Ferryhill Town Boys and Youth Football Team - A History

The club was formed in 1994 by Stephen (Gus) Hopper and myself Dave Foster. We started off as Ferryhil Youth Club, then in 1997 changing to Ferryhill Town Boys.

In 1999 we were to change our name once more into Ferryhill Town 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 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 Ferryhill, 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 this season, we have had yet again expand to four teams. So that means this season 2002 - 2003 we have had to have 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@ritafos.freeserve.co.uk if neither of either 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 keep the club ticking over.

Czech Exchange Visit

Just after forming the club, one of our friends who used to live in Ferryhill moved to the Czech Republic. And in 1995 arranged for the club to visit the Czech Republic. We accepted his offer and they visited Ferryhill in the Whit holidays, they were from a small town called Sezimovo Usti, which is about 30 miles south of Prague. We decided to make the visit an exchange. So we now to this day still have the exchange going, but now with a different team of boys. From a town called Plana Nad Luznici. Which is another two to three miles further south. When we visit the Czech Republic we play various games during the week we are over there, and also a tournament, which is normally on the first day.