Royal Wootton Bassett Town
For our youth section players , we aim to provide them with the best possible opportunities to play and learn the game . We ’ re fortunate now to provide them with an outstanding facility . But every year we also take three teams on tour to Holland , which is arguably the highlight of the season as great memories and friendships have been formed through that . On top of that , we provide free Community coaching sessions for children every Saturday , along with dedicated goalkeeper training too .
FF : Would you consider yours to be a community club ?
AW : We ’ d absolutely consider Royal Wootton Bassett Town to be a community club – and it ’ s something we are proud of . In fact , we were the first club in Wiltshire to achieve Charter Standard Community Club status .
We ’ re developing great links with local schools , growing our Ladies and Girls section , have teams ranging from Under 7s through to Veterans , and offer the free coaching sessions which I previously mentioned . We want to be – and hope we ’ re considered as – a club that ’ s open to all .
FF : Regarding your facility , are you happy with what you currently have ? Are you keen to expand / improve in any areas ?
AW : We ’ re extremely fortunate to have moved into such an outstanding new facility in 2015 . It was a long time in the making , and a lot was asked of our volunteers in the couple of years before we made the move when our first team were groundsharing in Cirencester and a number of youth teams had to play their home games in Calne .
However , it was all worth it , now that we finally have all our teams playing ‘ under one roof ’ so to speak .
Prior to moving out of our old home we weren ’ t able to do that , so the new facility has really helped bring together all sections of the club , and we hope that continues . It offers us room for growth too , and we ’ ll continue to seek to increase the number of teams we have .
FF : What do you believe could be some of the biggest challenges the club may face in the next 5 years ?
AW : Along with all clubs , probably the greatest challenge is maintaining and growing the base of volunteers that we have .
We ’ re indebted to everyone who helps the club in whatever way they can – be they our coaches , committee members , administrators , groundstaff or those whose who sweep the dressing rooms and sell refreshments . We have a brilliant group of volunteers .
Growth in the club ’ s size does mean we need more though , and in these difficult economic times we understand it can be hard for people to find the time to dedicate to football activities .
FF : What are the clubs ambitions for the next 5 years ?
AW : Our main ambition is to continue to grow all areas of the club – senior and youth - in a sustainable way . Our new facility does make it easier for us to target promotion for our senior men ’ s and ladies ’ teams , but we need to balance that aim with the fact that it can ’ t come at the expense of overlooking our youth section . Nor can it be a success unless we remain on a sound footing .
We ’ re also hoping to introduce an ‘ Academy ’ scheme , which would allow talented youngsters to combine their football development with a quality education . www . footballfocus . biz 41