At a time when a perceived national crisis exists within English football, what with the men’s senior national team failing to qualify for the forthcoming European Championships and the growing number of foreign players plying their trade in the English game, panic seems to be creeping in over the future of the game in our country. That panic, however, has not, and does not seem to be stretching to the southwest of Surrey. In a small patch of Guildford, the only footballing issues that are a cause of concern are accommodating the ever-growing demand for places within youth football. There are absolutely no worries or doubts about the future of football, as the development of young players is well and truly taken care of here, for this area is home to the FA Charter Standard Club, Worplesdon Rangers FC.
The story of how Worplesdon Rangers has grown as a club is nothing short of extraordinary. Based on the philosophy of providing football opportunities for boys and girls regardless of ability or background, the club has developed from being the one 14-player team it was upon establishment in 2001 (which, incredibly, was the same year in which it gained FA Charter Standard status), to now catering for some 250 players across both 11-a-side and mini-soccer teams, with many more players eagerly waiting in the wings to join the club when old enough. Remarkably, however, the growth in teams and players is not the most impressive aspect of the club. The most impressive aspect is something that becomes apparent whenever you speak to someone from within the club, and is something that immediately gripped me upon arriving for my visit.
There is a unique environment that has been created at Worplesdon, and there’s a unique atmosphere within that. The club is more than just a club of football teams, it is a community. Everyone is welcome, from new players looking to join, to the opposition on match days, and there is a friendliness and a warmth about the place that explains why there is never a shortage of coaches or volunteers, as anyone who pays a visit to the club is immediately hooked. This fact was summed up beautifully by Mr Rupert Phillips, who is the official Club Development Officer at Worplesdon. Rupert explained to me ‘most parents of new players will bring their children along with the intention of finding their child a team to play for, but with no interest in getting involved themselves. Normally they have no interest in coaching or volunteering however within weeks of coming to the club they will be hooked and I’ll be getting calls from them wanting to go and do their coaching badges!’
So just how has the club come so far in such a short space of time? And how has it created such a setting that enthrals anyone who comes across it? These were the questions that were running through my mind, and it didn’t take long speaking to club representatives to find the answers!
The club has been built around an ethos of happiness over winning, enjoyment over 3 points, and developing players ahead of replacing players. Despite the professional manner by which the club is run, the club has successfully continued to avoid adopting a professional club’s approach to the game, which would see players released and replaced if they were not deemed good enough, and a win-at-all-costs attitude towards matches. Instead, the emphasis is placed firmly on developing individuals, both as players and as people. A Worplesdon team lost all its games last season, but the players still enjoyed playing and more wanted to join during the season, the managers could see development and improvement in the players abilities and behaviour and the season was, despite no wins, deemed a success.This is, and should always remain, what football at the grass-roots level is all about, and Worplesdon Rangers are a shining example of a club who has not forgotten this, and who haven’t become caught-up with imitating what they see going on in the professional game.
What also quickly became apparent to me was that these ideas and policies upon which the club spoke of are not just limited to the administration side of the club. They are not just guidelines that are written down for the sake of having, but never followed up on in reality. Indeed, the club operates in exactly the way it decided it would when it was first formed back in 2001. The image of the club being a home, being a place that offers a friendly and welcoming environment to all, is portrayed through everyday practices at the club, such as teams shaking hands with their opposition before matches start to help set the tone for a friendly, enjoyable match, taking the time to introduce new players at the club to all of their new team mates upon arrival to help make their introduction to the team as easy and as smooth as possible, and the club events and outings that are put on to bring everyone involved together, which includes the club Christmas festival that normally takes place on an afternoon close to Christmas and which players and parents can attend free of charge, as a thank you from the club for their efforts and support.
Fundamental principles with regards to player conduct are embedded in players at the club from an early age, and with few players ever leaving other than to progress their football at a higher level, it is expected that these principles will be carried right the way through each player’s journey with the club and beyond. Be dignified in defeat, respect and applaud the referee, treat your opposition as you would want them to treat you, and enjoy the game. These principles are club principles and apply to all teams and all players. Of particular importance is the respect to referee’s, the importance of which was outlined to me by the club secretary and manager of the under 16 side, Mr Nigel Carey. ‘From day 1 with the club our players are taught of the importance of respecting the referee. At the beginning of each game my boys are introduced to, and shake hands with, the referee. They know that he or she has given up their time so that they, the players, can enjoy a game of football’.
This focus on respect and enjoyment helps teach the young players at the club fundamental values that they will then be able to take with them throughout their playing lives, and throughout their lives away from the game. They help to set standards of behaviour and a way of life that is sadly beginning to go missing in today’s society. And this doesn’t just stop with the players. The club is a club for all, therefore parental support and other sources of external support for players are welcomed, but in the same way that the players uphold the club’s policies on the pitches, so must the spectators off the pitch. Win, lose or draw, whether your child has played well or not-so-well, regardless of whether or not they scored the winning goal, applaud the players from the pitch. Happiness comes before winning. Enjoyment is more important that scoring. It is evident that everyone involved at the club is reading from the same page, and it has been this way since the beginning.
I cannot speak highly enough of my visit to Worplesdon Rangers. The enthusiasm for what the club is offering was evident from the moment I arrived and although I have quoted two of the individuals responsible for developing the club and its environment, to say everything that has been done at Worplesdon has been down to the efforts of these two alone would be to disregard the work of countless other coaches, managers and volunteers who have given up their time to create this unique world in which young players can experience and enjoy all of the great things that the game can offer.
The club is a credit to its name and we are privileged to have them as part of our Charter Standard scheme.
Worplesdon Rangers FC Club Timeline
2001 Club formed by parents and initially consists of 14 players
Achieves FA Charter Standard Status.
2002 Moves to Northmead School in the heart of Stoughton, Guildford
2004 First 11-a-side teams introduced
Full website launched (www.worplesdonrangers.org)
2005 Rapid development of mini-soccer teams, 180 players now at club
2006 Club holds their own Level 1 coaching course through the Surrey FA, resulting in 20 coaches becoming Level 1 qualified.
Club is awarded Surrey FA Charter Standard Administration of the Year Award
2007 Currently, 25 qualified coaches (including a Level 1 Goalkeeping coach) oversee the 250 players at the club, with plans to expand on this as demand for places at the club continues to increase
The club runs teams competing at the following ages:
Under 7 (2 teams)
Under 8 (2 teams)
Under 9 (2 teams)
Under 10 (2 teams)
Under 11
Under 12
Under 13
Under 14
Under 15
Under 16
For contact details for the club, please visit the Worplesdon Rangers FC official website at www.worplesdonrangers.org.
If, reading through this report, you feel some of the points mentioned mirror your club then please contact me at nick.drew@surreyfa.com and your club could be the focus of the next issue of Beyond the Grass.