Footballers Hit The Clubhouse Target

from the Gazette and Herald

By Alana Lewis »

DELIGHTED footballers and coaches in Derry Hill will soon have the new club house they have longed for following a £180,000 grant from the Football Foundation.

After years of fundraising, Derry Hill Football Club has finally reached its target of £300,000 for a purpose built club house on the Bowood Sports Ground.

Chairman Alan Crocker said: “It feels like we have won the lottery. We are all celebrating this generous grant from the Football Foundation.

“It is wonderful to see that they share our vision and are able to assist us to support youth football within our community.”

The 180 club members will no longer have to use a mobile building with no power or toilets, and will have a purpose built clubhouse with two changing rooms, showers, a kitchen and meeting room.

The new building will reunite the club by bringing the girls team back to the Bowood Sports Ground where they have been unable to play due to lack of toilet facilities. At the moment the girls have to play at Springfields School.

North Wiltshire MP James Gray handed the cheque over on Saturday. He said: “The new facilities for Derry Hill Football Club are good news for local people, especially the youngsters and girl footballers.

“It is good news for the health and fitness of our people at a time when too many are slumped in front of the TV or computer games rather than outdoors taking exercise, and it is good news for this rural community at a time when too many local community facilities are disappearing.

“It is brilliant news all round, and I am delighted to be able to make this presentation on behalf of the Football Foundation.”

The Football Foundation is the UK’s largest sports charity dedicated to revitalising the grass roots of the game.

Chief executive Paul Thorogood said: “It is good to think that in such gloomy economic times we will be able to provide a new clubhouse to put a big smile on our young members’ faces.”

Car Parking at BSG

Important: We Need Your Help

You will notice that construction activity has commenced at Bowood Sports Ground. The building work is scheduled to continue for 6 months. During this period an area of car-park will be lost to the construction site. To make the ground both safe and usable we must take care with where and how we park at the ground.

I ask that everyone, parents, players and officials remember the following:

Parking Advice
1. Pine and Cane have kindly agreed to allow the Club to use the car-park sited to the rear of their shop on the A4. If you are using the ground, please consider using this facility. Access to the rear car-park is located to the West (Chippenham) side of the building, do not park at the front of the shop.

2. Whether using BSG or Pine and Cane, park your vehicle close to adjacent ones, do not leave large gaps as space is now at a premium.

3. Do NOT use the east bound bus stop, at the entrance to BSG to park in. We have had near misses caused by the restricted viewing access such parking affords.

Site Access Restrictions
Under no circumstances must anyone, child or adult, enter the fenced compound. If you need an item retrieving then contact a member of the committee.

Finally, I would once again like to pass on my thanks and congratulations to the working party and committee whose commitment and energy have made this happen, and also to the funding bodies; The Football Foundation, North Wilts DC and Viridor Landfill Communities Fund, without whom we would not have the money to get this done.

Photographs of Club and squads activities at our Club Photographer's website

Tickets to UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final Game

Early notification of a ticket opportunity.

I have access to a limited number of tickets to the Arsenal UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final match at The Emirates.

The tickets are £58 each (same price for child or adult). This is cost price and carries no loading for Derry Hill United FC.

I am unable to tell you when the game takes place because the draw is not scheduled until Friday 20th March. However all UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final Matches are scheduled to take place on the following dates:

Tues 7 April - Wed 8 April
Tues 14 April - Wed 15 April

One of these dates will be when Arsenal have their home fixture and will be confirmed in Friday's draw along with their opposition.

If you want tickets to the match, listen to the draw on Friday and then email me on tickets@dhufc.org before Monday with the number of tickets you require. Tickets are only available to Club members and their immediate family and I need to have your money before Sunday 29th March to secure the tickets.

Note, ticket price does not include transportation, this you must organize and pay for yourself. Tickets are limited so your best chance of getting your request fulfilled will be to get your email in early.

Youth Football at Derry Hill

Following a number of conversations over the past few months it has become apparent to me that I need to make public the Club's plans for youth football at Derry Hill United FC.

As part of our football development plan we have made the following plans:

1. League football to U18 providing:
a. The League continues to offer a U17/18 competition
b. We have enough players in the squad to fulfil a League programme
c. We have continued adult commitment to support the team's activity, namely:
i Team Coach and Assistant Coach
ii Team Secretary
iii Match day helpers (Linesman, pitch prep etc.)

2. Post U18 the Club will facilitate and support the creation of a young adults side called "Derry Hill Old Boys". The purpose of this Club will be to facilitate the development of young adult players into full adult football through a Club which has the philosophy and approach of the Club from which the majority played during their junior careers.
a. Run by the players for the players
b. Train at BSG, play at other venue
c. League entry (League to be determined)
d. Coached by experienced adult coaching team

I am aware that a number of Club's in the area do not offer such opportunities for their older players and have been informed that this year is the last chance for those at U16 to play Club football. I would like to state that this is not the case at Derry Hill and would encourage those who want to extend their activity in youth football to embrace the opportunity that is open to them.

The committee and coaches are keen to keep your son at the Club for as long as we are able to facilitate League football and we want you to know this is what we are committed to.

We appreciate your support to the Club and hope this statement helps you understand what opportunities the Club is planning to offer your son.

Pitch Hotline Number Change

New Pitch Hotline Number
In order to provide a more readily available service I have now untied my business line from being used at the weekends as the Club Hotline. From the 4th March Derry Hill United has a new pitch hotline number, it is 0845 5272 886. If you forget this number or delete this mail then you will find the new number advertised within the pitch status box on the front page of our website.

Club Calendar
We have now confirmed the remaining Club events for the rest of the season. All these can be found by pointing your browser at the Club Calendar. You'll find all our events there from the AGM to training breaks, Club Trips to the End Of Season BBQ. Make sure you visit regularly to get the latest information. Whilst you are there you can always pick-up old copies of the Club Newsletter, "The Wildfire" on our News Blog.

Swindon Town v Hereford United
The deadline is approaching for our Club visit to a Coco-Cola League 1 match at the County Ground, Swindon. This game now looks to be a real battle with both sides desperate for points in a dog-fight at the foot of the League. This may not be a cultured game of top-flight football but is sure to be full of passion and commitment with both sides seeking to secure their League 1 status.

I have to submit our numbers to Swindon by Monday 9th March so please have your ticket requests in by then. Remember you are welcome to bring friends and family to this event.

Swindon Town FC v Hereford United
Coca-Cola League 1
At The County Ground, Swindon
Saturday 21st March 2009, Kick-off 3.00pm

Adults £11, Children £1.50
(normally priced at £20.00 and £9 respectively)
Ticket Deadline Monday 9th March
*** Order Your Swindon Town Tickets Here ***

New Clubhouse for Derry Hill United Football Club

From NWDC News



Players and supporters of Derry Hill United Football Club are celebrating after reaching another major milestone in their target to raise funds for a new clubhouse.

North Wiltshire District Council has awarded £75,000 towards this exciting project. The Club now eagerly await the outcome of their bids to other funding bodies.

The new £300,000 clubhouse will provide much needed changing rooms with showers and toilets for players and officials and toilets for visitors. It will also be a focal point for visitors with a kitchen and meeting room.

Derry Hill United Football Club supports some 185 children aged between 6 and 16 years of age, representing 13 squads, including 4 girl only groups, coached by 32 qualified volunteers.



Alan Crocker Chairman of Derry Hill United Football Club, says, “We are delighted that we have reached this pivotal moment. The financial support offered by North Wiltshire District Council is a key element in our fund raising activity. The project is a wonderful opportunity for us to provide much needed facilities for our young players and we are grateful to have the Council’s support.”

“I would like to offer my thanks to Lord Lansdowne for allowing the Club to develop at the Bowood Sports Ground and to North Wiltshire District Council who have supported our vision, to provide excellent football development opportunities for our members.”

Councillor Viv Vines, Lead Member for Leisure & Economy at North Wiltshire District Council, says, “This is really good news for everyone involved with Derry Hill United FC. They do a great job coaching youngsters of all ages and abilities and a new clubhouse will provide much needed facilities to help them. It is especially encouraging that Derry Hill United FC has such a large membership of youngsters and a pool of volunteers to coach them.”