For many teams the dream of making it to Wembley starts this weekend with the first qualifying round of the FA Vase.
Both landlords AFC Croydon Athletic, known as The Rams and tenants Westside FC were given home ties in this years FA Vase with both games to be played at Mayfield Stadium this weekend, writes James Richards.
Westside FC compete in the competition for the first time. The club was established in May 1996 and consisted of 15 men from a local church in Wandsworth. It has now become a FA Charter Standard Club, running 24 teams ranging from U7 up to adult 11 a-side and includes a newly formed women’s U21 side.
The clubs ethos of producing and graduating home grown players through its youth system and establishing them within its adult section has contributed to the clubs recent success and rapid rise up through the leagues.
Seventy per cent of the current first team squad have progressed through the youth set up and includes two local Thornton Heath boys.
Westside now play at the bottom level of the football Pyramid, competing in the Surrey Elite League and ground share with AFC Croydon Athletic at the Mayfield Stadium.
Saturday will be a tough test for Westside FC against a well established Step 6 side but one that the players and management are looking forward to.
Westside FC vs Steyning Town – 3:00pm KO
AFC Croydon Athletic vs Bearsted FC – 3:00pm KO
Both to be played at Mayfield Stadium
off Mayfield Road
Thornton Heath
CR7 6DN
Adults – £7
Concessions – £4
U16 – £2
U10 – Free with an adult
View The Chronicle December 2021 issue
