Affiliated to London County Football Association and the Amateur
Football Alliance
Members of the Amateur Football Combination and the Cheshunt Youth Football League
A Football Association Charter Standard Club
Lea Valley Football Club is a new
community club reflecting the great diversity of cultures and backgrounds of
people in the East London area.
It was born out of the perceived lack of
football coaching and playing facilities - particularly for children - in
the area of the River Lea valley and the London Boroughs of Waltham Forest
and Hackney.
Formed in December 2006 initially as an
adult football club, Lea Valley FC joined the London based Asian Football
League in 2006-7 and more recently joined the Amateur Football Combination.
It has affiliation to both the London
County F.A. and the Amateur Football Alliance.
Financial support has recently been
received from The Football Foundation in order to establish a Youth Policy
within the club.
At Youth level we support Under 14’s,
Under 15’s and Under 18’s teams. At Senior level we support two teams.
Both adult and junior teams play their
home matches at the Douglas Eyre Sports Centre, Coppermill Lane,
Walthamstow, London E17.
A number of Football Association qualified
and CRB checked coaches have been acquired to work within the club.
The committee recognizes the importance of
providing a safe environment for both adults and young people in which the
Club’s Code of Conduct, Equal Opportunities, Anti-Discrimination and Child
Protection policies are rigorously adhered to. In support of this and as a
benchmark, they have achieved the coveted Football Association Charter
Standard status.
Lea Valley offers opportunities for
players from any cultural or ethnic background to develop their skills and
ability in the world’s number one sport.
Creating sustainability is a vital part of
the plans.
Lea Valley Management Committee is
comprised of a dedicated group of individuals who between them have a wealth
of football related experience and excellent contacts within all levels of
the game.
Everyone at Lea Valley is proud of being
part of a progressive club where the only colour that matters is the colour
of their shirts.
The Club has its own dedicated web site. (www.leavalleyfootballclub.co.uk)
2008 – 2009 Season Summary
Two and a half years gone by and how things have changed! Twelve months ago we
had our tails between our legs, propping up the entire Asian Football League
having won only two out of sixteen league games. Drastic measures were needed.
From being everyone’s Sunday whipping boys we moved leagues and set off timidly
along the Saturday football path with the Amateur Football Combination (AFC) and
just three of the previous years’ squad.
After three ‘friendlies’ against higher placed teams we settled down to life in
fairly lowly Division 7 North and the team quickly restored some pride to the
club after beating the University of Hertfordshire 2-1 away in the first round
of the County Cup. At the same time our new Under 14 team, operating thanks to
the generosity of a Football Foundation grant, played in division three of the
Cheshunt Youth Football League (CYFL). With a group of youngsters most of whom
had not played competitive football previously they established that they would
be no pushover with a tremendous 5-1 away win in their first league game. Both
teams were brought back to earth the following week, in each case recording what
turned out to be their worst defeat of the season. But perhaps it was a lesson
well learnt as thereafter neither side looked back nor took life for granted.
The Under 14’s went on to establish themselves as a ‘top half’ team managing to
knock in exactly 100 league goals by the end of the season. In the County Cup
they drew the short straw and played away to the previous years’ winners – Kodak
in a game which will probably be remembered for all the wrong reasons! The adult
team fared no better in the second round of the County competition having to
face a very strong Royal Air Force team – Icarus away. A game, however, that
will be remembered for the best of reasons: the amazing post-match curry we were
provided with in the Officer Mess!
The Under 14’s, who were looked after by Tom Hazelton and Ernestas Jegorovas
used a mere 19 players during the course of the season and achieved a
commendable goal difference of +35 – notwithstanding some rather dubious
decisions along the way from assistant referees! They closed their season having
won 12 and drawn three of their 21 league games, and settled for fourth place in
the table.
The senior team, with ‘keeper Terry Akal in charge, used 38 players, a
significant drop on last seasons’ massive total of 65. Special mention should go
to Terry, John Bee and Massimo Masella who all played in 27 out of the total 30
matches. The team racked up an incredible + 82 league goal difference winning 17
out of their 18 league games and scoring 99 goals in the process. A 10-0
decimation of Old Parmiterians on 5th May was enough to secure the championship
which they went on to win by five clear points. Just over two weeks previously
on 18th April they had won the first half of their ‘double’, powering past the
same opposition with a five goal victory in the London Old Boys “Drummond Cup”
final. The trophies were received by the club at the AFC/LOB Annual Dinner held
at The Brewery in Chiswell Street on 28th May. The Chairman (Tim Edwards)
accompanied by his wife Elizabeth and Terry Akal & Melvin Sullivan attended the
event.
Throughout the season we received plenty of support from the various
competitions and County associations and took some credit from both the AFC and
CYFL for not incurring any administration fines – and in the case of the AFC
being one of only three or four clubs not to do so. We managed to achieve a good
amount of off-pitch activity as well. On 10th January the Under 14’s visited
Ipswich Town Football Club where they were given guided tours of the ground and
the Academy; and they went to the Queens Park Rangers ground in west London on
31st March to watch an England Under 20’s game. Their Presentation Evening with
buffet provided by Hanna Ittoo took place at the Douglas Eyre Sports Centre on
27th April and was a great success.
We also received a good deal of help from other quarters. Our thanks go to Phil
Ravitz, Sports Editor of the Hackney Gazette who provided us with such splendid
and consistent coverage; referees Paul Barlow and Carl Rodriguez who made
themselves available to us throughout the season; and Colin Howard and all the
staff at the Douglas Eyre Sports Centre who went beyond the call of duty to make
us feel at home. Special mention should also be made of the excellent and
good-natured support we received from the parents of the Under 14’s. With so
many gloomy stories of ‘football parents’ elsewhere, ours provided a shining
beacon of merit.
Behind the scenes the Club Committee has continued to meet at monthly intervals
and we are pleased to have welcomed Parents’ Liaison Officer, Hanna Ittoo on
board as our new Club Welfare Officer.
Next season is not far away. Terry Akal, who has decided to hang up his boots
(or should it be gloves?) will be continuing to look after the senior eleven;
and Tom Hazelton will oversee the Youth development. The senior team have been
promoted six divisions and will play in Division 1 North while the new second
team will be starting in Division 6 North. Meanwhile the Under 14’s have been
promoted a division as they move up to the Under 15 age group and a new group of
young players will join the club at Under 14 level. A new Under 18’s team will
also be competing in the Cheshunt League.
It promises to be an exciting time for all of us. We will look to achieve and
build on the foundation we have created. We will no doubt meet storms and
sunshine along the way; but we must not lose sight of the fact that we are
essentially a Community Club and we will always strive to follow the ‘Spirit of
the Game’ and the path of good practice as we progress.
