SUPPORTERS NEWSLETTER: FEBRUARY 2013

LINK-UP WITH LEIGHTON TOWN YOUTH FC

Background

Talks between the Management Committees of both clubs to explore the possibilities of a link-up are in progress. So far nothing has been decided. Initial proposals were presented as a vision for the future to a meeting of team managers from both clubs on 7 December 2012. There was strong support for the vision which relates to the future for youth and adult football in Leighton-Linslade and surrounding areas.

Vision

The vision is to:

  • Merge Leighton United and Leighton Town Youth into a new club called FC Leighton, in effect creating a ‘community super club’.
  • Facilitate the integration of other local youth football clubs wishing to join the vision.
  • Be open to every player, parent, supporter and volunteer that wishes to participate in the vision.
  • Create a new brand (probably based on the Barcelona badge) that includes the traditional colours and identity of both clubs.
  • Provide player focused development pathways for boys and girls from mini-soccer to adult football thereby giving opportunities for players of all abilities to fulfill their potential.
  • Provide best in class coaching, with a community of coaches working together, effectively utilizing diversity of skills and subject experts (eg goal-keeping).
  • Have a defined curriculum for each age group with coaches committed to skills development, team play and understanding of the game.
  • Provide opportunities for disabled players to play football.
  • Encourage players to take up coaching or refereeing and help run the club.
  • Link with and be a partner with all local schools.
  • Strengthen ties with local professional and semi-professional clubs.
  • Provide first class facilities and equipment. The Tilsworth ground would be the focal point but we would look to continue partnerships with local authorities and schools for the provision of facilities, so providing local hubs for youth and adult football (the two existing clubs are already partners with Cedars and Vandyke Upper Schools for the use of their artificial pitches).
  • Be an attractive prospect for potential club sponsors and improve the ability to seek grant funding.
  • Continue to be a Football Association Community Charter Standard club.

Transition

This will not happen overnight. If agreement is forthcoming then there will be a phased progression over a number of seasons to the final FC Leighton vision. To form the new club Leighton United would change its name to FC Leighton thus (maintaining Community Charter Standard status and Community Amateur Sports Club status for the new club, while Leighton Town Youth would dissolve with assets transferred to FC Leighton.

Younger age groups would adopt the vision in its entirety, training and playing as FC Leighton.Older age groups would continue to maintain their unique team identities adopting FC Leighton names indicative of their origin, e.g.FC Leighton United Blues or FC Leighton Town Reds. They would continue to play in existing kit until it requires replacing, at which time a new FC Leighton kit would be provided. It will simply not be affordable to provide all teams with new kit at the outset.

Having obtained team manager support, the two committees will now continue to meet to progress the development of the FC Leighton concept. There are still a lot of details to be sorted out before FC Leighton becomes a reality, including things like EGMs, a new constitution, FA affiliation, club structure, business planning, fees, welfare, kit designetc.

We hope you will see this as an exciting prospect and we will keep you informed of progress over the coming months.

Management Committee

Leighton United Football Club