Football Focus Issue 73 | Page 40

Highgate United FOLLOW US ONLINE TWITTER.COM/FOOTYFOCUSMAG Highgate United FOOTBALL CLUB Highgate United FC is based on Tythe Barn Lane in the West Midlands and their first team currently competes in the Premier Division of the Midland League. The club was first established in 1948 and have gone on to put together a history of which they have every right to be proud since then. Last season their first team enjoyed a positive league campaign as they put together a record of eighteen wins, nine draws and fifteen defeats from their forty two matches. This saw them finish in seventh place in the league with 63 points on the board. One of the highlights of the season was the attacking brand of football that they produced with 84 goals scored in the league alone. The team’s performances from last season should provide them with the perfect platform from which to build for the future. As long as they are able to retain their current group of players and can perhaps make one or two quality additions they should be in with a good chance of pushing on up the league and mounting a serious title challenge. Mark Thomas of club sponsor Thomas Brothers Funeral Directors recently took the time to tell us more about his positive association with the club saying, “I’m currently the assistant manager of the U21s at the club and will also be looking after the U18s next season.” “I started sponsoring the club last season and my son, Benjamin Thomas, plays in the U21s. The team competed very well last season and our aim is to keep young people involved in the club. “Highgate United have shown great commitment to young people in the local area by providing the U18s with kits while also paying for pitches and referees. In return some of the young players have 40 Issue 73 With the club’s future looking bright, Football Focus Magazine was keen to find out more and with this in mind we caught up with Club Representative Jimmy Merry to find out more. He told us, “I have been with the club for eighteen years having initially come along to watch my son play and just got involved on the committee side of the club. “One of the biggest challenges is keeping the ground maintained with the biggest reward being watching our younger teams progressing through the ranks. “The mood is extremely good at the club after last season where we recovered from a slow start to end up in seventh place. After a two week pre-season gets under way and we are all looking forward to the new campaign. “Youth football is extremely important to the club and the young players are our future. We work hard to provide them with the right coaching to allow them to enjoy the game with teams running from under 8s through to the first team. “Over the coming years our first ambition is to gain promotion to the next level and from there we will look to establish ourselves and then continue to progress as far as possible.” It is clearly an exciting time to be involved with the club and everyone at Football Focus Magazine wishes them the best of luck for the future. THOMAS BROTHERS A Family Owned Funeral Directors The only family owned funeral homes in Redditch, Wythall & Alvechurch. We provide a friendly, dignified service paying special attention to detail. Proud sponsors of Highgate United FC Telephone: 01527 547 777 www.thomasbrothers.co.uk | [email protected] 494 Evesham Road, Redditch,Worcestershire. B97 5JF gone on to play for the first team. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the club for the way that they have looked after us.”