Hethersett Athletic Football Club
Hethersett Athletic Football Club was formed in 1991 and initially was affiliated to Hethersett Jubilee Youth Club, running just one youth team at Under-12 level.
The club was founded by my good friend Mel Perkins MBE and went fully independent in 1995 when it changed its name to Hethersett Athletic. I came on board in 1992 to help increase the number of youth teams at the club which co-incided with my two sons being old enough to start playing competitive football. The number of teams fielded increased very quickly and by the end of the millennium we were running 11 teams. In the 2015/2016 season we are running 12 teams from Under-eight to adult.
Initially Hethersett Athletic was a youth soccer set-up but by the year 2000 it was providing football for both sexes and all ages from eight to adult. In 2002 the club became one of only three in Norfolk to be presented with the prestigious FA Charter Standard award to mark its excellence in youth football. This entitles the club to use the FA Nationwide Logo.
In January 2003, the club took a further step when it became the joint first in Norfolk to be awarded the National FA Community Charter standard. At the time of the award only 100 clubs nationally had achieved the same standard. The award marks the close ties that the club has with the local community. The Charter was renewed in 2007 and again in 2011.
Currently the club has seven youth teams and four men's teams. We play in the Norfolk Youth Combination, Crown Fire South and Central Norfolk League, Norwich Saturday League and the Norwich Sunday League.
A number of years back when the club was fully constituted I became its first chairman - a post I held for over 15 years before retiring in 2015. I currently hold the position of assistant secretary and am responsible for the club website and publicity.
We currently have over 300 playing members of all ages from six upwards. Many of the youth teams train on Saturday mornings and on a typical Saturday over 100 youngsters can be out getting exercise and improving their fitness. On these pages I will shortly be recounting some of my memories of over 20 years with the club.
I am an honorary life member of the club and in 2105 was awarded the Lee Thompson Memorial Shield for outstanding contribution to the club.
The club was founded by my good friend Mel Perkins MBE and went fully independent in 1995 when it changed its name to Hethersett Athletic. I came on board in 1992 to help increase the number of youth teams at the club which co-incided with my two sons being old enough to start playing competitive football. The number of teams fielded increased very quickly and by the end of the millennium we were running 11 teams. In the 2015/2016 season we are running 12 teams from Under-eight to adult.
Initially Hethersett Athletic was a youth soccer set-up but by the year 2000 it was providing football for both sexes and all ages from eight to adult. In 2002 the club became one of only three in Norfolk to be presented with the prestigious FA Charter Standard award to mark its excellence in youth football. This entitles the club to use the FA Nationwide Logo.
In January 2003, the club took a further step when it became the joint first in Norfolk to be awarded the National FA Community Charter standard. At the time of the award only 100 clubs nationally had achieved the same standard. The award marks the close ties that the club has with the local community. The Charter was renewed in 2007 and again in 2011.
Currently the club has seven youth teams and four men's teams. We play in the Norfolk Youth Combination, Crown Fire South and Central Norfolk League, Norwich Saturday League and the Norwich Sunday League.
A number of years back when the club was fully constituted I became its first chairman - a post I held for over 15 years before retiring in 2015. I currently hold the position of assistant secretary and am responsible for the club website and publicity.
We currently have over 300 playing members of all ages from six upwards. Many of the youth teams train on Saturday mornings and on a typical Saturday over 100 youngsters can be out getting exercise and improving their fitness. On these pages I will shortly be recounting some of my memories of over 20 years with the club.
I am an honorary life member of the club and in 2105 was awarded the Lee Thompson Memorial Shield for outstanding contribution to the club.