Woodside F.C. – who are you?
Woodside F.C. was founded in 1975 by a group of local parents interested in providing a well organised football club for their children, with the intention of holding regular training sessions and matches against teams from other local clubs. Today, some 32 years later, the club has grown to more than 300 members, with boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 18 regularly training, receiving coaching and playing competitive football in one of the largest organised leagues in the country, the Milton Keynes Youth Football League (MKYFL) and the Milton Keynes & District Junior 7 League (MKDJ7).
How is the club organized?
Woodside is run by an elected Committee, comprising: Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and Fixtures Secretary. Committee members are elected by the membership at the A.G.M., which is usually held annually in the month of June. They serve in office until they are opposed, or more often the case, until they retire their post. The Committee's role is to look after the general running of the club, liaising with our county F.A. and the league. The Committee in turn serves its many squad managers, trying where possible to ensure that they have all they need to allow them to concentrate on their team's endeavours. During the season, managers meetings are organised, where club and league activities are discussed.
How are the Managers/ teams organized?
Each age group has a dedicated manager(s), running one and sometimes two teams, from the age of 8. Each manager arranges training details directly with his players or through his assistant(s). The manager often organises sponsorship for his squad, enabling him to provide a football strip for his entire team, although if he is not so fortunate the club does provide all necessary kits, balls etc. Boys and girls entering Woodside between the ages of 5 and 8 will start in the colts, where they will be introduced to football through a structured training program, allowing them to develop at their own speed, with the emphasis placed first and foremost on the enjoyment of football. The majority of our managers started with their own children in the nursery colts, helping our more experienced coaches and progressing to manage their team at the older age group.
Are the Managers qualified?
Yes, all our team managers hold the English F.A. Level 1 Coaching certificate. Once a parent indicates that he/she wishes to manage a team the club contacts Bedfordshire F.A to register its new managers on the Level 1 Course. Indeed, many of our Manager's assistants have also attended the course and hold the same certification. Does the club have a code of conduct? Woodside have adopted the English F.A.'s code of conduct and good practice guidelines for players, managers and parents. We will give you a copy of the code for your information and guidance.
If I were interested in managing a team would I have to pay the course fees?
Absolutely not. Because of your intention to manage a team the least the club can do is to provide you with all the necessary training, fees paid. Furthermore should any of our Managers wish to attend additional course(s) the club is only too willing to meet all course fees.
What does the Level 1 course involve?
The course takes 2 weekends and 2 evenings, held at a local football club. During the course you will be given instruction on Child Protection issues, managing a team, coaching techniques and first aid - in relation to football related injuries. Qualified people, appointed by the Football Association, provide all instruction.
Who organizes the training and coaching?
Generally each team manager and his assistant(s) decide on the content of each training session. There are some Level 2 qualified coaches within the Club who are always willing to advise on sessions for all the teams. From time to time Woodside also employ coaches from local professional clubs i.e. MK Dons and Rushden & Diamonds.
Are Woodside affiliated to any organizations?
Yes we are. First and foremost we are affiliated to Bedfordshire Football Association, the MKYFL and the MKDJ7 Leagues.
I assume you play your football in these leagues?
Yes we do. As I mentioned earlier, The MKYFL is possibly the largest organised football league in England. In the 2007/2008 season we have registered 20 teams: 10 playing Junior 7 and 10 teams playing 11-a-side competitive league football. Within this league we are the largest club, as far as the number of participating teams is concerned.
Forgive me, but what is the difference between Junior 7 and 11-a-side football?
No problem. Junior 7 football is organised for teams between the age groups U8's to U11's. The match consisting of two teams of 7 (or 9) players each, playing on a J7 pitch, measuring up to 70x50 yards, with half size goals and size-4 footballs. The match consists of two 30 minutes halves. Woodside prefer this type of football for the younger teams, as it has proved to be the most favourable introduction to competitive football. The 11-a-side teams play their matches on full size pitches with full size goals. From U11 to U14 inc they play with size-4 footballs and beyond U15 with full size-5 balls. Matches for U11 and U12 last for 70 minutes, U13 and U14 for 80 minutes and beyond U15 the matches last for 90 minutes.
Playing in such a large league, do you have to register your players?
Yes we do. It's one of the requirements of playing in the MKYFL and MKDJ7 leagues. At the beginning of each season specially organised registrations evenings are arranged. The managers take along a passport photo, copy of birth certificate and a signed parental agreement form for each of his players. These are checked by the registration secretary and the photos laminated into a sleeve. Before the start of every match the two managers exchange registration cards. If they wish to check players on the pitch against their cards they are entitled to do so. And so is the referee. If a player isn't registered he can't play, it's as simple as that.
Where and when do you train and play you matches?
All players up to the age of age group U11 train and play their matches on the sports field of Brooklands Middle School, Brooklands Drive, Leighton Buzzard on Saturday mornings between 9.00 and 10.30am. Occasionally we have several home matches scheduled for the same morning, this means we have to have one or two matches kicking off later in the morning. The team managers will inform his players if this is the case. For the teams U12's and above they train on the sports field of Linslade Middle School, Mentmore Road, Linslade; once again on Saturday mornings between 9.00 and 10.30am. Some of the managers of the older boys prefer to train in a local park or on an all weather surface during the week. 11-a-side matches are played on Sundays, at Brooklands in the morning and on the public pitches at Pages Park, Billington Road, Leighton Buzzard, in the afternoon.
With so many young members does the club have a child protection policy?
That is a very important point you have raised! Woodside take the welfare of its members very seriously. I mentioned earlier, during the content of the managers course, that Child protection is one of the subjects covered. In addition to this, Woodside have a child protection officer, who has attended a recognised child protection seminar, run by Bedfordshire F.A. in conjunction with the English F.A. and the NSPCC. We have also invited the child protection officer from Beds F.A. to come along to talk to our managers and assistants on specially organised evenings. All our managers and assistants have freely completed declaration forms, which are passed on to Beds F.A. for checking against child abuse known offenders registers.
Competing in so many matches, has the club had any problems with discipline? If so how do you deal with any undesirable behaviour?
Fortunately, Woodside have built up a reputation for fair play and sportsmanship over the years. Most of our teams, if not heading, are toward the top of their division's league fair play ratings. Already this season two of our teams have received rewards for being on top of their fair play league at mid-season. Players who pick up yellow and red cards are automatically fined by Beds F.A. Fines which the boys themselves pay, not the club. If a player's disciplinary record was causing concern the committee would firstly discuss his conduct with his manager and if deemed necessary appropriate steps would be taken with the player concerned. In the time I have been with Woodside the committee have not been needed to pass judgement on any of its players, a fact that we are very proud of indeed. Woodside F.C. will, in line with league guidelines, ban any parent or supporter from the ground in cases of any undesirable behaviour what so ever, especially towards match officials.
Does the club have a code of conduct?
Woodside have adopted the English F.A.'s code of conduct and good practice guidelines for players, managers and parents. We will give you a copy of the code for your information and guidance, or you can read it here.
Does the club carry insurance of any kind?
All players, managers and assistant are covered for personal injury and public liability whenever they are engaged in club activities, whether that be during matches, training or even traveling to and from the game.
Does the club organize social events?
We organise fund raising events such as quiz and race nights, which themselves are social occasions. We are fortunate to have entered into a partnership with a local residents club whose hall we use for holding our event evenings. More often than not we fill the hall to its capacity of 220. At the end of every season we hold a presentation evening for all the players, each player receiving a small memento in recognition of their efforts. Additionally the manager of each team presents special awards in four categories: managers player of the year, players player of the year, managers club-man of the year and most improved player of the year.
What plans do Woodside have for the future?
At the moment we are in the process of applying for the English F.A.'s Charter Standard Status. We have recently been sourcing 10 acres of land for use as our own ground. This is a very exciting prospect and we hope to have some news to announce in the near future.
How much does it cost to become a member of Woodside?
Subscriptions for 2007/2008 season are:
| Age Group | | First child | | Second, third child etc |
| 11-a-side (U12 and above) | | £90 | | £45 |
| Junior 7 (U9, U10 and U11) | | £65 | | £30 |
| Colts (age 5 to 8 years) | | £50 | | £25 |
Who do I contact about membership and any other information about the clubs activities?
The club Secretary Paul Sullivan (07946 158647). Paul will give you any additional information you require and will arrange for your child to be registered with the club. We look forward to welcoming you and your children to Woodside F.C.
