Hillyfielders Football Club was founded in 1999 to enable children from the Brockley area to compete in the Bexley mini soccer league.

In fact, it all started long before 1999 – Ron Bell a local dad who also happened to have coaching experience with Millwall and Crystal Palace started up a Soccer School where kids could turn up and receive informal coaching and a game every Saturday morning. A victim of its own success the numbers of children who turned up come rain or shine steadily rose over the months and years from a dozen or so to the 100 + we have today.  Ron invited other F.A. qualified coaches to come and help, children got split up into age groups and an organisational framework was developed.  It was clear that this group contained a great deal of determination, commitment and also some exceptional skills, not just from the coaches but also the kids as well
 

With regular attendance nearing 50 it seemed like an opportunity too good to miss and Ron encouraged a group of parents to help him set up a proper club which could provide competitive 7 a side football at all ages from under 7 through to under 11 within the Bexley League. A home ground at Hillyfields was adopted, kit was bought, members were signed in, a committee was created and a constitution written to formalise the club's structure. 
 

The first season in 1999 was a real learning curve for kids and parents alike but we have now progressed to where we have teams in all the age groups for Mini-Soccer. Manager’s courses are available for those mums and dads brave enough to try and referees courses are held for the exceptionally brave. 

Although we originated in Brockley SE4 we are now based at Honor Oak Park, SE23, London, England, where we are proud to provide a unique 'football' resource to the children of the local community at grassroots level.  

The club offers training to children every Saturday and over the years has produced some very good young players and teams. Currently the club has 11 teams. 

The club is currently working towards FA Charter Standard which will give us certain benefits such as subsidised equipment, access to training /development courses for players and coaches etc.

By attracting new, young players every year the club has been represented most years in the SELKENT league with U8 and U7 teams.  The club aims to keep an 'open door' policy so that younger children can access training at a grassroots level. 

The club has benefitted from time to time from sponsorship usually from local businesses which helps to fund kits and equipment. After a turbulent financial period the club is now financially stable but we are always keen to attract new sponsors.

The kids that have always attended training and made up our teams come from all backgrounds, as you would expect to find in a major city. The ethos of the club is to combine an environment which supports a competitive spirit whilst maintaining as far as possible the original Saturday morning ‘open to all’ approach. We believe we have ties with just about  every country in the world such is the cross section of society which is involved with the club.  We are very proud to be such a Welcoming and inclusive club. 

All coaches/managers and people working for the club are required to be CRB checked and the club has a designated child protection officer to follow up any concerns raised.

The club is committed to developing the skills and knowledge of the coaches working with the children in order to deliver the best standard of grassroots football development possible.  

Thank you for your interest in Hillyfielders Football Club. We do hope that you will support us in any way you can and we look forward to welcoming you as part of the club very soon.

 

A training session at the old training ground, where it all started.