Hayes and Yeading FC???

[BFR]

Bizarre.

 

Quote:

Hayes and Yeading FC – Merged rivals, the new force in Conference League

 

 

Blue Square South the new name for the Football Conference Southern Division will play host to a new club with a familiar looking name for season 2007/08.

 

Hayes and Yeading FC are the new entity created by the merger of Hayes FC and Yeading FC. The two sides, both members of last season’s Conference South and both located within the West Middlesex town of Hayes have decided to join forces, integrate resources and bring together a community, creating a new super-club on the non-league scene.

 

The combined forces of Middlesex and West London’s senior semi-professional football clubs will further raise the profile of non-league football in an area that traditionally struggles for crowds against local Premiership and Football League sides.

 

Former Hayes FC Chairman Derek Goodall said “It is well known that for years our clubs have struggled to attract the big gates needed to survive at this level. By combining efforts, know-how and strategy we can secure the future of high-level football in the area and provide facilities that the local community need and desire”

 

Counterpart Phillip Spurden, former Chairman of Yeading FC added “On the field both sides have been punching far above their weight for many years, but to build on that and take the next step we need to match that off the field as a business, in the stadium, surroundings and amenities. This merger not only secures the future of the football clubs but also guarantees that the future fans, players and staff of the club will be on a more even footing with rivals at this and the higher levels of the pyramid to which we aspire.”

 

The merger of the two clubs and acceptance of only one space in the Blue Square South for next season has been agreed by the Football Conference League but is subject to ratification by The Football Association.

 

Hayes and Yeading FC will initially consist of a first team squad playing in the Blue Square South Division, Reserves playing in the Suburban Football League and a Youth side playing in the Allied Counties League. The existing youth set-ups of both clubs, two of the largest in the South East of England, will initially run as independent organisations while the integration of the senior sides is consolidated.

 

On the field Hayes and Yeading FC will be led by Garry Haylock who has been handed the manager’s role of the new club having been appointed as Yeading boss in December 2006. The former professional with Huddersfield Town and a host of clubs within the Irish Republic said: “It was a great honour to manage Yeading last season and an even bigger honour to be chosen to lead the new club into what are very exciting times. Obviously, I already know the players and staff of Yeading but I am also very aware of the talents that Hayes will add to that. I am also looking to bring in other players with experience at the highest levels to ensure that Hayes and Yeading FC are pushing for honours from the start of next season.” Haylock will be joined by his former backroom staff, with Colin Davis taking charge of the Reserve set-up, a role he previously held with Hayes.

 

Off the field, one of the first tasks ahead of the newly formed club is to formalise plans for new facilities to meet Conference National requirements, and hope to boast 3rd generation all-weather training pitches and community facilities unrivalled in this part of Greater London.

 

Hayes and Yeading FC will play their first team matches at Hayes FC’s existing ground of Church Road. Yeading FC’s The Warren will continue to provide social facilities, a training base and play host to Reserve and Youth team games.

 

Football Conference Operations Director John Moules commented “I welcome the fact that two nearest neighbours are joining forces to strengthen their position and that of Middlesex football to take both clubs forward for the benefit of fans and the local area.”

 

Labour MP John McDonnell, the local Member of Parliament for both former clubs and Patron of Hayes FC, welcomed the amalgamation: “I wholeheartedly welcome this initiative which will not only give us a strong footballing base within the area but also provide an invaluable sporting resource for the whole community.”

 

With consolidation in the upper echelons of the non-league pyramid the short-term aim of the newly formed Hayes and Yeading FC, the medium to longer term plans will develop a club capable of promotion into the football league.

 

 

ENDS

 

 

For more information contact

 

Tim Fuell – Press Officer

07782284164

tim@fuell.co.uk

 

or

 

Nick Bell – Press Officer

07906303696

nicholas.bell@talk21.com

 

 

 

For Editors:

 

Hayes FC were originally formed as the Botwell Mission in 1909 taking the name of Hayes Football Club in season 1928/29 to better reflect their location within the town of Hayes, Middlesex. FA Amateur Cup runners-up, County Cup Champions, Athenian League Champions, Isthmian League Champions, FA Cup giant-killers and founding members of the Conference South, Hayes FC have also been responsible for some of non-league’s most famous exports into the professional ranks including Robin Friday, Cyrille Regis, Les Ferdinand and Jason Roberts.

Historical information is available at www.hayesfc.net

 

Yeading FC began life more recently, formed as Yeading Youth Club 1960. Withtheir memebership growing-up , they adopted the name of Yeading FC for the 1965/66 and so began an historical rise winning almost every honour available at junior level, before gaining senior status and joining the Spartan League in 1984. Winning the FA Vase, County Cups and Isthmian Championship Yeading rose to step two of the football pyramid and the Conference South along with a Third Round FA Cup tie against Newcastle United that stole headlines across the world. Famous Yeading old-boys include Andrew Impey, Charlie Oatway and DJ Campbell.

Historical information is available at www.yeadingfc.co.uk

[GarySTFC]

Which presumably means the Conference South is now one team short. Bedford reprieved? (Or whoever it was who finished one below Hayes)

[Uncle Urchin]

weston I'd imagine....personally I think its a smart..innovative move and one which will make chairmen and fans across london sit up and take notice...

 

thats a strong combined set up created there and praise must go to those that initiated it and then made it happen...

[Martin]

Hmmm, lets just hope it doesn't see Stokesey revive any of his ideas.

[Guest]

still won't get bigger crowds ! It will all end in tears one team will loose out in the end...how long before Yeading disappers...or now that AFC hayes has been born...will hayes fc disappear....

 

chris s

[Martin]

Presumably Brook House must have heard about this in advance and took advantage. The press release seems positive with btoh clubs retaining a stake but history suggests that this type of thing does not really work.

[Guest]

Does,nt Work?

Rushden & Ds also Stevenage Boro seem O.K.

[GarySTFC]

Stevenage? Rushden had a lot of money behind it which generated the success to get the support in.

[Martin]

Who did Stevenege merge with? Exactly.

 

As soon as Max Griggs withdrew his money - things have been very tough for Rushden and I'm sure the good people of Irthlington probably think they could still house their own club.

[Uncle Urchin]

but the R&D legacy will live on and watch them next year with hillsy in charge...most mergers do work regardless of what anyone wants to think....in fact give me an example please of one that hasn't.....

 

like it or not.....it is the way forward and in the next 50 years I predict that NL clubs in london will reduce by a third due to mergers...and No...I won't be around to say I told you so.....

[GarySTFC]

One that hasn't? Burnham & Hillingdon.

[Chris]

How many more mergers / financial troubles till we get a reprieve? ;-)

[brighton_rebel]

Most mergers work?

Er Rushden and Dagenham who swallowed up hundreds of clubs (ok, four) - yet out of these Ilford and Walthamstow Avenue have started up again. People want clubs to represent their areas.

Who else has been a merger success?

I'm with Chris S., Yeading to disapear for good in a few years time.

 

[TRS]

Originally Posted By: Uncle Urchin

most mergers do work regardless of what anyone wants to think....in fact give me an example please of one that hasn't.....

Dorking & Guildford United. Guildford, a mainstay of the Southern League Premier Division fell into difficulties in 1974 and had to vacate their Josephs Road ground (sharing until the end of the season with Met Police). Then came the ill fated merger with Dorking, which saw the merged club play at Dorking's Meadowbank ground. The newly merged club fell into difficulties and collapsed mid-season. Newly formed Dorking Town emerged in 1977 initially joining the Surrey Senior League. Now known as Dorking FC, the Chicks ply their trade these days in the Combined Counties League.

Well you did ask!

[Uncle Urchin]

Originally Posted By: TRS

Originally Posted By: Uncle Urchin

most mergers do work regardless of what anyone wants to think....in fact give me an example please of one that hasn't.....

Dorking & Guildford United. Guildford, a mainstay of the Southern League Premier Division fell into difficulties in 1974 and had to vacate their Josephs Road ground (sharing until the end of the season with Met Police). Then came the ill fated merger with Dorking, which saw the merged club play at Dorking's Meadowbank ground. The newly merged club fell into difficulties and collapsed mid-season. Newly formed Dorking Town emerged in 1977 initially joining the Surrey Senior League. Now known as Dorking FC, the Chicks ply their trade these days in the Combined Counties League.

Well you did ask!

thank you TRS... but you and I both know (unless you googled the info) that the little fandango that you refer to wasn't quite a merger...more an act of desperation between two bankrupt and jilted lovers.....hanging onto wet straws until the end

always destined to end in the way that it did....

[Uncle Urchin]

Originally Posted By: GarySTFC

One that hasn't? Burnham & Hillingdon.

yes it did..burnham are still there..I didn't say they had all kept the joint names...hillingdon was dropped...so what...still the same merged entity....

eton should be dropped from windsor....

windsor and slough...now that has a ring of the conference about it with the old lady in regular attendance....

anyway I am not playing over here anymore.....the shame of it...slough in a pinko trust and letting insurrectionist commies on their forum....

good lord...what next...

[Guest]

"yes it did..burnham are still there..I didn't say they had all kept the joint names...hillingdon was dropped...so what...still the same merged entity...."

 

Sorry but that's nonsense. They are called Burnham, they play in Burnham and have no reference to Hillingdon in name or geography.

[brighton_rebel]

Is this the arch capitalist Urchin who so successfully bankrolled Hornchurch?!!!

[Guest]

hillingdon had to re form ...when Burnham dropped their name...it did not work...

 

howabout Upminster & hornchurch FC now thats got a ring to it...

 

or Elm Park & hornchurch FC...

 

Merges are last resort measurers...when all other channels are exhausted...

 

Now Maybe in a few year time Church Road will be sold and Yeadings ground will be re developed ...church road if owned will give Hayes the spring board to a spending spree ...but where will they get their supporters from...

 

sad day for Yeading .... They should have merged with AFC Hayes because they play in Yeading !!!!

 

cheers chris s

 

 

[mal316]

Originally Posted By: brighton_rebel

Who else has been a merger success?

How about Wokingham & Embrook?

Wokingham were homeless, shared with WEFC and then Egham and eventually merged with Embrook and are still going under the name of Wokingham & Embrook.