Hornsea Town
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teams with no age or gender restrictions.
The prize of winning 72 pints has
attracted quite a few teams so far but the
WF remain undefeated.
With the end of the season drawing
near, the teams are committed as always
to finish with a flourish and strive to
get the best placing in their respective
leagues. We also have The Hornsea
& District Hospital War Memorial
Challenge Cup, (or Tanton Cup after
P.C. Tanton Esq., who donated the
trophy) to look forward to. It’s one of
the oldest football cup competitions in
the East Riding and 2019 sees its 96th
anniversary. Following the closure of
our Cottage hospital, the money raised
gets donated to the Yorkshire Air
Ambulance and the new First-Aid post.
Once the season has ended the lads will
be given a well-deserved break from
training, but as a club, we remain active
in fundraising activities.
HTFC is an adult club but that
does not deter us from encouraging
youth football wherever and whenever
possible. Some of our players manage
and coach teams from Hornsea Sporting
FC, a club that caters for both girls and
boys between the ages of 7 to 16. One of
our managers is the facility manager at
the local school based 3G pitch, enabling
us to reach out and support young
players coming through. With this and
our walking football going strong, we
18 Issue 84
are delighted that we can offer players
a chance to play at a decent standard all
the way through to 80+ years.
HTFC is most definitely a community
club and as with many amateur clubs,
the players and staff are part-time
volunteers—many having to juggle with
the home-work- life balance. I am always
amazed at the commitment and spirit
that those involved show.
Hornsea is a small community
(approximately 9000) and given that
the town also has successful rugby and
cricket clubs, I’m delighted that we have
been able to field five teams this season.
We’re planning to introduce a 4th team
next year, which will help with the
integration and transition from youth to
adult football.
Our challenges for the next five
years will probably be the same as
always; keeping the young players
coming through and raising the much-
needed finances that a club demands
for equipment, officials and pitch
maintenance etc.
HTFC wants to build the ethos of the
club, continuing—as it has done for over
a century—to provide a safe environment
for those of all ages and abilities to play
football. For our teams, we’re aiming
for the 1sts to remain and build on their
success in the HPL and our Reserves and
other teams to move up the divisions in
the ERCFA. We aim to cement a solid
grounding for the planned 4ths, the Vets
to gain promotion to the top division in
the Hull & District Veterans league, and
for Walking Football to continue their
recruitment and successes.
Finally, I’d like to finish by offering
my sincere thanks to the committee,
our President and 1st team manager
Geoff Whitehead who continues to
invest heavily in the club, Secretary
Chris Walker, 1st Team Skipper Ed
Griffiths, the managers Neil Vankiewicz
(Reserves), Tom Connor (3rds), Mike
Smith (Vets), Chris Smith (Chairman,
Walking Football), the clubs sponsors
and the die-hard fans who continue to
offer their support to Hornsea Town
AFC - #UTS.
Article provided by Graham Janes