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REDHILL FC AND REDHILL TOWN FC TO MERGE.
Malcolm Boyes12 Nov 2014 - 13:53
Who will benefit the most from this arrangement? Hopefully, it will be the young players currently playing with Redhill Town but you have to wonder.
Marriage made in heaven or out of convenience.
It has been announced that Redhill FC and Redhill Town FC have agreed to merge but what exactly this means in reality has yet to be seen and it also remains to be seen how many of the Redhill Town youngsters get to play for Redhill FC eventually.
Redhill Football Club chairman John Park has spoken of his “delight” after the Lobsters agreed to merge with Redhill Town.
The Redhill Town club are largely focused on youth football teams and Park believes the joining of the clubs will provide talented youngsters with the chance to progress into senior football.
“I am delighted that after many months of negotiations both committees have approved a merger between Redhill and Redhill Town,” Park said.
“This marks a wonderful opportunity to offer youngsters from the local area to develop their talents and progress in an environment which can ultimately offer an opportunity to play senior football to those who show the required ability.”
Under the stewardship of their chairman Steve Jenkins, Redhill Town have grown and developed into an excellent organisation with a large number of teams playing football in local leagues but as with many similar clubs there is always a problem when youngsters reach the age of 17 when teams often break up because there are no further opportunities to progress. This merger will provide youngsters with the opportunity to progress through our U18s into the U21s and, hopefully for some, into the first team.”
And while there are still a few kinks to iron out in the merger, Park is expecting a smooth transition and is keen to emphasise the finances of the Ryman League’s Lobsters and the youth section shall remain separate.
“It is important to stress that both clubs will remain financially independent with separate committees,” he said.
“We do, however, anticipate that representatives from each entity will sit on each other’s committee in order to maintain openness between us.
“Steve and his team will continue to provide parents with financial transparency so that parents can be confident that their subscriptions are being used in a ‘fit for purpose manner’.
“From the senior club’s perspective we will help the juniors with finding sponsors and perhaps raise money to sponsor one of the teams.
"Redhill FC coaching staff will be available to provide coaching especially during the summer months when special coaching days will be arranged which will be open to youngsters of all ages. Older players (16 years) will have the opportunity to look at opportunities afforded by Coulsdon College where our Redhill FC Academy is based.
"Of course there is still much to do particularly in regard to our Club Rules for both the Football and Social Clubs but perceived changes are expected to be minor in nature and a smooth transition can be expected via EGM’s.
"Finally on behalf of Redhill FC I welcome everyone from Redhill Town to Kiln Brow, please view it as your home and HQ, already managers use the buildings for meetings, a portacabin has been made available for storage and there will be times (weather permitting) when some of the youngsters games may well be played at Kiln Brow. I am positive that the youngsters will benefit hugely from this merger and in the longer term Redhill FC will too by seeing local youngsters representing their local senior Club."
With what has been announced so far, one has to wonder why the clubs had to merge, especially as the committees will remain independent bodies with their own finances still.
Surely, progression of the young players to play senior football would have happened anyway if they were good enough or Redhill FC were actual looking at the local talent.
With the pressures of having to survive in the Ryman Isthmian League, South Division, once promotion from the County League has been achieved, means that normally the club and current manager, get talent in from clubs who have played at that level, or higher.
Therefore, will the Redhill Town FC youngsters really be given the opportunity to play at this level and if there not to be, then why has a merger been discussed and agreed.
Let's hope it works out for all concerned anyway and that Redhill FC and Redhill Town FC both benefit from this merger.
It has been announced that Redhill FC and Redhill Town FC have agreed to merge but what exactly this means in reality has yet to be seen and it also remains to be seen how many of the Redhill Town youngsters get to play for Redhill FC eventually.
Redhill Football Club chairman John Park has spoken of his “delight” after the Lobsters agreed to merge with Redhill Town.
The Redhill Town club are largely focused on youth football teams and Park believes the joining of the clubs will provide talented youngsters with the chance to progress into senior football.
“I am delighted that after many months of negotiations both committees have approved a merger between Redhill and Redhill Town,” Park said.
“This marks a wonderful opportunity to offer youngsters from the local area to develop their talents and progress in an environment which can ultimately offer an opportunity to play senior football to those who show the required ability.”
Under the stewardship of their chairman Steve Jenkins, Redhill Town have grown and developed into an excellent organisation with a large number of teams playing football in local leagues but as with many similar clubs there is always a problem when youngsters reach the age of 17 when teams often break up because there are no further opportunities to progress. This merger will provide youngsters with the opportunity to progress through our U18s into the U21s and, hopefully for some, into the first team.”
And while there are still a few kinks to iron out in the merger, Park is expecting a smooth transition and is keen to emphasise the finances of the Ryman League’s Lobsters and the youth section shall remain separate.
“It is important to stress that both clubs will remain financially independent with separate committees,” he said.
“We do, however, anticipate that representatives from each entity will sit on each other’s committee in order to maintain openness between us.
“Steve and his team will continue to provide parents with financial transparency so that parents can be confident that their subscriptions are being used in a ‘fit for purpose manner’.
“From the senior club’s perspective we will help the juniors with finding sponsors and perhaps raise money to sponsor one of the teams.
"Redhill FC coaching staff will be available to provide coaching especially during the summer months when special coaching days will be arranged which will be open to youngsters of all ages. Older players (16 years) will have the opportunity to look at opportunities afforded by Coulsdon College where our Redhill FC Academy is based.
"Of course there is still much to do particularly in regard to our Club Rules for both the Football and Social Clubs but perceived changes are expected to be minor in nature and a smooth transition can be expected via EGM’s.
"Finally on behalf of Redhill FC I welcome everyone from Redhill Town to Kiln Brow, please view it as your home and HQ, already managers use the buildings for meetings, a portacabin has been made available for storage and there will be times (weather permitting) when some of the youngsters games may well be played at Kiln Brow. I am positive that the youngsters will benefit hugely from this merger and in the longer term Redhill FC will too by seeing local youngsters representing their local senior Club."
With what has been announced so far, one has to wonder why the clubs had to merge, especially as the committees will remain independent bodies with their own finances still.
Surely, progression of the young players to play senior football would have happened anyway if they were good enough or Redhill FC were actual looking at the local talent.
With the pressures of having to survive in the Ryman Isthmian League, South Division, once promotion from the County League has been achieved, means that normally the club and current manager, get talent in from clubs who have played at that level, or higher.
Therefore, will the Redhill Town FC youngsters really be given the opportunity to play at this level and if there not to be, then why has a merger been discussed and agreed.
Let's hope it works out for all concerned anyway and that Redhill FC and Redhill Town FC both benefit from this merger.
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