Bexhill United Football Club

Bexhill United Football Club lost a major boost to its funds earlier this year when the Bexhill carnival was cancelled because of bad weather and the expected £3000 sponsorship was lost. The Rotary Club of Senlac was able to step in and on 4th December presented the club chairman Graham Cox with a cheque to help alleviate the lost sponsorship. The club’s Child Welfare Officer, Tracy Aston, explained, “The club is a not-for-profit community organisation that provides football and a social network for many youngsters as well as the senior teams. We have over 200 members across ten youth teams catering for children from 5 to 18 years old as well as two senior teams so the club faces a very large expenditure. Our ethos is football for all and we would not like anyone not to be able to join in. We are not just a football club, we provide events where children can thrive and develop in a safe environment. Our clubhouse is open to all local charities and good causes for no cost so they in turn can raise money and awareness for themselves. We can raise money by quizzes, race nights, penalty shoot outs and other events and we also make money from the bar. But we need to get enough to buy kit, equipment and help the managers access the courses they need to be able to do their job so the donations we receive are vital to keep the club going and keep it affordable for the youngsters.”

Vandalism on the ground is a problem but as Tracy commented, “It’s youths from outside, not our members. We give our youngsters an interest in life and a feeling of ownership and responsibility. Isn’t that what clubs like ours are for?”

Bexhill United’s senior team, The Pirates, is currently riding high in the Southern Counties Division 2 league and is hoping for promotion this year.