The clubs status was underlined in 2004 when it became an FA Charter Standard Community Club and at the time only the 2nd club in Berkshire to receive this prestigious award. Ascot United is affiliated to the Berks and Bucks Football Association.
Ascot United today has grown to become one of the largest football clubs in the UK. Currently there are over 750 registered players, embracing all ages from 5 upwards and at all levels of ability. Ascot United fields 68 teams every weekend including 4 adult teams and 5 girls’ teams. It is supported by 46 businesses who provide various forms of sponsorship and is run by over 100 volunteers, 80 of whom have formal FA coaching qualifications.
It all begins at the Soccer School which is part of the Junior Section and is run by UEFA Qualified coaches where boys and girls from 5 to 7 years old attend on Saturday mornings to enjoy their first organised football. The soccer school is set in a fantastic environment at the recently developed Racecourse Site. The emphasis for this age group is on non competitive player development. The focus is on the skills and techniques of our young players as they move through the age groups at the club. First class coaching is also accompanied by a commitment from the club to support parents and potential coaches and encourage them to become involved at this age group.
The players then start to learn and understand training and playing as groups and teams and developing their skills. The players are arranged into squads which join the East Berks Youth Football League at the U7 age group from January playing home and away 7-a-side matches against local teams. The emphasis is still very much on coaching and development and the match results are not recorded. The teams are run mostly by parents who have the chance to develop their own coaching skills by gaining the Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Football qualification.
Players then move into the main Junior Section where Ascot United coach 28 teams between U8 and U11 age groups playing 7 a side football. The emphasis is still very much on coaching and player development but the match results are now recorded and all teams play in the East Berks Youth Football League.
The club runs a thriving Ladies and Girls Section, and is very proud to offer girls only football at a wide range of age groups starting from under 10’s through to our Ladies section. Girls can start playing football at AUFC at the mixed soccer school from as young as 6 years of age and when they feel the need to move to girl only training, we accept them at 8 years of age into our training programme. Ascot United runs friendly & competitive girls teams from U10, and girls can also stay in mixed football until they reach the under 12 age group.
The Ladies and Girls Section is headed by UEFA qualified coaches and each team has its own qualified first aider and where possible we try to ensure this is a female, especially at the older age groups. The players are very well cared for and the section has its own welfare officer.
The Youth Section runs boys football from U12 to U16 and has 21 teams running at these age groups playing 11 a side football. Player development is still of paramount importance for all players with qualified coaches working with all sides. The Saturday teams play in the East Berks Youth Football League and it is planned that from the 2011/2012 season the club will also enter teams in the Surrey Youth League competing at a high level.
Development of these players at all levels enhances the plans of Ascot United to not only be a healthy, enjoyable Community Club, but also develop our high quality players to move on to the next level, whether it be Ascot United or beyond.
Ascot United offer Under 18’s Allied Counties Youth Football League football, which is mid-week floodlit football at a high level of for our top youth players. This is a great opportunity for our players and gives a vital focus to our more ambitious players. This squad is run by 3 UEFA qualified coaches and a UEFA Goalkeeping Coach, and staff will also undertake psychology work during player development meetings with the players.
The Senior Section provides two teams competing in the Hellenic League, the first eleven currently performing very well in the Premier Division. It is an achievement in itself but to have reached this level with a large number of current or previous youth team players at Ascot United shows a commitment to development of players from within the club, which we will strive to continue.
Our brand new clubhouse facility provides an excellent home for all club players and is also now allowing us to develop a strong Social Section with licensed bar, hot and cold food and Sky Sports HD.
The clubhouse also allows us to hold meetings and is also base for our resident Chartered Physiotherapist who offers a Club Physiotherapy Consultancy every Saturday.
For further information please contact ady.milne@ascotunited.net