FOOTBALL OR FACILITIES
FOOTBALL OR FACILITIES
Sheerwater Football Club along with other teams from the Surrey Premier League joined the Combined Counties League for the Season 2003/04 as a Division One Club. The reason for this was that The Football Association had decided that at the Combined Counties League could no longer call their present Reserve League Division One.
We were told that we would need to get our facilities up to certain grades in the future as if not done so we would be relegated out as new clubs with required facilities would come in to take our places. We all knew then that we were on the ladder of death, most clubs sat on the fence and decided to see how the punishment would come into effecting the early years but in the last couple of seasons clubs have either raised money, got funding and been lucky to get their facilities up to the required grade, some clubs have decided going down the high costs of ground sharing to save their bacon, (Staines Lammas, Farleigh Rovers, Bookham) some clubs have given in and gone down to other leagues,(Coney Hall, Hersham, Merrow, Crescent Rovers, Shottermill and Haslemere, Cranleigh) some clubs have been promoted to the Premier League.(AFC Guildford, Colliers Wood, Bookham), Some clubs have disbanded Select Delta, Netherne Village, Monotype, Ditton)
The teams now left in the present Division One is now only 5, out of the five Sheerwater, Chobham and Worcester Park are now at the mercy of going out of the League in two season time unless there is a reprieve or the clubs get their Grade G.
Sheerwater Football Club who have been working towards getting the facilities up to Grade G over the past 2 years have now been able start and finish in the Athletic Stadium after negotiating this possibility with WAC and WBC, there has been a price to pay as we were in the Athletics' 6 month agreement. We then had our Floodlight planning accepted, we then were working with WBC for the funding to get the floodlights erected, we thought we were on our way to achieving the necessary grade, then came the BIG NO, The Football association had thrown out our grant as we are classed as a relegated club by the CCL as the pitch was 10 yards short. The reason for the shortage of grass was some 20 years ago we were summoned to a meeting with WBC and WAC to discuss the new Athletics up grading. We were put into a position to accept on going out to use the number 2 pitch with a promise that we would get a better deal out there (This never happened except for the post and rail that was erected around the pitch) The WAC upgrading included moving the long jumps from the side to the D's at the top of the track, this is why we have a short pitch. At that time 20 years or more ago we were an intermediate club and facilities never entered our heads and to think that we were possibly destroying the future of the football club.
Back to the funding, The FA in years to come will see their money going down into other leagues as it will happen when all the clubs have the grades so automatic relegation in the bottom 2 with FA Funding for 2 clubs coming up with funding to take their place.
Because of the reject in the funding we have been negotiating with Staines Lammas to buy their Floodlights from them at a really good price, WE and WBC thought this a good idea as it would give us time to put the pitch right or move. Then came the letter from The Combined Counties League to inform us we and other clubs that do not have a facility with Grade G will be chucked out. In 2 seasons time. I find it very disloyal to the present members of the league without Grade G, that they want us out but will bring in new clubs without floodlights and a stand and give them 2 seasons to make grade G or out and this will go on and on so why should the present members go in the first place??
The FA have no idea that making clubs at this level to provide Floodlights, a 50 seated stand, a 50 covered area, a hard standing around your pitch that would house a minimum of 500 spectators plus many other instalments, then clubs only get on average 40 to 50 spectators coming to matches, it does not make any sense at all I'am afraid.
Sheerwater Football Club will continue to keep its place in the CCL Division One as long as it's possible but we will need our management and players to be as committed to the club.
Sheerwater Football Club along with other teams from the Surrey Premier League joined the Combined Counties League for the Season 2003/04 as a Division One Club. The reason for this was that The Football Association had decided that at the Combined Counties League could no longer call their present Reserve League Division One.
We were told that we would need to get our facilities up to certain grades in the future as if not done so we would be relegated out as new clubs with required facilities would come in to take our places. We all knew then that we were on the ladder of death, most clubs sat on the fence and decided to see how the punishment would come into effecting the early years but in the last couple of seasons clubs have either raised money, got funding and been lucky to get their facilities up to the required grade, some clubs have decided going down the high costs of ground sharing to save their bacon, (Staines Lammas, Farleigh Rovers, Bookham) some clubs have given in and gone down to other leagues,(Coney Hall, Hersham, Merrow, Crescent Rovers, Shottermill and Haslemere, Cranleigh) some clubs have been promoted to the Premier League.(AFC Guildford, Colliers Wood, Bookham), Some clubs have disbanded Select Delta, Netherne Village, Monotype, Ditton)
The teams now left in the present Division One is now only 5, out of the five Sheerwater, Chobham and Worcester Park are now at the mercy of going out of the League in two season time unless there is a reprieve or the clubs get their Grade G.
Sheerwater Football Club who have been working towards getting the facilities up to Grade G over the past 2 years have now been able start and finish in the Athletic Stadium after negotiating this possibility with WAC and WBC, there has been a price to pay as we were in the Athletics' 6 month agreement. We then had our Floodlight planning accepted, we then were working with WBC for the funding to get the floodlights erected, we thought we were on our way to achieving the necessary grade, then came the BIG NO, The Football association had thrown out our grant as we are classed as a relegated club by the CCL as the pitch was 10 yards short. The reason for the shortage of grass was some 20 years ago we were summoned to a meeting with WBC and WAC to discuss the new Athletics up grading. We were put into a position to accept on going out to use the number 2 pitch with a promise that we would get a better deal out there (This never happened except for the post and rail that was erected around the pitch) The WAC upgrading included moving the long jumps from the side to the D's at the top of the track, this is why we have a short pitch. At that time 20 years or more ago we were an intermediate club and facilities never entered our heads and to think that we were possibly destroying the future of the football club.
Back to the funding, The FA in years to come will see their money going down into other leagues as it will happen when all the clubs have the grades so automatic relegation in the bottom 2 with FA Funding for 2 clubs coming up with funding to take their place.
Because of the reject in the funding we have been negotiating with Staines Lammas to buy their Floodlights from them at a really good price, WE and WBC thought this a good idea as it would give us time to put the pitch right or move. Then came the letter from The Combined Counties League to inform us we and other clubs that do not have a facility with Grade G will be chucked out. In 2 seasons time. I find it very disloyal to the present members of the league without Grade G, that they want us out but will bring in new clubs without floodlights and a stand and give them 2 seasons to make grade G or out and this will go on and on so why should the present members go in the first place??
The FA have no idea that making clubs at this level to provide Floodlights, a 50 seated stand, a 50 covered area, a hard standing around your pitch that would house a minimum of 500 spectators plus many other instalments, then clubs only get on average 40 to 50 spectators coming to matches, it does not make any sense at all I'am afraid.
Sheerwater Football Club will continue to keep its place in the CCL Division One as long as it's possible but we will need our management and players to be as committed to the club.
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