Haywards Heath Town Football Club Brochure 2023/2024

2023|24 Official cOrpOrate BrOchure

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History one town one team

The first match to be played by a team representing Haywards Heath was in March 1888, which provided the impetus for the formation of ‘Haywards Heath Juniors’. After a brief change of name to ‘Excelsior’ in 1894, the club adopted the name ‘Haywards Heath FC’ in 1895.

Without a home ground, the club led a somewhat nomadic existence in its

early days, playing most of its games away until 1895 when it was offered the use of the field in South Road which was later to become Victoria Park and the club’s home venue until 1952.

Haywards Heath FC lifted its first silverware in 1900 when it won the Sussex Junior Cup and played in the Mid-Sussex League of which it was a founding member. 1901-1906 saw the club finish as runners up in the senior division in four of its first five seasons, then division 2 winners in 1911-12 after relegation in 1908.

In 1919-20 Haywards Heath were MidSussex League champions without losing a game. They won the title again in 1922-23 and went on to retain it for the next two seasons, losing only one match in each season.

In 1926, the club transferred to the Brighton, Hove & District League and, after winning the league title at the very first attempt, joined the Sussex County League the following year. The first five seasons in the County League (19261932) saw the club finish in the top four but they were sadly to finish bottom of the league in the 1932-33 season.

History

In 1941-42, the club were winners of the Sussex Senior Cup and, after the war, were the league’s Eastern Division winners of 1945-46. A single division league was re-introduced the following year which the club won in both 194950 and again in 1950-51.

In 1952 the club finally moved from Victoria Park to the newly finished Hanbury Stadium which enabled it to join the Metropolitan League which included the reserve sides of professional clubs such as West Ham, Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal. After

a promising first season finishing in fifth place, the club struggled against the professional opposition and, finishing bottom in 1960-61, elected to re-join the Sussex County League.

The Division One title was won in 196970 and the League Cup in 1972-73. The club was also runners-up in 1974-75 but were relegated at the end of the 1979-80 season. The Division Two Cup was won in 1983-84 and, as runnersup in 1985-86, the club again gained promotion back into the senior division. In 1988, our centennial year, the present name of Haywards Heath Town Football

Club was adopted in to reflect the ‘town’ status of Haywards Heath itself. Two successive relegations in 1992 and 1993 saw the club drop into the third division where they won the Division Three Cup in 2000-01. The following year as Division Three runners-up, HHTFC were promoted back to Division Two but were again relegated after only one season. Heath won the Division Three Cup in 2008-09 and after finishing as runners-up in 2012-13 gained promotion back into Division Two.

On the rebranding of the Sussex County League to the Southern Combination

Football League in 2015, the second division was renamed Division One and the title was won that first season, earning Haywards Heath Town FC promotion to the Premier Division. The club finished top of the Premier division the following season (2016-17) and were due to be promoted to the Isthmian League.

Unfortunately, promotion was denied following a nine-point deduction, due to an inadvertent off-field administrative error, which saw the championship awarded elsewhere. The club however, responded in style by winning the Premier Division again in the 201718 season, this time adding the Peter Bentley League Challenge Cup. Heath enjoyed a successful 2018-19 debut in the Isthmian League, finishing in a very respectable fifth position which

qualified them for the play-offs at the first attempt. They were eliminated by Horsham, who went on to win promotion to the Premier Division. The squad also reached the final of the Sussex RUR Cup and the semi-finals of the Sussex County Senior Cup. Our Senior Cup run included a famous away win at Crawley Town.

Following two seasons curtailed by Covid, Haywards Heath Town FC returned with a bang In the 202122 season. The team reached the quarter finals of the Isthmian League Cup, beating Ashford, Ramsgate and Worthing on the way, before being

defeated by eventual winners Horsham. The team achieved it’s highest finish in it’s history, finishing 4th in the Isthmian South-East division. However, they were to be beaten by Herne Bay on penalties in the semi final of the playoffs, who went on to win promotion to the Premier Division.

The 2023-24 season will see Crawley Wasps merge with Haywards Heath, strengthening Haywards Heath Town FC’s #onetownoneteam motto, with men’s, women’s, and over a dozen youth teams showcasing the club as a pillar of the local community.

interview with wayne emerson

Tell us a liTTle biT abouT your role aT THe Club:

I’m involved in both the senior club and with the youth section as well. My role as a Director of the football club keeps me pretty busy, we’ve got lots of plans to improve our facilities and the matchday experience which the whole board are working on. My main area of responsibility is the media side which includes our website, printed programme and working with our great social media admin James CookHarrington.

Wayne emerson HHTFC DIRECTOR + YOUTH VICE CHAIRMAn

HoW’s THings going For you

WiTHin THe youTH seCTion?

I manage our U16 side in the Mid Sussex League, we’ve had a decent season albeit very interrupted by the weather. We’ve seen great progress in the boy’s development over the past couple of years to the stage that some of them have now been invited to train with the first team squad. My real passion is being involved on the coaching side of things so I spend a lot of time with

this group and I’ve really enjoyed seeing their progress. I’ve been working on my UEFA B licence this season and the Club have been really supportive with providing me access to facilities and encouragement to keep going through the year long programme.

WHaT abouT THe Wider youTH Teams?

We’re really proud of what we’ve been able to build within our Youth section within a really short period of time. A lot of credit has to go to Jane Isherwood (Youth Chair) for the tireless work she puts into the club in this area. We now have teams playing at every age group from U8 through to U16 in the youth section, with provision for girls football also being offered through the merger with Crawley Wasps. By the time this goes to print we would expect to be a Two Star Accredited FA Club as well.

We’ve put a lot of work into the development of our coaches, with the production of a Coach’s Handbook and development sessions, we’re striving to make Haywards Heath the best place for aspiring footballers in the area.

and WHaT are THe plans For THe FuTure, For nexT season and beyond? For next season the Club will be running two U18 sides with a longer term strategy that these become feeder sides for the first team. We’ll be entering one side into the Isthmian Youth League and another into the Southern Combination League.

FOR MORE InFORMATIOn On HAYWARDS HEATH TOWn YOUTH FC AnD HOW YOU CAn gET InVOLVED, PLEASE VISIT WWW.HHTyFC.Co.uk youth@hhtfc.co.uk

The long term vision is that our first year U18’s would aim at the county league whilst our second year’s will play in the Isthmian. We’re interested in hearing from anyone that feels they can play at this level as we’ll always be on the lookout for players.

With these two sides established we’ll have completed the pathway for our players from youth football all the way into the semi-professional game.

WHaT’s your day To day job and HoW does FooTball FiT inTo THaT?

I run an IT Consultancy and Managed Services business, carboncloud.co.uk which provides services to a range of SME customers across London and the South-East. I’m fortunate that this does give me some flexibility to fulfil my varied

roles within the Club but it’s the day job that pays the mortgage. My business has been able to take the opportunity to sponsor some items around the club.

Between training, planning, travelling to senior team games and Youth games, there’s something football on most days of the week. Come May time I’m ready to hibernate for a month!

sounds like We keep you preTTy busy, HoW Can oTHers geT involved?

We’ve got so many areas that interested people can get involved with

at the Club, whether that’s wanting to get involved in matchday activities for first team games or looking to start your journey as a volunteer football coach there are lots of ways that you can help your community’s football club. We’re always on the lookout for enthusiastic people that are looking to get involved in football either at youth or senior level and the Club will always support people through coach development and courses.

We’d love to speak to more of you about becoming part of the team.

women

crawley wasps will become haywardsheath women From the 23/24 season

Here’s a little look as to how we got here. Founded in 1991, Crawley Wasps have been instrumental in the successful development of girls’ football in the Crawley area. From the early days of playing seven-a-side in various Surrey leagues, the club have expanded to more than 100 playing members in teams at all levels from Under-11s to three Ladies sides. Wasps helped pioneer the development of ladies and girls’ football in Sussex, becoming a founding member of the Sussex County Women and girls’ Football League in 2002–03.

Between May 2013 and May 2018, as they progressed from Under-11s to Under16s, one Wasps team lost just three of 70 matches against girls teams – their dominance was such that they tested themselves in a boys’ league in 2016–17. The club celebrated its 25th anniversary season, in 2016–17, in style on and off the pitch. Thales, one of Crawley’s largest employers, became Wasps’ first-ever main club sponsor, while the Ladies’ first team reached the Sussex Cup final and also the League Cup final.

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women

national League South, going unbeaten as they won the London & South East Premier Division, while again reaching the Sussex Cup and League Cup finals. The 2018-19 was unquestionably the most successful in the club’s history. The first team won the FA Women’s national League Division 1 South East (securing back-to-back promotions), reached the League Cup final and played Arsenal in front of 1,550 people in the fourth round of the Women’s FA Cup. The reserves and Under-18s also won their respective league titles.

Wasps first team then led the FA Women’s national League South for much of the following season, which was curtailed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. They did win the Sussex Women’s Challenge Cup for the first time, beating Chichester on penalties. The club’s reserves performed well in their debut season in the FA Women’s national League Reserve Section, and the youth sectioned swelled to over 100 players. For the 23/24 season, Crawley Wasps will merge with Haywards Heath Town FC, and we’re excited to see what the next chapter will bring!

FOR MORE InFORMATIOn On HAYWARDS H WOMEn AnD HOW YOU CAn gET InVOLVED, PLEASE VISIT WWW.HHTFC.Co.uk

c ommercial sponsorship opportunities

sTadium naming rigHTs POA

Exclusive branding opportunities throughout the stadium

& naming rights

Two pitch side advertising boards

Four season tickets

Two parking spaces

Boardroom jospitality

Full page programme advert

Logo on HHTFC website

Social media promotion

Club main sponsor POA (SOLD FOR 23/24 SEASOn)

Exclusive main club sponsor

Logo on front of home and away shirts, interview boards, programme front cover

Four season tickets

Two parking spaces

Full page programme advert

Logo on HHTFC website

Social media promotion

grandsTand sponsor £3,000 + VAT*

Exclusive sponsorship and naming rights of Roy Hatt family stand

Exclusive grandstand branding opportunities

Pitch side advertising board

Four season tickets

Two parking spaces

Full page programme advert

Logo on HHTFC website

Social media promotion

Design Interiors is here to create bespoke and clever solutions on a one on one basis. We take pride in what we do, and we know that we do it well. Leaving you happy with our creation is the greatest feedback of all.

We work on projects both large and small, but no matter how big the dream is, it’s always the little things that finish the job.

“The kitchen is the engine of the home”

— MICHAEL ROGERS (MANAGING DIRECTOR)

3g piTCH sponsorsHip

& naming rigHTs £2,500 + VAT*

3g Pitch naming rights & exclusive sponsorship

One stadium facing advertising board on 3g pitch fence

Two season tickets

One parking space

Half page programme advert

Logo on HHTFC website

Social media promotion

blues bar exClusive sponsorsHip £2,500 + VAT*

Blues Bar lounge exclusive sponsorship & branding

One advertising board on exterior of Blues Bar upon entrance

Two season tickets

One parking space

Half page programme advert

Logo on HHTFC website

Social media promotion

baCk oF sHirT sponsor

£2,500 + VAT* (SOLD FOR 23/24 SEASOn)

Business name/logo on back of shorts & back of shirt

Two season tickets

One parking space

Half page programme advert

Logo on HHTFC website

Social media promotion

programme sponsor - £1,000 + VAT*

Business name/logo on programme front cover

One parking space

Half page programme advert

Logo on HHTFC website

Social media promotion

commercial@hhtfc.co.uk

soCial media sponsor

£1,500 + VAT* (SOLD FOR 23/24 SEASOn)

Your social media handles tagged in tweets and posts

Your logo on graphics

Your Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram handle in our bio

One parking space

Half page programme advert

Logo on team sheets

Logo on HHTFC website

Social media promotion

programme adverT £350 + VAT*

Full page programme advert

Logo on HHTFC website

Social media promotion

maTCHday sponsor

£195 per match + VAT

Four matchday tickets

Four matchday programmes

Four complimentary drinks vouchers

Two parking spaces

Pre-match, half-time and postmatch boardroom refreshments

Full page programme advert

Choose and present Blues’

MOTM with photo

PA announcements

Social media promotion

piTCH side adverTs

£750 DOUBLE (16FT x 4FT), £450 SIngLE (8FT x 4FT) (+ £150 OnE OFF FOR BOARD) + VAT*

Pitch side advertising board Logo on HHTFC website

Social media promotion

player sponsors £100 + VAT*

Business or personal name in programme adjacent to your chosen player/ management team official

plaTinum sponsorsHip

£1,500 + VAT*

Double pitch advertising board in premium position

Full page programme advert

2 x season tickets

2 x match sponsorship

1 x player sponsorship

gold sponsorsHip — £1,000 + VAT*

Pitch side advertising board

Full page programme advert

1 x match sponsorship

1 x player sponsorship

silver sponsorsHip — £500 + VAT*

Half page programme advert

1 x match sponsorship

1 x player sponsorship

s ponsors with thanks to the sponsors

3G p itc H

3g pitch hanbury stadium

At the far side of Hanbury Stadium is a fantastic all-weather 3g training and six-a-side pitch. It has been purposebuilt to accommodate football of all ages and abilities. Thanks to a layer of IRB-approved shock pads, the 3 area is also great for other sports and activities. Throughout the season it is frequently used by both our senior and youth teams.

availability is limited, with pricing from £45+vaT per hour.

IF YOU WOULD LIkE TO HIRE THE 3g TRAInIng PITCH, THEn PLEASE COnTACT US FOR MORE InFORMATIOn commercial@hhtfc.co.uk

ouse the clubhouse at hanbury stadium

If you need to hire a bright, modern and spacious venue for an event in Haywards Heath, then look no further than the clubhouse at Hanbury Stadium, which has been newly renovated for the 2023/2024 season!

Located a 20 minute walk from Haywards Heath Station, the Blues Clubhouse is available to hire most days and nights. It has a fully working kitchen and a well stocked, fully-licensed bar. It is suitable for children’s parties, adult parties, wakes, anniversaries, business meetings, club meetings and other social gatherings.

We have capacity for approximately 80 seated, along with plenty of standing room and outside space.

TO DISCUSS YOUR nEEDS OR MAkE A BOOkIng, PLEASE COnTACT US FOR MORE InFORMATIOn commercial@hhtfc.co.uk

500

500 club introduced to raise Funds For hhtFc

The 500 Club was introduced at the beginning of the 21/22 season in order to raise funds for Haywards Heath Town Football Club, whilst also enabling supporters the opportunity to win cash prizes on a 50/50 basis. Draws are made on the first Saturday home game of each month.

Through your help, we have raised over £1,500 of which every penny went towards upgrading our floodlights for the 22/23 season. As we continue to develop Hanbury Park, we ask for your help again so that can replace the burger van inside the stadium.

TO EnTER, PLEASE COnTACT US REqUESTIng A FORM. director@hhtfc.co.uk

For just £10 a month, you will be helping your local club improve their facilities and our matchday experience, whilst also having the opportunity to pocket £250+ in prizes each month!

c lub

withinterview steve isherwood

you Have oTHer business inTeresTs, so HoW – and WHy – did you end up beComing CHairman oF HayWards HeaTH ToWn FC?

I had been watching from the stands on and off for about six or seven years. In 2017 my eldest son joined what was at the time the clubs U12 team. The youth element at Haywards Heath Town FC only had two sides at that juncture then myself, my wife and some of our other youth footballing friends started to get involved a bit more.

In 2019, we brought over my younger son’s team who are currently the clubs U14 side and other teams followed. We have now established twelve youth teams from U8 to U18 with more to be added for the 23/24 season including women’s and girls sides. The senior club could see what we were doing with the youth section, and I was approached on numerous occasions to join the committee which I was reluctant to do for various reasons. It was however becoming more and more apparent that the club was in serious trouble and we felt we couldn’t stand by after growing the youth to watch the seniors slide back down the pyramid. We made the decision in conjunction with a couple of people already within the club to contact the then club secretary and existing chairman, notifying them of our willingness and commitment to get the club on an even keel and address the numerous problems it faced both internally and externally.

THere musT be a loT oF CHallenges Taking on suCH a projeCT, given THe CurrenT and ongoing FinanCial ClimaTe THrougHouT THe uk. HoW do Clubs survive and progress in THese Times?

By being forward thinking, improving matchday experience and spend per head. Few clubs can survive on match day income alone so we have external rents, facility hire, events etc. It is a constant juggling act between playing costs, improvements and we are also on catch up in terms of maintenance.

are THe oFF-Field CommerCial opporTuniTies more imporTanT THan ever noW For semi-proFessional organisaTions suCH as HayWards HeaTH ToWn FC?

It is massive and fundamental to have a competitive and growing club. We are open to any ideas, suggestions or contacts and are lucky to have Paul Stone our commercial director on board. Our current revenue streams dwarf where we were two years ago in terms of sponsorship, events etc.

WHaT is your vision For THe Club in THe nexT TWo To Five years – on and oFF THe piTCH – WHaT’s THe plan?

We now have what I consider in this arena a ‘young’ board as there are five of us ranging between the ages of 37 and 47. We are all very different which

sTeve isHerWood HHTFC CHAIRMAn interview

is a good blend and we look to push the club on. I have never been one to sit and make bold statements about the future, as the last few years have demonstrated, you never know what is around the corner!

What we are doing is improving every aspect of the club and building it sustainably from bottom up. We have had a lot of upheaval, and difficult calls have had to be made, for the good of the club but things are almost where

we feel we need them to be and we are looking for continuity and a settled team on and off the pitch. This season alone, we’ve completely renovated the bar area, and improved the main stand to incorporate HHTFC lettering, and more importantly introduced an accessible seating area for supporters. Our next steps are to improve our catering facility, as well as look towards a 3g pitch as we’ll soon have U18’s, women’s and men’s fixtures on a weekly basis.

We’ve also launched the HHTFC foundation which is currently taking it’s

first steps. We are also meeting with local schools etc, to build our profile and bring quality football training into the community,

anyTHing else To add?

We are really proud to be a community club, with men’s, women’s and youth football for children of all ages. Thank you to all the local community that support us, including many local businesses. We do however need more volunteers for matchdays, so if you feel you can support, please do get in touch with us!

Facing

Forward Facing works with more than 100 families from across Sussex, supporting children as young as one and parents/ carers who are into their 80’s. Forward Facing supports families dealing with long term or life-limiting conditions and those facing bereavement. We provide free one-off and regular events to give families time away from what can be stressful family situations.

We also facilitate a support network, helping families to deal with these difficult situations and continuing to live their lives to the fullest.

ForWard FaCing’ evenTs

Have Four key aims: Create accessible, fun opportunities for children with disabilities or limiting illnesses Provide opportunities for families to spend time together and make lasting memories

Facilitate unique respite opportunities for carers and wider family members Provide wellbeing support for children and their families

Our mission is to provide fun activities that make our families happy, we want the children to have special, unique

experiences, where their confidence can grow, Where their carers & families can relax and most importantly where they can make some very special memories as sadly some of them don’t know what the future holds.

Our events, whilst providing a fun, memory making experience are also a source of emotional support to families potentially reducing feelings of isolation and increasing resilience.

HoW did ForWard FaCing geT involved WiTH HHTFC?

A few of the families we support introduced us to the club. Jane (Youth chair) and Steve Isherwood (Chairman) have been helping the charity in so many ways ever since that first day we met.

Generations of Exceptional

HoW Has HHTFC been able To supporT ForWard FaCing?

Allowing Forward Facing to raise funds at HHTFC home games

Hosting a charity game for our very special ambassador nat Ellis, so she could hold a match in memory of her beautiful daughter Izzy that raised awareness & funds for Forward Facing

HHTFC have also arranged for the families we support to be Mascots at a home game

Jane Isherwood (Youth Chair) is always helping Forward Facing with random tasks that make life a lot easier, Jane has given us so much support and help since the first day we met her Introducing Forward Facing to an inclusive friendly football community

HoW Can you supporT ForWard FaCing?

Our CEO Candice konig took over running the charity after making a promise to her best friend (the charities founder) that the charity would carry on when she unfortunately got terminal cancer. Candice has been running the charity for the past 8 years with the help of Trustees, staff and volunteers and seen the demand for the charities support grow massively. One of our

Trustees natasha joined the charity after she experienced the wonderful work the charity did when her son had cancer.

The charity Trustees and Candice are so grateful that Haywards Heath Town FC have chosen to support our charity, we look forward to coming to games and hopefully making some great connections with people in the local community as we are always looking for local support, volunteers and local businesses that can offer experiences, meals etc to our families.

The stadium was opened by Stanley Rous ahead of its inaugural match against Horsham. The main stand is an original building with Hanbury having undergone extensive work in recent years to bring it up to Isthmian League standard.

Hanbury Stadium is a 20 minute walk from Haywards Heath Station (1.3 miles) and there are adequate parking spaces in the surrounding roads for supporters traveling by car, though we ask for you to please be considerate of our neighbours when parking.

hanbury park stadium has been home to haywardsheath town since 1952.

Club oFFiCials

CHairman

Steve Isherwood chairman@hhtfc.co.uk

viCe CHairman

Michael Blake director@hhtfc.co.uk

direCTors

Paul Stone

Richard Mamoany

Wayne Emerson

HealTH & saFeTy oFFiCer

Richard Mamoany

Club Treasurer

Paul Stone accounts@hhtfc.co.uk media direCTor/Club seCreTary

Wayne Emerson media@hhtfc.co.uk

soCial media

James Cook-Harrington

assisTanT seCreTary & WelFare oFFiCer

natalie Ellis secretary@hhtfc.co.uk

CommerCial direCTor

Paul Stone commercial@hhtfc.co.uk

FixTure seCreTary

Tony Simm sTadium annouCer

Paul Stone groundsman

Richard Mamoany

youTH CHairperson

Jane Isherwood youth@hhtfc.co.uk

youTH viCe CHairman

Wayne Emerson

Fire oFFiCer

Richard Mamoany

Matt Bubb

FirsT Team goalkeeping CoaCH

Tom Betts

FirsT Team pHysioTHerapisT

Chloe Parker