ONE OF the biggest youth football organisations in the south east has been created with the merger of Farnham Town and Farnham United.

The youth section will now boast more than 700 young players, aged from four to 18, playing in 65 teams.

It is the culmination of months of discussions by Farnham Town Youth secretary Ross Moore, chairman Paul Tanner and his counterpart at Farnham United, Jean-Claude Vacassin.

The clubs say the concept of the new arrangement is ‘One Club, One Vision’ – and that the primary focus will be to make youth football in Farnham more accessible and even more inclusive, providing greater opportunities for local children to be active.

It’s a commitment that also extends to girls’ football, where the club already have 100 registered players aged from five to 16 and, after starting three new teams this season, plan to introduce more in September.

This season, Farnham’s under-18s won the Allied County Youth League – the first time Town had won a championship at that level.

A Farnham Town spokesman said: “The merger will allow Farnham Town to build on their recent success and further enhance player development, with players at all age groups given access to first-class training and the opportunity to follow what will become an established pathway to the first team and, potentially, beyond.

“This will encompass improved facilities at both the Monkton Lane and Memorial Ground sites, as well as giving Farnham children access to even higher standards of football coaching.

“Within the new Farnham Town set-up, all players aged four to seven years old will benefit from training by the Chelsea Foundation that Farnham United players have enjoyed for the past couple of years.

“And as they move through the age groups, the plan is for all Farnham Town youth players to be given access to training from, and with, Farnham Town first-team players and management.

“Both parties recognise the commercial benefits to the merger.

“Over the past two years, and thanks to the efforts of committee members, supporters, sponsors and parents, both Farnham Town and Farnham United have made significant improvements to their off-field activities.

“Farnham United have invested a grant from Waverley Borough Council to refurbish their clubhouse and patio garden, while Farnham Town used a crowdfunding scheme to not only refurbish their clubhouse but also invest in their Full Times catering van.

“By coming together, the merged club will not only have a single-focus relationship with both Waverley and Farnham Town Council, it will also be an even more attractive proposition for sponsors – one that will allow Farnham Town to implement their recently-published plans to improve the Memorial Ground and, hopefully, create additional playing space in and around the Monkton Lane.

“These are exciting times for Farnham Town and the merger is just one element of a ten-year vision to improve the club’s infrastructure, grow the club at all levels and for all ages, from Mini Monsters to the Farnham Town Flares walking football team, and establish Farnham and Waverley as the exemplar of community football.

“Certainly, under its five man leadership group of Tim Hooper, Ross Moore, Amy Cheesman, Durgesh Chadee and Jean-Claude himself, Farnham Town’s youth teams look all set to have a spectacular future.”

To find out more about Farnham Town Mini-Monsters and youth teams, see https://www.
ftfconline.com/16s-and-under/

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