FerryhillTown Boys and Youth Football Team - A History
(From information provided by Dave Foster)
FerryhillTown Boy’s 1995
The club was formed in 1994 by Stephen (Gus) Hopper and Dave Foster. We started off as Ferryhil Youth Club, and then in 1997 changed our name to FerryhillTown Boys.
In 1999 we were to change our name once more into FerryhillTown Youth after introducing girls into the Club. We started our league career off in the Bishop Auckland Northern Echo league, to which we stayed there until it unfortunately disbanded in 1996. In that league we managed to reach four League Cup finals, unfortunately coming runners up in all four. We had a mixture of boys from not just the Ferryhill area, but from around the reign also, such as Spennymoor, West Cornforth, Chilton and other surrounding areas.
When we first formed we were one of three junior Football clubs in Ferryhill, until the other two unfortunately folded and we ended up being the only junior club in Ferryhill, so that meant either let the other children run the streets or expand the club. We decided to expand the club to two teams to accommodate the extra children. We stayed at two teams up until 1999 as there were more and more children to accommodate so we were forced to expand to three teams. They were under 10s, 11s, and 12s. But yet again due to the demand of the children wanting to play football, we have had yet again expand to four teams. So that meant the season 2002 - 2003 we have had to expand to four teams within the club, under 10s, 11s, 12s and 13s.
After the disbanding of the Bishop Auckland league we joined the Teesside Junior Football Alliance, to which we are playing to this day. The club at this time is now run by Mrs. Rita Foster, with myself taking a back seat after my operation in 1996, but you can still contact me on 01740 651508 or E - Mail at david if neither my wife or myself are in, you can leave a message and we will get back to you. Because with the club being as big as it is now, we are always looking for either sponsors or ways to make funds to keeps the club ticking over.
With the demand for giving children football within the area this season (2010-11) we have currently 10 teams at the club. Boy’s & Girls teams range from under 7s (mixed boys & girls) to under 18s, with also a disabled team (Ferryhill Town Youth Sonics) and also a development program for children from the age of 4 years of age
The highlight of the club history was in 2003 when the club was awarded the Queens Golden Jubilee Award. For bringing young people together through sporting and other activities. With Dave & Rita Foster going down to Buckingham Palace personally to receive the award from the Queen & Prince Phillip. The Club was also recognized by the Durham FA in 2005 where the Club were awarded Charter Standard Club of the year, with Dave Foster coming runner up as administrator for the whole of the North East. The Club was also recognized by BBC Radio Tees & the Teesside Junior Football Alliance with them awarding the Club a recognition award in with Dave Foster going live on air to receive the award with also other various awards over the years from other organizations.
After 15 years of running the Club, our goal at the Club was achieved when the Club in partnership with Ferryhill Town Council were awarded a grant totaling £1.2millon to build a state of the art football facility upgrading all our pitches and also a changing facility with 6 changing rooms and a social area for the Club. Our thanks must go to Mr. Andrew Megginson (SBC) and Mr. Jamie Corrigan (FTC) for their part in receiving this award.