kickstart.
NOT to sell Kickstart from ages of U7 upwards with a disregard of what other local Youth teams do more than successfully and have done for many seasons.
It really reading it was too much and only needed the fact agreed re U13 to U16.
The pathway by way is already in place from Youth to U18 to 1st team involving local Clubs and has been successful over a number of seasons.
The U18 side being re introduced after a number of season absence by Peter Hirons.
Last season U18:- Ollie Ballam, Callum Lawrence and Sam Gray all FYFC the following from Godalming College and playing for local teams :- Cam Milner, Mattic Lowe, Tom Goddard, Tom Gallagher, Jordan Cavener, Charlie Chennel, Callum Stewart, George Masella, Finn Bickerdike, Charlie Le Masurier ones that come to mind.
Those playing last season in 1st Team from or still with local youth sides:- Dom Hardesty, Liam Gadd, Charlie Chennel, Jordan Cavenener, Ollie Ballam, Tom Gallagher, Callum Lawrence, Oliver Ford and Rory Sellick
Plus many more in past apologies for any missed from last season.
There as many have asked are indeed great questions:-
Hope these are of use to Club and all that asked:-
Cost of running a single side you need to include, Affiliation fees both League and FA, League Player registration fees, Kit, match balls, first aid, pitch for home games, Referee that I think alone would come to approx. £2,000 it does not include training balls and equipment or Kickstart support in training and running teams on match days which presume will need paying for.
So I guess it will be paid for by Players on joining to cover all these costs and make some money either for GTFC or Kickstart. Previous messages would suggest GTFC are not paying for anything so Kickstart then.
Administration of of teams:- Who will be doing this? Involves going to meetings, confirming home games with opposition and getting Referee, being contact point for away matches. Checking players identity cards prior to matches (forgot these would need to be arranged as well pre season) filling in match result cards. Each team would need a DBS checked Manager or Coach and an overall Club CWO.
Fines for teams: These would all come to GTFC for paying NOT Kickstart. Any disputes would have GTFC name to the team to start and then could get as far as whole Club in serious incidents. As Youth football you cannot force the players (parents) to pay as advised by FA.
There is plenty more I have probably missed but Youth football is difficult and then you get internal issues with both Players and Parents to sort out on occasion.
I do hope this has been carefully thought of and what real benefit apart from maybe easier to get some grants on occasion not definite have been thought of. Not just fact that Kickstart offered to run U18 which could easily of been filled by someone else.
Should of left this with local Youth set ups and let them deal with anything that falls out of issues as pathway is clear at present and working.
You have stated that want to keep close links with local teams.
FYFC for example in past years have for NO COST :- Offered ground for 1st team pre season, Ladies matches when required, Youth team training for 3 or more seasons and some home games, borrowing of ground equipment.
I do hand on heart wish GTFC well and you seem to have a Manager and Staff that will bring success to Club over the seasons to come.
I do feel however that should of left anyone Under 16 where they are happiest in the comfort and happy surrounds of playing with friends some of whom they have known since age of 7 and Parents happiest enjoying these set ups and when time comes as they are now looking to join GTFC U18 or Senior side.
Quite a long read but perhaps others may wish to reply and step in with answers or questions.
Take care all.
Until Football begins again whenever that may be.
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Post by Shottermiller on May 25, 2020 13:22:40 GMT
Well, well, well - a very interesting read.
What next!
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Post by cobblers72 on May 25, 2020 14:36:50 GMT
Onefinfarncombe,your still alive then,thought you had forgotten how to type out a post lol.
Anyway thanks for your open and honest post.
Atleast you have come on and answered questions that haven't been answered.
Such a shame that the club has lost another loyal and committed, committee member that has done so much for the club.
I personally think its a big mistake what is going on with this,like has been said leave local sides alone and don't tread on toes to the ones that have done so much to help gtfc in the past. The pathway has always been there and has worked,but hey ho guess gtfc now what they are doing. The
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Post by Uhtred on May 26, 2020 13:46:38 GMT
Hi Onefinfarncombe (Pete)
Hope you are well.
We really do not want to turn this into a ‘he said, she said’ type conversation. Everybody at the club is sorry that you felt it necessary to resign from the committee following our last meeting, but I honestly feel that you are getting the wrong end of several sticks.
Initially we advertised for a coach for the Under 18 youth team, and indeed interviewed a few candidates. We also had an approach from the guys at Kick Start. Their approach and plans matched the drive that we have to take standards forward. As a result of discussions with Kick Start and Phil Ruggles and his team, it was agreed that the under 18’s will be managed and coached by 2 highly qualified Kick Start coaches as from next season. It was also agreed that we would begin to build a clearly defined player pathway from under 13 to our senior teams.
With this in mind, and you are absolutely correct, starting 2021 there will be a Godalming Town Under 13 representative team. This team will play in the Surrey Youth Leagues and will be open to all players currently within the Kick Start coaching academy. It will also be open to other players on a trial basis only as we will be aiming for a very high standard. When the 2022/23 season starts this team will move to under 14 and the next wave will move in behind and form the under 13.
Eventually there will be Godalming Town under 13 through to under 16 representative teams. From here, the plan is to have a nucleus of talented, well coached players that will feed to the existing under 18 youth squad, and then hopefully to the senior squad (s). The under 18 squad will hold open trials each year as it has done previously. Again, and in short, the aim is to have a clearly defined Godalming Town FC pathway that will provide us with players of the desired quality to raise standards at all levels.
Regarding your comments alluding to us ‘selling’ Kick Start I am not quite sure what you mean. Kick Start’s services and products are well known and there for all to see, and we are in no way acting as agents for Kick Start. Indeed, these were discussed at length during our last recorded committee meeting. Their academy structure is well established and has been in place for a number of years. The mention of Kick Start’s current set up in the press release is merely a statement of fact. The difference now of course is that with the new pathway their current U7, U8 etc. players will eventually feed through to our youth and senior squads.
The new under 13 (and subsequently under 14, 15, 16) will be self-funded, and will place NO financial burden upon Godalming Town FC. The players will become members of Godalming Town FC and an annual fee will be payable. We will work with Kick Start to secure sponsorship for the teams. Training, match day activity, and all administration will be managed by the Kick Start team – overseen by Godalming Town FC. Clearly there will be more discussions around these processes in due course.
Your experience as a member of the Godalming Town FC committee for a number of years has afforded you first hand experience of how difficult it has been to keep the club’s head above water financially. We need to make the club more attractive as a package/brand to potential sponsors or investors, and supporters alike. An increase in commercial activity and footfall at the club is required, and this new structure will provide us with the opportunity to achieve this.
Reading between the lines of some of your comments it would appear that you feel that FYFC will some how be affected by our plans. I am not quite sure what it is that you are concerned about. There has always been a friendly relationship between Godalming Town FC and FYFC in terms of players coming into the under 18 youth set up, use of facilities etc. Any arrangement with Kick Start should not compromise this relationship between us. In fact, it could be mutually beneficial, and I hope this great relationship can continue.
You state that any player under the age of 16 should be where they are ‘happiest with people where they have known since age 7 ……..”. In my experience as a player, coach, and manager, players who are unhappy leave the club and go somewhere else. If they are happy they stay. But what we should not be doing is stopping players from progressing, improving, and ultimately playing at the highest standard that they can achieve. Let me make it clear – Godalming Town FC will not be actively seeking to take players away from Farncombe FC. However, if a player, at the age of 13 decides that he wants to try out at Godalming Town then they should be able to – but the standards will be high. I am sure that there will be traffic in the other direction.
I truly believe we all have the best interests of youth football in Godalming area at heart, and our plans for Godalming Town FC will only add to the options available to youngsters in the area. We all agree that Godalming Town is a club worthy of a higher standing than the Combined Counties position it currently occupies. These are the first steps in a journey to raise the standards all round and begin to move Godalming Town FC forwards.
All the best Pete and see you soon.
Glenn – on behalf of Godalming Town FC
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Post by onefinfarncombe on May 27, 2020 18:59:51 GMT
Hi Uhtred (Glenn)
Hope you are well.
Many thanks for the reply and here are my responses in blue.
We really do not want to turn this into a ‘he said, she said’ type conversation. Everybody at the club is sorry that you felt it necessary to resign from the committee following our last meeting, but I honestly feel that you are getting the wrong end of several sticks. Really not sure I understand the comments on he said, she said and can definitely confirm NOT getting wrong end of several sticks. I have been asking questions pointing out facts which were I believe justified in asking.
Initially we advertised for a coach for the Under 18 youth team, and indeed interviewed a few candidates. We also had an approach from the guys at Kick Start. Their approach and plans matched the drive that we have to take standards forward. As a result of discussions with Kick Start and Phil Ruggles and his team, it was agreed that the under 18’s will be managed and coached by 2 highly qualified Kick Start coaches as from next season. It was also agreed that we would begin to build a clearly defined player pathway from under 13 to our senior teams. This I do understand. As stated before the current pathway works and is proven.
With this in mind, and you are absolutely correct, starting 2021 there will be a Godalming Town Under 13 representative team. This team will play in the Surrey Youth Leagues and will be open to all players currently within the Kick Start coaching academy. It will also be open to other players on a trial basis only as we will be aiming for a very high standard. When the 2022/23 season starts this team will move to under 14 and the next wave will move in behind and form the under 13. So are GTFC saying those paid up at U12 this coming season at Kickstart automatically get in for 2021/22 season at U13 with NO trial and then same year on year. This opens up possibility of missing out potentially on talent if year on year NO trial across all U13 to U16 and missing those very high standard players you mention as presume there will be a squad limit to keep all happy and able to play matches.
Eventually there will be Godalming Town under 13 through to under 16 representative teams. From here, the plan is to have a nucleus of talented, well coached players that will feed to the existing under 18 youth squad, and then hopefully to the senior squad (s). The under 18 squad will hold open trials each year as it has done previously. Again, and in short, the aim is to have a clearly defined Godalming Town FC pathway that will provide us with players of the desired quality to raise standards at all levels. Similar to above so if made it all way through from U13 to U16 this forms nucleus of U18. How is this getting best players through if only space for say additional 4 players. Presume again all including current Kickstart players would have to trial.
Regarding your comments alluding to us ‘selling’ Kick Start I am not quite sure what you mean. Kick Start’s services and products are well known and there for all to see, and we are in no way acting as agents for Kick Start. Indeed, these were discussed at length during our last recorded committee meeting. Their academy structure is well established and has been in place for a number of years. The mention of Kick Start’s current set up in the press release is merely a statement of fact. The difference now of course is that with the new pathway their current U7, U8 etc. players will eventually feed through to our youth and senior squads. In simple terms at the GTFC Committee meeting it was never mentioned re U7 to U12. The vote asked by Chairman after myself asking where these teams would play and also confirming they would obviously have a choice to join or NOT was solely on formation of U13 to U16 sides affiliated to GTFC so could play in Leagues. A short and sweet paragraph similar to what Kickstart announced would of sufficed (see below) . People can look up what Kickstart do themselves and anything else beyond what was mentioned in Press Release.
Exciting future for KSA after agreeing a partnership with Godalming Town FC, which will see us working together to implement a youth structure into the club with a clear pathway, starting with u13 and leading up to the u18s & senior squads. Really looking forward to getting started ⚽️
The new under 13 (and subsequently under 14, 15, 16) will be self-funded, and will place NO financial burden upon Godalming Town FC. The players will become members of Godalming Town FC and an annual fee will be payable. We will work with Kick Start to secure sponsorship for the teams. Training, match day activity, and all administration will be managed by the Kick Start team – overseen by Godalming Town FC. Clearly there will be more discussions around these processes in due course. So self-funded so all burden on Membership less perhaps kit sponsor for first year or two. With all costs as mentioned in previous posts to kit these teams out, train, manage, pitches for home matches and training, Refs costs etc. This could be circa £300 each Member to cover every season. Plus I guess additional for tracksuit / warm up tops. Question what happens after U13 or any age for that matter when a player is NOT selected in squad for following season as mention trial and best talent so places NOT guaranteed. Do they keep kit for example. Hope this is explained to Parents that a years Membership is what it is.
Your experience as a member of the Godalming Town FC committee for a number of years has afforded you first hand experience of how difficult it has been to keep the club’s head above water financially. We need to make the club more attractive as a package/brand to potential sponsors or investors, and supporters alike. An increase in commercial activity and footfall at the club is required, and this new structure will provide us with the opportunity to achieve this. Yes I more than understand this. The only thing which will increase money in Club is to by charging more membership etc.to cover more than just running these extra teams. Yes picking up some sponsors and increased gates , the latter would happen when 1st team starts putting some strong and excellent results together which under the guidance of Phil and team I am sure they will.
Reading between the lines of some of your comments it would appear that you feel that FYFC will some how be affected by our plans. I am not quite sure what it is that you are concerned about. There has always been a friendly relationship between Godalming Town FC and FYFC in terms of players coming into the under 18 youth set up, use of facilities etc. Any arrangement with Kick Start should not compromise this relationship between us. In fact, it could be mutually beneficial, and I hope this great relationship can continue. Yes I am sure players will still come from NOT only FYFC but other Clubs in surrounding area. Re use of facilities if you mean GTFC using FYFC agree this has happened in past as has use of ground equipment, pitch for training all teams and matches plus changing rooms over a number of seasons when required for NO charge.
At FYFC meeting the relationship was discussed on back of Kickstart conversation which did not seem to bother those on call. There was however mentioned what have FYFC received over last number of years in return for all above mentioned. I this time could NOT give an answer. I did say that after speaking to Phil Ruggles he mentioned would be happy for him or member of Coaching team to come down and coach from time to time this was not accepted. Went on to discuss charging for use of ground or when required hire of ground equipment again the reply was NO.
You state that any player under the age of 16 should be where they are ‘happiest with people where they have known since age 7 ……..”. In my experience as a player, coach, and manager, players who are unhappy leave the club and go somewhere else. If they are happy they stay. But what we should not be doing is stopping players from progressing, improving, and ultimately playing at the highest standard that they can achieve. Let me make it clear – Godalming Town FC will not be actively seeking to take players away from Farncombe FC. However, if a player, at the age of 13 decides that he wants to try out at Godalming Town then they should be able to – but the standards will be high. I am sure that there will be traffic in the other direction. Glenn in my experience of some 35 years (does not include my youth playing years), playing, managing, running both Senior and Youth set ups and teams. Those that leave Youth football Clubs as unhappy are very minimal. It is predominantly NOT the players unhappy but Parents / Guardians but most of these issues are sorted and remain loyal. However in Senior (adult) is different you get players moving on for more success and dare I say it more money when available. I agree that no one should stop progression and playing at highest standard that want to do so.
I truly believe we all have the best interests of youth football in Godalming area at heart, and our plans for Godalming Town FC will only add to the options available to youngsters in the area. We all agree that Godalming Town is a club worthy of a higher standing than the Combined Counties position it currently occupies. These are the first steps in a journey to raise the standards all round and begin to move Godalming Town FC forwards. Yes agree BUT there is nothing new in offering this as surrounding Clubs have done like FYFC and Milford Pumas for many years and more to follow. In an environment where Policy is NOT only development of Players but also football for all before they move on to local Senior (adult) teams or U18 if so wish.
All the best to you as well and all at GTFC see you soon when football returns.
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