St Francis Youth FC

The club was established in 1994 and originally trained on St Francis School playing field. It now has almost 350 children training regularly with many of them playing in the local youth football leagues (Eastleigh & District Mini Soccer League, the Southampton and District Tyro Football League and the Winchester and District Girls League). The club aims to help local children develop their sport skills and team work while enjoying sport for its own sake. They provide a community approach with many of the players living in Valley Park and adjoining areas. In 2002, the club received the FA Charter Standard Development Club Award. This award recognises amateur football clubs which are run along formal lines and which meet the standards set out by the Football Association. This charter provides a framework for best practice for managing amateur and community football clubs. These standards include child protection, code of conduct, financial management and developing skills, among others. St Francis Youth Football Club is the first club in Hampshire (including adult clubs) to receive the Development status charter award. This is a major achievement given that the parent managers are all volunteers and manage the club in their own time.