WELL DONE TO IAN WAKEFIELD

On 24 January 2008, AAJ&YFC Club Chairman Ian Wakefield was honoured in the Melton Times New Year Honours List for services to Junior Football over the last 12 years. Ian Wakefield received his award from Mayor Pam Posnett and Melton Council Leader Malise Graham.

In the 2007/2008 season the Club’s teams had the following achievements:

• Under 14s Champions of Division F of the Leicester & District League - Manager Jason Young
• Under 13s Third place of Division C of the Leicester & District League - Manager Paul Lyons

In the 2006/2007 season, the Club’s teams had the following achievements:

• Under 18’s League Cup Winners - Tony Copland Manager
• Under 14’s Champions of Division B Leicester & District League - Ady Reading Manager
• Under 12’s Runners-up in Division 4 of the Leicester & District League - Paul Lyons Manager
• Under 8’s Tigers Champions of Division 9 of the Leicester & District Mutual Football League - Cheval Tinsley Manager
• The Clubs teams collectively won the Countesthorpe Shield winning in 5 age groups from 8 age groups.

The Club re-applied for FA Charter status on 1 May 2007 and this certification will last now until 2 May 2010.

2006-2007 COUNTY WINNERS

At the Leicestershire & Rutland FA Awards in May 2007, AAJ&YFC was county winner of the Charter Standard Club Awards.                                                                    

A m a t e u r s' b a c kroom staff (some of whom are pictured right) put the achievement down to the club's continued commitment in providing a safe environment for all children allowing them to enjoy the beautiful game.

AAJ&YFC’s under 17s were also celebrating after winning the County FA's Fair Play award after their first season in the county's Premier Division.

AAJ&YFC’s next aim is to earn FA Community Club status and these hopes were boosted after signing a six-year sponsorship deal with Elite Fitness Group.

In November 2004, the Club was awarded the prestigious FA Charter Standard Award. The Melton Times reported that this award is only given to clubs which can prove they are run in a very professional manner, including having qualified coaches training and running each team, and also having child protection officers and qualified first aiders for each team.

The then AAJ&YFC secretary Paul Durrance and his wife Sarah travelled to Leicester City's Walkers Stadium to pick up the award. Paul said:

"It is a great honour to receive this award on behalf of the club and I would like to thank everyone there for all their hard work in achieving it. It means a great deal to us all. I have seen our club grow from having just three teams four years ago to becoming one of the largest in the area. I'm sure we will continue to go from strength to strength."

In 1996, members of the original committee felt it was time to move on and a new committee was formed.

In 1990 another under 10's team was introduced with Barclay Sports being the proud sponsor of the kit and some of who were amongst those to show off the new kit were - Andrew Johnston, Mark Adams, Andrew Forbes, John Pogmore, Ben Marshall, Joseph Whait, George Leake, Jan Ilic, Carl Thorney, Matthew Mackay, Andrew Gatward, Alistair Nott & Ben Snell.

In 1992 nearly £750 was raised for new kits and tours by releasing 1,750 balloons. It was later reported that some balloons had reached Belgium, Eastern France, Switzerland & Italy.

In 1993 Tony Gordon, Mick Doubleday & Pete Rodgers joined the Amateurs and along with Eric all became respective managers and also committee members for the club managing the Under10's, Under 11's, Under 12's and Under 13's in the Leicestershire Leagues.

In 1994 the Under 14's embarked on yet another organised tour to Holland for a 2 day tournament against teams from Holland, Belgium, Germany & France. With the first day being played on a league basis Asfordby went through with 8 -0 and 3 - 1 wins and goalless draw. The second day Asfordby had the Belgium side S.C. Wolverton. These were a good side but Asfordby went in front 10 minutes before half time. Wolverton drew level with 15 minutes of the match to go which left penalties to decide the game. With each side converting 4 out of the 5 penalties it was sudden death, Asfordby found the net twice, Wolverton needed to score but Endall pulled off a great save and yes the trophy was then well on its way to England

The 1995 / 96 Season was to Eric's last season with the lads playing at Under 15's - with Andrew Copley taking the Player of the Year Award, James Clarke - Top Goalscorer with 39, Daniel Horton & Simon Hunt - Sportsmen, A Johnston - Clubman and Most Improved - Daniel Horton.

In 1986 when Asfordby Amateurs Sports Club was built Eric once again went back in time and formed a new Under 10's age group. This time they were re named "Asfordby Amateurs Juniors" to fall in line with the name of the Sports Club.

With a not very impressive first season finishing bottom of the league, the lads went on to better things the following season and finished third in the table.

Yet again in 1989 another tour to Holland was organised playing in a Dutch Tournament - which ended with the team losing 2 - 0 in the semi finals - but once again a good time was had by all involved.

In 1980 after Eric had taken his team through to Under 16's he took the challenge up of going back in time and taking an Under 10's team playing in the Coalville Sunday League. With a full line up of players - Wayne Houghton who in his first season collected Top Goal Scorer (13 in league & cup matches) and Player of the Year awards, Paul Tierney who collected Sportsman of the Year, Gary Cramp, Lee Parlby, Jason Creed, Keith Sharpe, Mark Huddleston, Arian Osbourne, Andrew Hill, Jason Gallagher, Jason Lunn, Martin Webster, David Riddle, Stuart Harvey & Craig Gardiner - the final league position for these lads was -

Played - 14, Won - 6, Drew - 1, Lost - 7, Goals For - 23, Goals Against - 46, Points - 13, but including all cup & league matches the results were - Played - 20, Won - 6, Drew - 1, Lost - 13, Goals For - 31, Goals Against - 76.

Also in their first season together various fundraising was done by the parents to ensure the lads continued to look smart - with money raised for kits and tracksuits.

In 1981 the ladies of the team raised money for them all to travel to Holland for the Easter Tour, and at around this time the team moved from their ground at Station Lane into a Porta Cabin at Hoby Road.

The team continued to gain players and enjoyed their football, and by 1983 they had their best season playing 24 games - winning 19 and drawing 5 with 182 goals for and only 28 against. Once again Wayne Houghton showed his talent by scoring 67, but Jason Creed was close by with 62.

Once again this season the team and their parents went off to Holland for the Easter Tour - this time all sporting new kit bags donated by Melton Kitchen Centre.

Eric continued once again very successfully with his lads and saw them through to Under 15's.

Asfordby Amateurs Junior Football Club started out as Asfordby Athletic Juniors FC in 1976 playing at Station Lane Asfordby in the Melton & District League.

The team was formed and managed by the current Social Club President Mr Eric Warren. To set the team up in a "Full" strip a donation of £50 was handed to Eric from the Asfordby 21 Club. This kitted the lads out for their first season and although Eric had 19 players on the books, those who were to take advantage of their new gear initially were:

Andrew Wallace, Sean Kerr, Shaun Handley, Kevin Cooper, Mike Walmsley, Mark Taylor, Mark Wheeler, Dean Bollands, Jeff Challis, Andrew Bowers, Paul Harris, Robert Toth, Mark Bone, David Spicer & Phil Brown.

In their first season together Asfordby Athletic finished 3rd in the league and Stephen Warren was their top goal scorer with 21 goals all told in both league and cup matches.

Please send any contributions about the Club’s History to history@aajyfc.co.uk

For a number of years now, the Club has hosted a summer tournament usually in the middle of June and spanning a weekend. This is for invited teams covering the age groups from Under 8s to Under 14s and is in a six a-side format.

This tournament is an important part of the Club’s annual events and a great deal of work by dedicated volunteers goes into ensuring that the event is a great success. Photographs from the 2008 June Tournament can be seen in Photo Gallery.

In August 2008, the Club is hosting an eleven a-side tournament for the Under 15s and Under 16s.

Please come along and support these tournaments.

TOURNAMENT SPONSORS