GADESIDE RANGERS FOOTBALL CLUB

Est 1973 - Closed 2022

How it Began

The club was formed in 1973 by Ken Timberlake and David Gale who merged Watford Colts and Holywell FC into a single youth team.

The name Gadeside arose because one lived in Gade Avenue and the other in Swiss Avenue. So by the toss of a coin the name was decided. "Gadeside was born"

Ken Timberlake and David Gale are the Founders of our great club.

The first official pitch used by Gadeside was at Holywell school in Tolpits Lane. As their was only one pitch at Holywell School and the club's teams were expanding it needed more pitches so the club moved to Westfield School. Now the club had 4 full size pitches and soon had to add mini soccer pitches for 7 a side games for the Under 8 to Under 10's

Over the years the club expanded with lots of teams at different age groups and some with two teams in the Watford Friendly League. We also had two adult teams, 1XI and 2XI in the West Herts Sunday League

End of a Great Club

It is with a very sad and a broken heart that Gadeside Rangers FC will now longer exist as a club, we have no new teams with Managers to carry on our tradition of providing Grassroots Football in the area.

We had almost made it to 50 years as a club for which many have joined this great club starting as parents, becoming managers/coaches then working their way through the ranks and roles of the committee to achieve many things for our players.

Over the years many people have dedicate long hours each week over so many years. Some were players themselves and returned as parents/managers, some even staying as managers or committee members when their sons had left the club. We salute and thank you all for your service to our club.

What Caused the End

Many things have happened at this club, like the sigificant large amount of money fraudulant removed from club funds, the management change at our home ground of 30 years due to the management company going into administration and then Covid, all of this has brought us to this position today with player numbers dropping, along no one wanting to volunteer to run teams which takes up almost all your spare time believe you me.

Read the version and views of running a youth football club of our club president which will change your thoughts on how things got done in the background, so when people joined the committee its then and only then they realise it doesn't happen without volunteers.

Read: The 5 Things about running a Youth Football Club