Enhancing coaching standards, improving facilities and growing the Club community were among plans revealed by Club Chairman Alex Wagstaff last Thursday (27 February 2025) at our Annual General Meeting.

A small surplus has been recorded for the first time in several years. Increases in subscription revenue, fundraising, sponsorship and other commercial activity has enabled the Club to invest in additional coaching, brand new playing kit for every team and special experiences for players including trips to Wycombe Wanderers, Oxford United as well as Wembley to cheer on the Lionesses.

A new management team is in place for Haddenham Ladies which will now work more closely with HYFC’s five Girls’ teams. The development of Girls’ football has been generously supported by Haddenham Beer Festivals Trust.

Alongside Ladies and Haddenham Hobblers (Walking Football), Haddenham Vets (40+) has joined the HYFC family. Meanwhile, HYFC has taken a leading role, in partnership with other local clubs, in the development of Chiltern Comets PAN-Disability team.

On the pitch, HYFC secured four league trophies in 2023/24. U15 Colts has already booked its place in a cup final for this season. HYFC will be announcing a new programme for pre-school children soon. Meanwhile, player representatives have been elected for the Player's Committee which will hold its first meeting shortly.

HYFC will stage its third Festival of Football on the weekend of 30-31 August 2025 at Haddenham Airfield. We are aiming to double the surplus generated by our flagship fundraiser which will require an even greater effort from its parent community. The Festival will be open for entries in two weeks.

Alex Wagstaff, Club Chairman said:

“I want to raise our coaching standards even further. We are supporting several of our own coaches to achieve higher level FA badges. We already use full time coaches to support some of our age groups and we have a successful partnership with GK Icon for HYFC goalkeepers. But I want to kick on, so we are developing additional coaching programmes for both our players and coaches.”
 
Alex added:

“We are working closely with Haddenham Parish Council and the Football Foundation to improve pitch maintenance and we have appointed Ade Small as our Facilities Manager to lead this work. But we need to kick on here as well – in terms of the standard of playing surfaces but also in accommodating the growing number of players and teams coming to Club. So, we are developing long term plans and actively seeking new partners to help us deliver the facilities our community deserves.”

The Club will be celebrating its 30th anniversary later this year. We are asking former players and coaches to share memories and photographs as well as current players and parents to come forward with ideas to help celebrate the milestone.

All ten members of the current committee were re-elected into their roles for another year, but long-term Treasurer Gareth Cheeseman will be stepping back ahead of next season. The Club is seeking a new volunteer to take on the role.

Committee members appealed for more help to run a bigger Festival of Football, planning 30th anniversary celebrations and maintaining community standards at training sessions and matches. If you can help, please say hello@hyfc.club .

Logged in Club members can view the AGM slide deck attached.