Hayes & Yeading to merge

[tonyd]

According to thier web site. Obviously they had to change their name so as not to be confused with AFC Hayes, but a bit drastic!

[Gareth]

I've just been emailed this story, and it seems to be genuine.

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

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

Hayes and Yeading FC is 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 Southern Division 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 Southern 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 / Nick Bell – Press Officers

07782284164 / 07906303696

[e-mail] / [e-mail]

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. With their 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.



Christ knows who gets the relegation reprieve now...Weston? A Conf North team?

[dingman]

It's taken everyone by surprise. games will be at Hayes ground next season. Nobody sure after that. Yeading manager in charge of first team.
Sal won't have to suffer Yeading's ground next season.

[Hazel]

Gob smacked! Had worked out the Christmas fixtures (especially for you Sutton Sal). At least Hayes and Yeading can now beat themselves. (Hampton/Sutton; Bromley/Fisher; Welling /Thurrock)

[medibot]

Hayeading or Yeadayes?

[Andy K]

Oddly enough it does make sense - the important part is the "punching above their weight" comment. Yeading have been doing that for the last 2 seasons. I think the realisation that its more than likely they could not financially sustain the challenge, and need to pull resources together. The same applies for Hayes who not too long ago were getting crowds of 700+ in their conference days. For two clubs who are struggling with their resources, in an area where non league crowds are not easy to come by.

I don't think this merger would have taken place without the demise of Farnborough. The new merged team would have to drop down to the Ryman.

If the teams are confirmed for next year, it looks like a return to the seaside again, as unless they vote on a 21 team league next season, Weston Supermare have been saved in bizarre fashion!

[sallycat]

I can't believe it either, but there you go, it's been a weird season all round! Or rather next season will be weird.

hazel said:

Gob smacked! Had worked out the Christmas fixtures (especially for you Sutton Sal). At least Hayes and Yeading can now beat themselves. (Hampton/Sutton; Bromley/Fisher; Welling /Thurrock)

Thank you Hazel! I just had to do all that again too. I have YeaHa and DingYes playing Maidenhead, so we can still have Hampton This is assuming that WSM have a reprieve, in which case Christmas would look something like:
Newport v Weston
Dorchester v Bath
Basingstoke v Eastleigh
Bognor v Havant
Lewes v Eastbourne
Maidenhead v Hayes AND Yeading
Sutton v Hampton & Richmond
Bromley v Fisher
Thurrock v Welling
Cambridge v Braintree
St Albans v Bishop's Stortford

I don't know why my strange obsession with Christmas fixtures this year, but you seem to have it too Hazel so this is for you

[The Editor]

creating a new super-club on the non-league scene

Super? Who says so...? That said, they may actually reach double figures for attendance now.

In terms of league allocation, there's probably something in the rules, but I guess it's a matter for the League AGM to ratify and agree they stay in the Blue South Premier Conference Square

[Del]

Difficult to see what they can gain from this merger.Apart from better players that Yeading bring, its hardly likely to increase the gate.Both sides seem to be running at a loss or you would have thought so, but both grounds are being retained!

[Gareth]

I doubt the police will allow a Newport v Weston fixture at Christmas due to past incidents

[sallycat]

That's a good point, maybe Newport will have to play Dorchester or something!

[stephen]

Sal already knows my opinion on this. I do genuinly think that this will decrease gates. I'm just so bloody annoyed right now.

[Andy K]

stephen said:

Sal already knows my opinion on this. I do genuinly think that this will decrease gates. I'm just so bloody annoyed right now.

And I can totally understand why. Imagine how many "bloody annoyed" people there would be on this message board if Sutton and Carshalton merged...

Well, Nick wouldnt be of course, Carshalton being his 2nd team an all....

[sallycat]

I can see gates staying around the same, which if you think about it kind of defeats the object. But you never know- maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised. It's happened now, there's nothing you can do about it- you might as well just wait and see what happens.

[DaveF]

It is fairly traditional for merged clubs to be called United.
We could take the SUT from Sutton and the TON from Carshalton, the new name would then be......