Introducing Sandbach United
Fri 27th May 2016 | General | By Ian Templeman
Sandbach United’s elevation to the NWCFL next season marks the latest step in the club’s development over the past ten years.
The club was formed by the merger of two junior teams, Sandbach Ramblers and Sandbach Albion, who came together to form Sandbach United in 2004.
In 2007 they decided to set up an adult team, which competed initially in the Crewe and District League before moving to the Staffordshire Senior League First Division, and then on to the Premier Division. They switched to the Cheshire League five years ago.
The adult team is just one of over 40 teams that operate out of the Sandbach Community Football Centre, which is just over a mile from junction 17 of the M6, and about 20 minutes away from Congleton Town’s Richborough Estates Stadium.
They have teams playing in the Mid-Cheshire Youth League, and the Cheshire Girls League among others, and the age range covers adults and veterans teams right down to Soccer School level for Reception and Year 1 children.
While their roots are in junior football, Paul Reel, Sandbach United’s Chairman, says that moving up to a Step 6 league has been an aim for some time.
"The move to join the NWCFL was first mentioned as long ago as 10 years ago, when I first got involved in the club", said Paul.
“When I became Chairman a couple of years ago, one of the things I did was draw up a five year plan. Moving up to join the league was part of that plan, although the FA did warn me at the time that we had to be careful that we didn’t try to grow too quickly.
“It was as I was starting working on the plan that I became aware the NWCFL had vacancies, and then last season it was announced by the FA that clubs at Step 7 would be allowed to join without finishing in a promotion position.
“At that point we became really interested, and the whole thing began to gather momentum around October last year”.
The past few months have seen a lot of the necessary work completed to meet the ground grading requirements, although as Paul points out the existing facilities were good to begin with.
“It’s our fifth season at the Football Centre, which was built at a cost of around £2 million”, he said.
“We did get funding from the FA and the local Council, but a lot of the money was raised by the club.
“There are nine grass pitches, with the first team pitch being enclosed, and a large 3G pitch to train on. We have a good sized car park and in the dressing room and club house complex there is also an education suite which is used for a variety of activities.
“All the work that needed to be done to get the facilities up to standard has been completed, with the exception of the floodlights.
“After the AGM , once we have been formally accepted into the League, we can apply for grant funding towards the cost. It will be a challenge to get everything through and the floodlights up by the start of the season, but we have plans in place already and we are confident that the target will be achieved.
“We have a covered standing enclosure in place, along with hard standing all around the pitch, and we are in the process of gathering quotes for a stand, so we are well on track to meeting all the requirements”.
As far as on the field expectations are concerned, Paul says that everyone is looking forward to what will be a new experience for them.
“The North West Counties League is new to pretty much everyone at the club, although we have been talking to various people who have played in it in the past. Playing wise, the vast majority of our players will be playing in the league for the first time.
“We are very much looking to have a local focus and will be bringing our own players through from our own ranks and locally. We have been using a locally based squad this season, and that is the way we are going to continue.
“As well as the teams we already have, we are looking closely at putting a team in the North West Youth Alliance, to improve the pathway through to the first team.
“It’s a bit difficult at this stage to talk about targets, but we are hopeful that we would be able to finish in a mid-table position in our first season and go on from there. Our plan up to now was just to make sure we got up to Step 6 level, and then see what happens after that.
“It’s nice to be able to say to football people that we are stepping up into the North West Counties, it makes people sit up and take a bit more notice of us than they did before.
“It will be brilliant, it’s a massive step forward for us and we are hopeful we will do enough to stay there, and continue to build and progress the club”.
To have a look at the facilities at the Sandbach Community Football Centre, check out a short video on YouTube by clicking here.
Introducing Sandbach United
Fri 27th May 2016 | General
By Ian Templeman
Sandbach United’s elevation to the NWCFL next season marks the latest step in the club’s development over the past ten years.
The club was formed by the merger of two junior teams, Sandbach Ramblers and Sandbach Albion, who came together to form Sandbach United in 2004.
In 2007 they decided to set up an adult team, which competed initially in the Crewe and District League before moving to the Staffordshire Senior League First Division, and then on to the Premier Division. They switched to the Cheshire League five years ago.
The adult team is just one of over 40 teams that operate out of the Sandbach Community Football Centre, which is just over a mile from junction 17 of the M6, and about 20 minutes away from Congleton Town’s Richborough Estates Stadium.
They have teams playing in the Mid-Cheshire Youth League, and the Cheshire Girls League among others, and the age range covers adults and veterans teams right down to Soccer School level for Reception and Year 1 children.
While their roots are in junior football, Paul Reel, Sandbach United’s Chairman, says that moving up to a Step 6 league has been an aim for some time.
"The move to join the NWCFL was first mentioned as long ago as 10 years ago, when I first got involved in the club", said Paul.
“When I became Chairman a couple of years ago, one of the things I did was draw up a five year plan. Moving up to join the league was part of that plan, although the FA did warn me at the time that we had to be careful that we didn’t try to grow too quickly.
“It was as I was starting working on the plan that I became aware the NWCFL had vacancies, and then last season it was announced by the FA that clubs at Step 7 would be allowed to join without finishing in a promotion position.
“At that point we became really interested, and the whole thing began to gather momentum around October last year”.
The past few months have seen a lot of the necessary work completed to meet the ground grading requirements, although as Paul points out the existing facilities were good to begin with.
“It’s our fifth season at the Football Centre, which was built at a cost of around £2 million”, he said.
“We did get funding from the FA and the local Council, but a lot of the money was raised by the club.
“There are nine grass pitches, with the first team pitch being enclosed, and a large 3G pitch to train on. We have a good sized car park and in the dressing room and club house complex there is also an education suite which is used for a variety of activities.
“All the work that needed to be done to get the facilities up to standard has been completed, with the exception of the floodlights.
“After the AGM , once we have been formally accepted into the League, we can apply for grant funding towards the cost. It will be a challenge to get everything through and the floodlights up by the start of the season, but we have plans in place already and we are confident that the target will be achieved.
“We have a covered standing enclosure in place, along with hard standing all around the pitch, and we are in the process of gathering quotes for a stand, so we are well on track to meeting all the requirements”.
As far as on the field expectations are concerned, Paul says that everyone is looking forward to what will be a new experience for them.
“The North West Counties League is new to pretty much everyone at the club, although we have been talking to various people who have played in it in the past. Playing wise, the vast majority of our players will be playing in the league for the first time.
“We are very much looking to have a local focus and will be bringing our own players through from our own ranks and locally. We have been using a locally based squad this season, and that is the way we are going to continue.
“As well as the teams we already have, we are looking closely at putting a team in the North West Youth Alliance, to improve the pathway through to the first team.
“It’s a bit difficult at this stage to talk about targets, but we are hopeful that we would be able to finish in a mid-table position in our first season and go on from there. Our plan up to now was just to make sure we got up to Step 6 level, and then see what happens after that.
“It’s nice to be able to say to football people that we are stepping up into the North West Counties, it makes people sit up and take a bit more notice of us than they did before.
“It will be brilliant, it’s a massive step forward for us and we are hopeful we will do enough to stay there, and continue to build and progress the club”.
To have a look at the facilities at the Sandbach Community Football Centre, check out a short video on YouTube by clicking here.
