This year really is an exciting time to be part of Eversley FC, not only because we make the move to our brand new ground, but because we have also moved the club onto the next level by joining the Combined Counties League. The Cherry Red Records Combined Counties Football League are a senior competition at step 5 & 6 of the National league system providing competitive football for clubs in the Berkshire & Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, London, Middlesex and Surrey. Eversley 1st Team will be in the Combined Counties Division one, competing at a senior level for the first time in our long history.
This year will also see the club return back to the Village to our very own ground after spending the past 9 or so years playing at various council owned pitches.
The overall cost of the development now exceeds £1.4M and has been mainly funded by the Football Foundation who eventually gave us a donation of £666,556. The cheque was presented to us by Steve Coppell back in January 2007 and at the time it was the largest award for football development in the UK, which is a fantastic achievement. The rest of the money has come from other local businesses with whom the ESA have a strong affiliation to. However, over £250,000 has been raised in the last 8 years purely by ESA fund raising events such as the fireworks and dinner & dance.
When all stages of the development are complete the facility will include :
• a new senior pitch suitable for level 6 football.
• an additional senior pitch (with no dug-outs, railing, etc)
• 5/6 junior pitches to be utilised by California FC Junior Football
• an additional cricket square for Eversley Cricket Club (due to increased membership)
• a new changing room block
• indoor cricket nets
• a 3G astro-turf facility
• extension and refurbishment of the existing clubhouse
The club is therefore extremely pleased and grateful to have been part of this magnificent and historic development, and would like to thank everyone who has been involved in this over the years. It’s certainly a far cry from the old days, prior to 2001. The amount of work, time and effort that has gone into the club over the last few years to move things forward in order to achieve our ambition is really incredible, and these people must be congratulated. Unfortunately, some of the guys are no longer associated with the club, but we know that they still take a keen interest and will be delighted to see further progression being made both on and off the field.
Download the press release ESA Press Release
Useful Links
Hampshire FA - www.hampshirefa.com
The FA - www.thefa.com
The Football Foundation http://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/
