Football / Features
Celebrating Bristol’s oldest junior football club
We all recall that glorious day at Wembley in 1966 when England were victorious in the World Cup, defeating Germany 4-2. This may be a far cry from the the present day failure of the national team, but one local junior side in Bristol still feels the echoes of that magical event.
Bromley Heath Utd were inspired by Bobby Moore lifting the Jules Rimet trophy. They are Bristol’s oldest junior football club – still going strong celebrating their 50th year in existence. They started out as a single team in a local park in North Bristol, and now have over 300 members with ages from four up to 18 – and now with a newly-formed senior section.
To celebrate half a century tin Football, they are holding a dinner and dance event at Ashton Gate on Saturday, November 19. “We are delighted to be celebrating the club’s 50th anniversary,” says club chairman Jamie Andrews-Britton. He adds: “It’s an achievement we are all extremely proud of. It’s a great opportunity to come together and celebrate Bromley Heath and the development of local amateur football across the city.”
is needed now More than ever
The club is particularly keen to contact and invite players who have played for one of the teams over the years. Among the famous alumni are former Bristol City captains Matt Bryant and Louis Carey, Bristol Rovers player Lee Archer, Liverpool’s Nicky Tanner, England international cricketer Marcus Trescothick, and, the most famous of all, me!
I played for the club from age nine to 18, and I can truly say it was a great grounding for how playing sport can have a huge impact on both an individual and indeed a community. Many friendships were formed that continue to this day. I have taken forward the philosophy of the club to the work I do today supporting sports organisations across the region to be safe, inclusive, and, most importantly, fun. Bromley Heath were all these things and more, and will always have a very special place in my heart.
Funds raised from the event will go back into the community, not only helping the club but supporting both Bristol Rovers and Bristol City community foundations. Bristol City Community Trust’s head of operations Dan White says: “It’s a privilege to be supporting such an event. To keep a grassroots club running successfully for that amount of time is a brilliant accomplishment.”
In an age where it becomes more and more difficult to sustain the running of sport clubs, where there are frequent tales of clubs folding up and down the country, it is great to see such a positive story: a club that continues to go from strength to strength.
In the famous words of commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme: “There’s people on the pitch, they think it’s all over. It is now.” In the case of Bromley Heath, it most clearly isn’t. Role on the next 50 years, which is probably about as long as it will take England to win another world cup.
Tickets for the event – on Saturday, November 19, 7pm at Ashton Gate – are pricesd at £50 per person, including a three course meal and live music. Corporate packages are also available. Contact bromleyheathunited@aol.com.
Sport development consultant Neil Maggs presents Midweek Sportsbar on BCfm and is director of Street2Elite, promoting grassroots and community sport.
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