21 Jun 2007 - Leatherhead FC & Bookham Affiliation

Leatherhead and Bookham Colts have agreed an alliance that will form one of the

most powerful Youth football set ups in the area.

At the moment, the Colts run 25 teams ranging from Under 7 to Under 16s. Add that

to the Tanners highly successful Under 18 side, two new under 15 teams and an

under 13 side, this will give the 400 or so players a wide choice of teams - and paths

to more senior football than ever before.

Bookham Colts Chairman, Jeff Potts said, “We were delighted when Leatherhead

agreed to let us affiliate our teams with them. This is a partnership that we all believe

will prove highly successful and will allow our players far more opportunity to develop

their soccer skills and progress through the sides.

This is not just about winning trophies or leagues. Naturally, we want our teams to do well

but the Colts are a community minded organisation too. Our prime aim is to allow the

children to have fun and learn the value of team membership and team effort.

Because of that, the under 6 side just plays for fun and no competitive games are

played under the under 8 level is reached.”

Although there will be two teams in the Surrey Primary League set up and one in the

Surrey Youth & Under 21s League, most of the sides are affiliated to Epsom and Ewell league.

Jeff Potts added, “We are not shifting our alliance away from Bookham FC at all,

merely giving our youngsters the opportunity to have the choices based on their

abilities and will be able to play at more senior levels - they can now progress through the

Bookham Colts structure with the prospect of moving into the world of senior football with Leatherhead.

We hope that players will progress through the ranks and feed both Bookham and

Leatherhead senior sides.”

Leatherhead secretary, Gerald Darby added, “Our under 18 team has had a very

successful campaign this year with a string of impressive results and reaching the

semi-final of the Surrey Youth Cup. We are planning for them to play in the Ryman

Youth league next season too. Add to that the formation of two new under 15 teams

and our under 13 set up, the addition of Bookham Colts was just too good to miss.

There are a number of the under 18 team’s players who could well make the break

through into the senior side next season and there is no reason why Colts players

could not do the same if they wished - and were good enough.”

All of the members of all of the youth sides - whether they play under the Bookham or

Leatherhead banners, will be eligible to see the senior side play at Fetcham Grove

for free. The Tanners hope that this will encourage parents to attend more matches

as they push to progress to the next level - the Ryman Premier League.

The progress doesn’t stop there. As Jeff Potts explained, “We are proposing to hold a

significant tournament in the middle of May next year at Fetcham Grove. The event,

to be held over the two middle weekends of the month, hopes to attract around 200

teams at all levels from under 7 to under 16.

One of the real benefits to the club is that we now feel that we have a home at the

Grove. With the best will in the world, the Christie Recreation Ground could not do

that and we felt that we needed the added boost that the Tanners enjoy at Fetcham

Grove will give us just that. We hope to contribute to the club by using the social

facilities and producing income over the bar.”

More details regarding the proposed tournament will be released nearer the time.

Leatherhead are delighted to be part of a progressive and community minded

organisation and feel sure that it will offer all those taking part a huge variety of

choice matched with a sense of community spirit that fits in well with the Leatherhead

ethos.