Welcome to Easington Sports Football Club.
This booklet is there to help provide you with all the information you are likely to need whilst you are with our Club.
We are extremely proud of how the club has developed during its 77 year history, and you are now officially part of the Clan and its 600 players.
When you are part of the Clan, we ask that you follow the guidelines and club philosophy that we have worked hard to develop. We believe that this is of real importance to us as a club, and what makes us different to others.
Please remember to respect everyone participating or volunteering within football. Especially in respect of youth football, its really important that we just let them play.
If you do have any questions then you can always contact a committee member for advice or support.
And remember, whatever we do, we only do positive.
Best wishes
Richard Meadows Chairman
Our philosophy is underpinned by following the core values of: Respect, Inclusion, Equality and Fairness. In doing so we want to create an environment which can ‘Develop The Person’ and ‘Develop The Player’.
By living and breathing these values our intentions are:
- for everybody to get maximum ENJOYMENT from their involvement at our club, whether as a player, parent, family member, supporter, coach or club official.
- to demonstrate the highest standards of SPORTSMANSHIP through our behaviour and conduct on the field of play, in practice sessions and within a social setting.
- to build strong FRIENDSHIPS for all child, youth and adult club members that extend beyond the game, can be sustained for life and lead to ongoing involvement in our club.
- to actively promote CHALLENGE as a means of helping all individuals, teams and coaches develop and seek to improve To challenge our players to become better players, our coaches to develop, our club to evolve – we all want to challenge ourselves to be the best we can be. Challenge also includes to challenge those who don’t follow the examples we aim to set and put positivity at the heart of everything.
In line with our Easington Sports FC philosophy, we ask all of our coaches to try and bring the following to life through planned, positive and engaging practice sessions and match-days: All coaches are expected to complete the following England Football Learning (The FA) courses* so as to develop their knowledge, understanding and application of effective coaching:
EE Playmaker by England Football
https://learn.englandfootball.com/courses/football/ee-playmaker
* All new coaches must complete this online course before progressing to ICF below)
Introduction to Coaching Football (previously Level 1 Coaching Certificate)
https://learn.englandfootball.com/courses/football/introduction-to-coaching-football
The next qualification on the pathway is not required to be part of our volunteer coaching workforce, though- it is an excellent way to build on previous qualifications:
UEFA C Licence (previously Level 2 Coaching Certificate)
https://learn.englandfootball.com/courses/football/uefa-c-licence
We encourage further learning and development so that all of our coaches at junior, youth and senior levels, develop best practice to enhance their delivery:
Oxfordshire County FA CPD events
https://www.oxfordshirefa.com/coaches/coaching-support/cpd-events
England Football Learning Community
https://community.thefa.com/ Coachcast by England Football Learning
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coachcast-thefa
Chairman: Richard Meadows
Secretary/Youth
Chair/Welfare Officer: Jamie Hunter
Treasurer: Ben Milner
Fixture Secretary: Craig Andrews
Committee: Paddy Patterson
Committee: Vinny Halsall
Committee: Leah Kinch
Welfare Officer Youth Teams: Jamie Hunter
Welfare Officer Assistant Youth Teams: Estelle Milner, Vinny Halsall
Welfare Officer Adult Teams: Jamie Hunter
Welfare Officer Assistant Adult Teams: Estelle Milner, Vinny Halsall
Welfare Officer Adult Disability Teams: Jamie Hunter
All of our Club Welfare Officers are CRC checked and have completed CWO training with the FA.
How do I contact a Club Welfare Officer?
Email esfcwelfareofficer@gmail.com or ring Jamie Hunter on 07791681204
I have a safeguarding concern about a player / coach / parent, what shoult I do?
Please check out our Safeguarding policy and how to report your concerns. Its important that we know as soon as possible. See pages 15/16 in this pack for more info.
An incident has happened during a game / training which I need to report, how do I do this?
In all cases its important that we know as soon as possible. Whether the incident relates to abuse from another player / coach / parent, standards of behaviour which you don’t believe to acceptable or any other incident which is of concern. To assist you as to what is acceptable or not, the codes of conduct are included at the end of this document. In all cases you should contact esfcwelfareofficer@gmail.com or ring Jamie Hunter so that these issues can be dealt with accordingly. It may be that after consultation with the Oxfordshire FA, we ask you to complete a statement about what happened. It is important that if you are asked to do this you include as much detail as possible. Here are some helpful tips:
Include important details such as day, date, time and place. Describe the scene in as much detail as possible. Who are you there with and in what role are you there ie parent / coach / player. If you witnessed something, how far away were you? Did you have a clear and unobstructed view? If you heard something use direct speech if you can. Do you know those involved? If so, how do you know them and would you recognise them again. Give a good description of those involved ie physical features. If it involves a player from the opposition, what number shirt were they wearing?. Did you report what you heard to anyone else and what action did you take. What impact has this event had on you?
Our Club Welfare Officers will help guide you through this process and keep you updated as to any action taken.
We will challenge and deal with any behaviour doesn’t meet the standards that we as a club have set. We will ask you to sign a document to confirm that you have read our expectations and agree to abide by these during the season.
We are delighted to continue our Club Parternship with MDH Teamwear for the 2023/2024 season as our provider for kit and equipment across all teams.
MDH will offer a range of Joma products available to teams / sponsors / parents to order.
A selected range has been chosen in consultation with MDH to ensure that moving forward all ESFC teams wear the same kits, in the same colours.
In addition to large squad orders, details have been shared with managers for smaller bespoke orders.
We are looking forward to working with MDH and thank Andy Sparrow and team for giving us this exciting opportunity.
We are very proud to once again be recognised by the Football Association as a Level 3 Accredited club. This is the highest level of accreditation and is recognition of the amazing work undertaken by our volunteers.
What is needed to be a Level 3 Accredited Club?
Each year we have to complete an accreditation review which is monitored by the Oxfordshire FA. As part of this process we have to ensure that each team has a coach who has a minimum qualification of FA Level 1 Introduction to Football. All coaches also need to have an in date CRC check, First Aid and Safeguarding qualifications. This applies to all of our registered teams from minis to our open age teams.
The level of accreditation also recognises the pathway that the club offers for youth teams, boys and girls, open age teams and pan disability.
The 36 teams that Easington Sports Football Club has affiliated meets all of the pathway requirements which ensures that we achieve the highest grade.
Without the hard work and dedication of our fabulous 90 plus coaches this is not achievable.
It is our passion to offer a pathway for local players to ensure that we can offer them an opportunity to play whatever age, gender, and ability. We have over 600 registered players which makes us one of the largest clubs in Oxfordshire.
Every registered player is part of the Clan – and we hope to ensure that they all enjoy their experience and develop with us.
All players must be registered through the FA Whole Game System. For youth players (Under 18), they must have an adult attached to their profile. To do this everyone must have an FA Fan Number. This one FA Fan number will stay with the person throughout their football journey. To register with us follow this link:
https://players.thefa.com/#/club/76868/welcome?clubName=Easington%20Sports
Each team has a nominated manager and coaches. The club seeks to ensure that all managers engage in positive communication with their players as to the dates/times of training and matches. This should be done in advance to allow everyone to plan accordingly.
The club asks for subscription costs and a signing on fee. These costs help to cover the cost of our accreditation, insurance, league entry fees, training costs and equipment. We have kept these as low as we can over the last 5 years, they remain some of the lowest in Oxfordshire. Non payment in time will result in players not playing.
Signing on Fee: £20
Subscription By 1st September: £70
Subscription By 1st February: £70
Each team should have its own kit. Teams rely heavily on local sponsorship to support the purchase of this kit and the manager will liaise with you regarding this. Our kits are purchased through MDH Teamwear. A new online shop is available and a selected range of kits. This is to ensure uniformity across all teams.
Should you decide to leave the club at any point, the kit remains property of Easington Sports Football Club. Failure to return the kit to the club may result in civil or criminal action in an attempt to recover it.
For winter training (usually September to March) the club books all available training slots with local facilities at BGN school, NOA and Wykham Park and others. Unfortunately Banbury does not currently have a 4G facility. We are aware that the facilities we often use can sometimes be cancelled during adverse whether, at this stage there is nothing we can do to negate this.
For summer training, all teams can train on the grass at BGN and Wykham Park, ensuring that they stay in the same time/ day slot that they use during the winter. All parking should be within Wykham Park during this time.
Each team will be shown in their respective league on FA Full Time. This is this sytem whch records results and asks our coaches to update players / statistics. For older teams, you will also be able to see that the player is registered to this team. No results can be shown for teams U11 and below unless a designated competition.
We ask that all teams also ensure that our website is updated with all fixtures throughout the season to allow our fixtures secretary to plan accordingly. Our website is www.easingtonsportsfc.com
Your team manager should liaise with you as to which pitch you are on. However, the default parking for both Saturdays and Sundays youth fixtures should be to use Wykham Park school via Ruskin Road. Due to fixtures for both our men and Ladies teams, it is anticpated that during cross over times the car park for Easington Sports FC will be heavily congested
When you register as a player on the FA Club Portal, you are able to include details of any medical information you wish to share. However, it is important that you let your coaches know.
As part of our Accreditation process, Easington Sports Football Club purchases through the Oxfordshire FA public liability insurance. This offers the club, coaches and players protection should an incident occur during the season.
Its quite simple. Make your first question not what was the score but how did you play? Encourage, engage but please don’t shout or instruct during a game. Make sure everything you say is positive whether that’s to an ESFC team member, opponent, match official or coach.
The taking of pictures or videos of matches is encouraged. However, it is important that you follow the FA policy on this and ensure that you have permission to do so from all participants. This is especially pertinent to do so if you intend to share these on social media. Our club policies in respect of this can be found on our website.
Many proud parents like to celebrate the achievements of their child through social media which is great. For those under 12, unless it is a designated cup competition, neither the manager, club or parent can make any reference to a score in the game or how many goals were scored. Instead lets just celebrate that your player and team had a fantastic game.
Easington Sports Football Club has a number of appointed club welfare officers. If you wish to report any concerns then please email esfcwelfareofficer@gmail.com or ring Jamie Hunter on 07791681204. Our club welafre officers are: Jamie Hunter, Estelle Milner and Vinny Halsall. Alternatively you can contact the OFA Safeguarding lead nigel.saverton@oxfordshirefa.com
Easington Sports Football Club has a strict complaints procedure which can be followed through reading the documents on our website. All the relevant documents can be found by clicking on the link at the top of the page marked as Safeguarding and Important Documents. https://www.easingtonsportsfc.com/news/esfc-philosophyrespect-guidance-and-useful-material-2662081.html. Remember, we are all volunteers!!!!
Easington Sports Football Club always welomes new volunteers. It is the passion of our volunteers which drives this club forward. If you wish to become a coach please contact easingtonsports@hotmail.com. We ask all of our coaches to undertake the FA Playmaker course and if possible FA Level 1 Introduction to Football. The club covers any costs incurred once in role for a year and offers you professional development opportunities throughout the season.
Easington Sports Football Club always welomes new sponsors. We rely heavily on local sponsorship for all teams. In return the sponsors will receive a wide range of opportunities in addition to exposure on our social media platforms which receive over 30,000 hits per week.
Easington Sports Football Club hosts one of Oxfordshires largest youth football tournament. Each ESFC team is invited to join at no cost of entry, in the expectation and hope that the parents and players help on the alternative non playing day. The date of this years tournament is the 1st and 2nd June 2024. With over 140 teams playing and 5000 visitors, all help is required.
Easington Sports Football Club annual presentation day will be on Saturday 8th June 2024 at ESFC. This will be an outside event and we hope that the weather is kind. All teams, players and parents are invited.
The following slides help remind you of your responsibilities as players, parents and coaches. We ask that you adhere to these at all times
As you will see from our history, we have a long tradition of being based at Addison Road. Its located within the Easington Community and is easily accessible for all. Over the last 5 years a number of ground improvements have taken place to ensure that we meet the FA ground grading requirements for Step 5 football. This includes the installation of floodlights, 100 spectator seating, covered standing area and a secured boundary.
For our youth teams we are lucky to be able to use our partnership with both BGN school and Wykham Park school for fixtures for all our teams to be on one site. ESFC does cover the cost of the majority of the ground work undertaken at these sites, we do so to ensure we try and offer the best pitches possible for our players.
We have also recently invested on new portable goals across all age groups. This is to ease the burden on goal areas in particular and to upgrade the current facilities. We plan to increase the number of goals purchased including those on wheels for 7v7 fixtures.
The club is in ongoing consltation with both CDC and OCC as to the potential redevelopment of its ground as the main clubhouse and changing facilities are no longer fit for purpose. This, in addition to the floodlight restrictions, mean that a move is likely to meet with the ambitions of the club. Watch this space…..
As an England Football Accredited Club, Easington Sports Football Club acknowledges our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of every child and young person and are committed to providing a safe environment for all. We recognise that a child is anyone under the age of 18 and subscribe to The Football Association’s (The FA) Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures.
Our Football Club endorses and adopts the following key safeguarding principles:
• the child’s welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration;
• all children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of their; age, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marital status or civil partnership, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief, ability or disability, pregnancy and maternity;
• all suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately; and • working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people and their parents/ carers is essential.
Easington Sports Football Club acknowledges that every child or young person who plays or participates in football must be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from poor practice, inappropriate behaviour and abuse. This is the responsibility of every adult involved in our club, including the parents/carers of our players and we will effectively communicate this to our members throughout the season.
Easington Sports Football Club commits to ensuring that children and young people have the right to take part, be heard and have their views and opinions taken into consideration when making club decisions and actions that concern them.
Easington Sports Football Club has a responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional harm and from neglect or bullying. It is noted and accepted that The FA’s Safeguarding Children Regulations (see The FA Handbook) apply to everyone in football whether in a paid or voluntary capacity, including coaches/managers, volunteers, match officials, helpers on club tours, or medical staff or other club officials/helpers.
We endorse and adopt The FA’s Safer Recruitment guidelines and where an individual is going to take on a specific role for the club we will:
• Specify what the role is and what tasks it involves;
• Request identification documents;
• As a minimum meet and chat with the applicant(s) and where possible interview people before appointing them;
• Ask for and follow up with 2 references before appointing someone; and Where eligible require an FA-accepted DBS enhanced with barred list Check, in line with The FA’s current Safeguarding Children Policy and Regulations. Everyone working in eligible roles with children and young people, such as coaches/managers, first aiders and physiotherapists, are required to hold an in-date FA-accepted DBS enhanced with barred list Check as part of safer recruitment practice and we commit to managing this consistently with individuals in current roles and those new to role. If there are concerns regarding the appropriateness of an individual who is already involved or who has approached us to become part of Easington Sports Football Club, guidance will always be sought from the County Football Association (CFA) Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO). It is accepted that The FA aims to prevent people with a history of relevant and significant offending from having contact with children or young people and the opportunity to influence policies or practice with children or young people. This is to prevent direct sexual or physical harm to children and to minimise the risk of football being used in the grooming of children.
Easington Sports Football Club has appointed a Club Welfare Officer Jamie Hunter in line with The FA’s role profile who has completed the Safeguarding Children and Welfare Officer Courses. We commit to
supporting the post holder to be involved with ongoing Welfare Officer training provided by The FA and/or CFA. Our CWO is the first point of contact for all parents/ carers and club officials regarding concerns about the welfare of any child or young person. The role of the CWO and their contact information is widely communicated throughout the club. The CWO will liaise directly with the CFA DSO and will be familiar with the procedures for referring any concerns. The CWO will also play a proactive role in increasing awareness of respect, acceptable behaviours, how to deal with low-level concerns and how to report abuse. We recognise the need for proportionality in appointing individuals to the role of CWO (Youth Teams) and where appropriate Assistant CWO (Youth Teams) to ensure visibility for our membership. Where needed, we will appoint Assistant Club Welfare Officers (Youth Teams) to support the club and CWO to bring this policy to life and to drive safer working practice and a proactive culture as is necessary.
We acknowledge and endorse The FA’s identification of bullying as a category of abuse. Bullying of any kind is not acceptable at our club. All players and parents/carers will be able to access our anti-bullying policy and know that incidents will be dealt with appropriately. Incidents need to be reported to the CWO and in cases of repeated and/or serious bullying the County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) may be contacted.
Everyone who works or volunteers with children is responsible and accountable for the way in which they behave around and towards them. Every child has a right to be treated with respect and dignity. We always require adults within our club to exhibit acceptable behaviour. We adopt The FA’s ‘Acceptable Behaviours guidance (5.7)’. Codes of conduct for Players, Parents/Spectators, Officials and Coaches have been implemented by our Club. The club has clear actions it will take regarding breaches of the codes, repeated or serious misconduct at club level and acknowledges the possibility of potential sanctions which may be implemented by the CFA in more serious circumstances.
In this Club, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and we know that inaction is not an option. If anyone is worried about a child, they must report their concerns to our CWO (Youth Teams). Our CWO will manage low-level concerns and where necessary seek advice from the CFA DSO.
• Our CWO will make referrals about more serious concerns to the CFA DSO, or in an emergency contact the Police or Children’s Social Care. We will ensure that if the child needs immediate medical treatment that we take them to a hospital or call an ambulance and tell them it is a child protection concern.
• Our CWO will keep records of the actions taken and keep the CFA DSO informed. If at any time our CWO is not available, or the matter is clearly serious, all our members must be aware that they can:
• Contact the CFA DSO directly;
• Contact The FA’s Safeguarding Team via Safeguarding@TheFA.com;
• Contact the Police or Children’s Social Care; and/or
• Call the NSPCC Helpline (Monday to Friday 8am-10pm or 9am-6pm at the weekends) for advice on 0808 800 5000 or text 88858 or email help@nspcc.org.uk.
8.
Football Club supports The FA’s Whistle Blowing policy (as described in this paragraph) which requires any adult or young person with concerns about an adult in a position of trust within football to ‘whistle blow’ by contacting The FA Safeguarding Team by writing to The FA Case Manager at The Football Association, Wembley Stadium, PO Box 1966, London SW1P 9EQ, by emailing Safeguarding@TheFA.com or alternatively by going direct to the Police, Children’s Social Care or the NSPCC. We encourage everyone to know about The FA’s Whistle- Blowing Policy and to use it when necessary.
9.
As an England Football Accredited Club, our Committee understands and accepts the collective responsibility to adhere to our safeguarding children policy and procedures and to ensure that safeguarding is always an agenda item at our committee meetings. We commit to proactively sharing our policy, procedures and CWO contact details with our members.
The Club was formed in the immediate post-war period of 1945/46 to fulfil the sporting and social needs of the young people of the Easington housing estate in Banbury, many of who were returning from war service.
The Club, then known as ‘The Clan’, soon prospered, as there was an obvious need for such a facility, and formed a cricket, tennis and a ladies section. Football was, however, the main branch of the Club’s activity, and they began playing in the local Junior Leagues as Easington Sports F.C.
The football was played on pastureland to the west of Wykham Lane, and for a few years endured the lack of facilities enjoyed today by almost all clubs. (No water available on site, no real changing facilities to name but two of the privations to be met on a cold winter’s afternoon). Fortunately, this situation was soon to change, for as a result of tireless fund raising by all concerned and some dedicated work by stalwarts such as Gordon Vivash, Tim Fountain and many other committed club members, the prospect of a new ground owned by the Club became a reality.
The purchase of the Addison Road ground and the building of a clubroom, together with the Club’s entry to the Oxfordshire Senior League was the beginning of senior football for Sports, and to their credit they proved to be a formidable force at that level. (Becoming winners and finalists in the Senior Cup and heading the Premier League table on two occasions in the early and mid-fifties). In view of their success at county level the Club sought entry, and was accepted into the old Warwickshire Combination, which at that time counted professional and semiprofessional teams. (Aston Villa ‘A’, West Bromwich Albion ‘B’ and teams which now grace the Conference as members).
Although having moderate success in this competition, as with many other amateur clubs; finance played its part in the decision to return to the Oxfordshire Senior League, where the expenses, in particular travelling, were much more in line with the club’s limited income. Looking to raise their standards once more, the Club sought entry to the Hellenic League. Subject to certain ground improvements they were readily accepted, and have remained as members of Division One ever since. With some ‘ups and downs’, Sports have almost always been mid-table at the end of each season, which, considering their amateur status against mostly professional or well-sponsored opponents has not been too bad a record.
The Club has always sought to give the youngsters of Banbury and district an opportunity to get into senior football, and indeed beyond, and has continually run youth teams at various age levels. Wishing all those whose ability took them to higher levels good luck, and feeling grateful that the club gave them the start/plat- form to their careers. It has sometimes been said that Easington Sports have not been ambitious or forward looking enough in their sixty years, but shrewd and cautious stewardship by series of committees over the years have ensured that the club has never overreached itself financially, and has remained faithful to its original ideals to provide football of a good standard for local youth.
In 2019 the club were awarded Community Charter Standard Status and currently have 36 affiliated teams. Our youth teams include both boys and girls and our open age section now includes three male, two female and a pan disability squad. We remain committed to providing those in the local community with a pathway into football. Our lateral movement into the UCLS for 2021 /2022 provides a welcome new challenge.
The first team play within the United Counties League South Premier Division (Step 5). The squad have had reasonable success since being promoted to Step 5 in 2019. In 2021 the team also had their best ever run the FA Cup before losing to a strong Cirencester Town FC squad. Andy Sharman will continue to build on his first season as manager.
The Development squad play within the Hellenic League Division Two North. The Development team is blessed with a large pool of banbury based young talent who all have ambitions of playing at a higher level. Many of the squad have featured this year for the first team which is a clear part of our philosophy. The aim is to continue to provide a pathway for the clubs youth players into open age.
Leah Kinch manages the first team who play within the Thames Valley Counties Womens Football League. Leah is in her third year with the club. After initial promotion, Last year proved challenging. However with a flourishing Youth section coming through we look forward to the future.
Seb Hartwell manages the Phoenix who play within the BOBi Football League. New for 2021 Seb has worked hard to offer football to new players with pan disabilities. The team train every week and play fixtures at pre arranged dates within the league. The side have enjoyed early success and we look forward to growing our pan disability pathway in the future. For 2023/24 we hope this includes sessions for youth players aged 12-16.
New for 2022 our Over 50’s squad has been a huge success. With more than 50 players registered and engaged in training and matches, its been a fabulous start. The team play in the Over 50’s Premier League and look forward to their second season.
From the age of 16, all Youth players are eligible to train and register for an open age squad. The pathway provided by ESFC, allows players 16 years and older to join one of our three affiliated open age teams. The affiliated open age teams offer a range of football suitable to all levels of players which progress from Youth football.
What have we achieved so far?
In the past two seasons, over 30 players have developed through the Clan FC, Development team to feature in the first team.
Clan FC secured promotion from Div 2 to Div 1.
Ladies team won promotion to Div 2.
Development team winners of Div 2 Title.
What are our ambitions?
Increased pathway for ESFC youth players to join Open Age squads
Creation of further mens and ladies open age teams.
Increase participation levels at open age
Why choose ESFC?
Our club philosophy remains relevant to Open Age squads
To ensure we develop Banbury based players within our teams
To train and develop our coaches to offer the best for our players
To offer a pathway to every player at the right level
More open age affiliated teams than any club in North Oxfordshire
The movement from Under 17 / Under 18 football, for both male and female players, is a clear pathway. Due to the level of the respective affilliated teams, there is an allowance for movement of players and dual registration of the players across all Open Age teams to allow them to experience and develop within differed levels of the football pyramid.
Once a player reaches the age of 16, options exist for the player to experience both open age football in addition to continuing within their youth team. All of our Open Age teams train together, which provides greater benefit in terms of development. All of our Open Age coaches are CRC checked.
We also have a good relationship with other local clubs and often can support those to continue their journey at other levels of football not currently provided by ESFC within the football pyramid. We want everyone to keep playing.
As part of our Level 3 Accreditation, we are committed to this pathway for young Banbury based players.
The growth of our Youth section over the last 5 years has been staggering. As a club we have evolved from 13 teams to 36 affiliated teams with over 600 registered players. From the pathway provided by our Minis and Wildcat Centre, players are given an opportunity to play matches within affiliated leagues. Our Youth section has teams affiliated within the Witney and District Youth Football League, Oxfordshire Youth League, Oxfordshire Girls League and Midland Junior Premier League. Teams, for both boys and girls, range from Under 7 to Under 17.
The teams are incredibly reliant on the hard work and dedication of our coaches. We have over 90 coaches for 2023. All of our coaches are CRC checked and as a club we look to develop them all to ensure the best training is provided.
We seek to give out some key messages for all involved with our youth teams. Its important to remember that this is their time to enjoy their football with their friends. Encourage, don’t instruct. Support them – and make the first question how did you enjoy today not what was the score!!
Thomas Smith leads the Minis section every Saturday morning. The group aims to give new players aged 4-6 years the chance to develop and enjoy football. Tom encourages all the players to learn skills with fun activities that fit carefully into our long term philosphy. The players regularly are asked to play like Meerkats and work in 3’s. A model which has worked well for a number of years. The players, and hopefully parents identified as coaches, then follow the pathway into an U7 squad.
To sponsor any of the players, programme, match day event or pitch side banner, please contact easingtonsports@hotmail.com to discuss all opportunities. With a social media reach of over 30000 people per week in the local community what better way to promote your business with the fastest growing club in North Oxfordshire and Oxfordshire Football Association Charter Standard Club of the Year 2019-2020.
Our Wildcats continue to go from strength to strength. Sessions have now moved to a Thursday evening. The group aims to give new girl players aged 5-11 years the chance to develop and enjoy football. As with our minis sessions, the coaches encourage all the players to learn skills with fun activities that fit carefully into our long term philosphy. The players regularly are asked to play like Meerkats and work in 3’s. A model which has worked well for a number of years. The players, and hopefully parents identified as coaches, then follow the pathway into an ESFC squad. In the five years that we have been recognised as an Oxfordshire FA Wildcat Centre we have helped develop over 100 girl players and we currently have five affiliated girls teams.
In 2021 Easington Sports Football Club were given the opportunity by Oxford United in the Community to be their first partner in a community programme to help give opportunities within the community. Sessions such as Social Female and Wellbing Sessions, Premier League Kicks Sessions and our holiday camps have helped both OUITC and ESFC work together in partnership to offer fun and social football. In 2022/23 we added a new Manor Club Connected session and have further projects planned for the seasons ahead.
Following the success of our parternship, OUITC are looking to role out similar programmes in other areas of Oxfordshire using the ESFC pilot as a successful model.
We are extremely proud that we were given this opportunity to partner with OUITC and we look forward to increasing our work together in the future.
We are a volunteer driven football club, and all of what we achieve is done through the amazing volunteers that we have associated with the club. As ever, and in line with our expansion, we are looking for more people to join The Clan. Below is a list of roles we currently need assistance with – Can you help?
Pitch Preparations – To ensure pitches prepared and marked each Friday before the busy weekend at Addison Road. To include open age and youth team pitches. Pitches to be cut when needed and line marked.
Match Day Hospitality – To coordinate with the First Team Committee and Club House Manager and to provide hospitality for those officials joining us at Addison Road from opposing teams in the UCLS
Match Day Videos – We are looking for a film / sports enthusiast who would be interested in filming the first team games and producing match day edited highlights.
Sponsorship / Marketing Manager – To work alongside the Committee and seek new sponsorship opportunities and to engage with the local business community.
For more information contact easingtonsports@hotmail.com
All teams visiting Easington Sports Football Club MUST have a Manager / Coach who holds an FA Emergency Aid Certificate and will be able to assist with a medical emergency.
All ESFC teams will also have a qualified Manager / Coach. Please locate the nearest coach or manager should you require assistance.
Emergency Action plan to be circulated to all attendees prior to any fixture.
Club Name Easington Sports Football Club
Club Address Addison Road Banbury
Postcode OX16 9DH
First Aid Equipment and Facilities Item Location
Defibrillator ESFC Clubhouse next to bar
Stretcher Referees Room
First Aid Room Referees Room
Access Routes For Ambulance
For Ambulance For Ambulance Access via Addison Road into club car park. Entrance onto field through wooden gates. If access required onto Wykham Park or BGN next to astro, keys for gates within clubhouse clearly labelled
First Aid Room to Ambulance As above, through into main pitch
Pitch to Ambulance Across field
Other Information
Horton General Hospital Hospital Hospital Address Oxford Road, Banbury, OX169AL
Nearest hospital
Directions to hospital Exit ESFC car park turning right onto Addison Road. Turn left onto Grange Road. At the end of Grange Road turn left onto Oxford Road. Take the second right turn onto Hightown Road. The A and E entrance is on the left after 200 metres.
Journey Time 5 minutes Nearest Walk In Centre
Horton Hospital
Nearest Walk In Centre
5 minutes
Horton Hospital
