Selston
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Selston
S
FOOTBALL CLUB
elston FC is a fine example of the important role that a club
can play in their local community. Football Focus Magazine
recently caught up with Club Representative Jason Clifford to find
out more about the good work that they’ve been doing lately.
Jason told us, “I first got involved
with Selston FC in 2007 when starting a
team for my eldest son to play football
in, I coached that team for ten straight
seasons. In the meantime, I also started
a team for my middle son and have
coached two teams for a number of
seasons.”
“I’ve retired from coaching now
though as they’re all grown up! I was
invited into the club by my best friend,
Mark Wilson, who was Chairman at the
time, he’s just stood down after twelve
years at the helm. I have been Vice Chair
for a while and took on the Chair when
Mark decided he wanted to step away.
“The most rewarding things for me are
seeing the football - from soccer school
to the first team in the East Midlands
Counties and the old boys on a Sunday
52 Issue 83
afternoon,
“Honestly, I love it all. Knowing that
we’re genuinely providing something
for the community is another highlight,
we’re all volunteers and we enable
all these people to come and enjoy
themselves, watch or play football and
socialise.
“The most difficult part is finding
volunteers, it seems especially difficult to
get people to commit to running a junior
team, though it is a big commitment - I
have respect for anyone who takes on
that commitment.
“There’s a great atmosphere at the
club at the moment, we have eleven
junior teams, a men’s reserves, an over
40’s veteran’s team and of course the first
team. When the men’s teams are at home
loads of the juniors rush back from their
games to come and support (and play
20 v 20 on the training pitches!) and we
have a loyal and vocal home and away
support for the first team.
“We’ve also improved the club house
and have an alcohol and entertainment
license so we can entertain more people
and raise vital funds through tea bar
and bar sales. ‘The Parishioners Arms’ is
becoming a hub!
“We’re a very community focused
club, as I mentioned we operate a soccer
school for 4-7 year olds and currently
have eleven junior teams and three
men’s teams. We’re catering for all ages
from 4 to well over 40! Some of our
regular spectators have been watching
football at Selston for well over fifty
years. Though we officially recognise
Selston FC as being fifty years old this