HILTON HARRIERS FOOTBALL CLUB 

Hilton Harriers FC was established in 1992 as a result of a small group of children wanting to play football. Through the efforts of three of the children’s parents, a second hand kit and the school allowing them to train on their grass, Hilton Harriers began. Over the next couple of years, as the children grew older, more teams were formed. However, as the development of the depot began, no one at the club would have thought that the club would grow so much in such a short space of time. Since that first team, the club now provides access to football to over 500 members, boys and girls, men and women with ages ranging from 5 years to 60!

As part of our development we have seen considerable change from the initial base of three teams:

• Hilton Harriers FC has grown from three willing volunteers to over 80 FA qualified coaches who all receive not just football training but safeguarding, first aid and are all DBS checked.

• We are a formally constituted club and club committee including parent members.

• We offer organised football to Boys, Girls, Men, Ladies and even have a veterans team!

• We have two all-inclusive football groups offering football to children and young adults with learning or physical disabilities

• We provide open weekly training sessions for our members, irrespective of ability.

• Membership is offered irrespective of ability, sex, race or creed.

• We will be supporting and organising 40 teams in locally constituted leagues this year

In 2002 Hilton Harriers FC became the first club in Derbyshire to attain the FA’s charter standard mark, this award recognises the club as well organised and as a safe club for children. As well as these awards the club has also picked up numerous county and regional voluntary awards in this time.

Our whole reason for being is to teach and promote the game of football to the local children population. The children are not taught just how to play the game, they also learn how to prepare themselves for sport, what equipment to use, how to exercise properly to prevent injury, how to play by the rules and laws of the game.

We also place strong emphasis on their behaviour towards everybody they meet within and when representing the club. Each member of the club receives a handbook, which contains the codes of conduct for children, coaches and parents as well as the club policies.