Hanworth Villa – BU Community Fund Donation
I am writing from a family of lifelong Bees fans and, of greater significance when it comes to the Bees United Community Fund, in my capacity as Chair of Hanworth Villa FC. HV was a club founded by my dad in 1976 and now, proudly, operating in the eighth tier of the national football pyramid (Isthmian Division One South Central).
We are second only to the mighty Bees when it comes to the London Borough of Hounslow’s ranking of league and non-league clubs!
We win our playoffs too!
We have lots in common, including the same red, white, and black club colours (!) and, most certainly, a commitment to do our bit for our community, using the beautiful game and our own local standing to bring people together with a sense of common purpose, values, and principles.
But one might argue, that’s where the comparison ends, since, as a non-for-profit organisation our very existence is hand to mouth, with daily challenges that would make ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ look like Hollywood (no pun intended!).
What we have built though, has personality, generosity of spirit and quality.
Burgers and Coffee
From grass to 3G
From our newly refurbished burger van (with extractor fan and coffee machine!) and new fan zone with fully netted-off kids’ play area we were really proud to have privately funded the installation of our new 3G pitch and stadium overhaul this summer.
The new 3G pitch was opened recently by the hall of fame manager, Mick McCarthy.
This really does herald a new chapter in our club’s history and, I hope, give all our members and local community something to be excited about.
Youth launch
Underpinning all our recent endeavours, however, has been the launch of our own youth ranks in the last four years, giving our club a much-needed injection of young blood, and local families.
We have grown from having one boys’ team to sixteen across nearly all age groups and, with access to training facilities no longer an issue with our newly installed all-weather pitch, the next year will see the launch of our own girls’ and ladies’ programme, with walking football to follow!
It goes without saying, with all our fresh new appearance and facilities at HV, we needed a brand new and acclaimed, beautiful matchday programmes (a genuine marvel by non-league standards)!
Meanwhile, on our journey, occupying one of the less-advantaged corners of the borough as we do, the general cost of living makes funding kit, boots, equipment, and annual subs a real challenge, inevitably hitting some harder than others.
We are, therefore, so grateful for the help received from the Bees United Community Fund this year, which has helped make participation in grassroots football that bit more accessible to our growing youth-led community at Hanworth Villa.
If you are a family in the area, or a non-travelling fan wanting to enjoy a live game locally when the Bees are away from home, we would love to see you at Hanworth Villa.
Please check us out at www.hanworthvilla.co.uk
Building year by year
James Connor, Chair, Hanworth Villa FC