Marlborough Youth Football Club was formed in 2009 with a handful of players and a small number of volunteer parent coaches. After rapid expansion we have now grown to 200+ players and 60+ volunteers. We run boys/mixed teams and dedicated girls football (MYFC Angels), from ‘Foundation Football’ (U4-6), to U17.
Next season will, for the first time, have teams in all age groups (bar one) from U4 – U18 and we are looking to launch Walking Football.
We are FA Charter Standard Accredited, all our Team Managers (and many coaching assistants) are Level 1 and Level 2 FA qualified, we have dedicated goalkeeper specialists, and an in-house CPD co-ordinator who helps to further develop our coaches though on-going training. We also enjoy FA endorsement as a regional provider of dedicated girls football.
Currently, our MYFC Angels total 40 players and 6 coaches, all under the lead of Becky Knox (FA Level 2 and a qualified sports coach by training and profession). Our goal here is to make girls football available to as wide a target audience as possible.
The club invests much time and effort into our coaches, organising and paying for FA qualifications, then providing ongoing training thereafter. The quality of the coaching is the cornerstone of what we do for the benefit and progression of all our players.
The club’s ethos is ‘Football For All’ offering a wide range of football opportunities for players of all ages and abilities. Many of our teams play in the North Wilts Youth FA League, and over the last three years we have won numerous cups, league titles plus fair play awards. In 2014, MYFC was voted Wiltshire Sports Club of the Year. See our online trophy cabinet.
Of course we want all our players at all levels to improve, be competitive and enjoy winning, but not at all costs. Instead we want football to be played in the correct spirit, fairly, where ideas, creativity and therefore often mistakes on the pitch are encouraged, and everybody is welcome to play. It is important children develop whilst having fun, which creates the correct tone in order to progress and indeed a number of our players have gone on to Advanced Development Centres, Junior Premier League teams, to represent Wiltshire and also to play at Academy level. We have reached the point where our older players are now on FA Level 1 training courses to help coach the younger age groups. We are also in the process producing our own qualified referees from the older age groups too.
Behind the scenes, from the Chairman, Treasurer and Club Secretary, the club has a dedicated Team Manager for each age group, 30+ assistant coaches and helpers, committee members, and club functions including Child Welfare Officers, pitch co-ordinator, equipment co-ordinator, fund raising co-ordinator, sponsorship co-ordinator, IT/comms co-ordinator, Press Officer, Community Liaison; and so the list goes on. Our operation is now sizeable and requires considerable organisation. We are therefore always on the look out for more coaches and our current vacant positions include Fund Raisers, Matchday Kitchen Staff, Matchday site set up and clearance help, plus a helper to supervise children on match days crossing Free’s Avenue between the Common and the MRFC clubhouse. All volunteers would be very welcome….
Given our size, and the absence of a single site home venue, we need to train and play our matches all over Marlborough. We are therefore grateful for the generosity and subsidised support of our host venues, and would like to place on record our appreciation to Marlborough Rugby Club, Marlborough Town Council, Marlborough College, and Marlborough Town FC.
Given our size, and the absence of a single site home venue, we need to train and play our matches all over Marlborough. We are therefore grateful for the generosity and subsidised support of our host venues, and would like to place on record our appreciation to Marlborough Rugby Club, Marlborough Town Council, Marlborough College, and Marlborough Town FC.
From very humble beginnings only 7 years ago, we have use of a base (Marlborough Rugby Clubhouse), governance, structure, identity, numerous sponsors, and everyone who works in MYFC shares the same vision. We are delighted to give the opportunity to so many children to play football in a positive, inclusive environment, where ability is not the focus. This is our goal.
Contacts and further info
chair@myfc.me.uk
https://www.facebook.com/MarlboroughYouthFC/
Santa returning to Marlborough at Faux Arts
