In the 70’s youth football teams were not as prolific
as today. Albert Kilby, our current Club President, decided to increase the
number of teams in the area by one, not realizing at the time just what he was
starting. He was joined in this enterprise by Julian Hume, Tony Newton and Dudley
Wallace.
In the High Street opposite the Rose and Crown is an impressive
building housing an Italian restaurant which at the time was the Gables Boys
Home.
The Master was Mr. Gosling, who seeing the benefits of this scheme to his boys
sent a number of them along to Albert for training and also provided the team’s
first kit.
After a few friendly games at the Warren, Woodham Mortimer,
the team moved to Promenade Park when Maldon Borough Council provided a pitch
adjacent to the tennis courts. The changing room was an octagonal shelter measuring
1.8 x 1.8 meters the lower part was wooden (about1 mtr high) the upper portion
was fully glazed all round. Not exactly the most private of changing facilities.
This situation continued for a couple of years until our facility was taken
over by the hockey club with the promise from the Council of a 10 x10 feet (not
meters) hut. It turned out to 4 x 6 feet. This was eventually replaced by the
Club with a wooden ex flour store from Jewsons which had been used to store
cement.
This was subsequently replaced by existing building (constructed by Club members)
which is now due to be restructured into a Clubhouse thanks to the efforts of
Chairman Joe Stevens and his team of Club officials.
Today the Club has 2 adult teams, 19 mini soccer and youth teams,
a girl’s team and run a Soccerbility programmed. Membership is in excess
of 300
Which is expected to rise considerably in the future. Negotiations are underway
with Maldon District Council for additional pitches to enable us to undertake
Alliance football.
Having acheived Charter Standard and Development Club status we have now been awarded the Community Club Standard by the ECFA. |