Almost 30 players and a dozen coaches from Bedale AFC have visited the Football Association National Football Centre at St George’s Park in Staffordshire.
The group attended the venue on Easter Sunday for a coaching session and a look around the facilities, which were built in 2012 for £105m.
Set within 330 acres of countryside, the site boasts 14 elite outdoor pitches.
After high-intensity sessions led by FA coaches Kieran Wicks and Jamie Warren, the group was given a guided tour of the facilities.
They got to see the Harry Kane boot room and walk up Sir Alf Ramsey Way to the Sir Bobby Charlton Arena, a full size replica of Wembley.
PLayers and coaches wore their kit sponsored by local sausage maker Heck! for the visit.
Manager David Proud said: “Half the squad at St George’s Park wore the sausage and mash kit with the others the vegetarian carrot kit, which went down so well with the officials we met at the national centre.
“In fact, it was said that of all the hundreds of teams that use the facilities every year, no one had never seen such wonderful kits, and were unlikely to ever again.”
The club was grateful for the help of Bedale Community Minibuses and the Heck! minibus, which kept transport costs to a minimum.
In addition, the club receive a grant of £650 from the Bedale Town Council and £500 from the Bedale Rectors Four and Twenty.
Bedale AFC was formed in 1933 and has won many championships and cups over the years.
However, at the start of the 2024-2025 season, the club decided to go back to basics and start from the bottom up with a new youthful team.
The development team, comprising mainly 16-year-olds who had moved up from junior football, entered the open-age North Riding Football League.
Chairman Martyn Coombs said the philosophy for the team was to create an environment where these young players could grow physically and socially as the season wore on.
Early season results were not very good as these young lads were finding their feet, but they grew in confidence and ended the season with four consecutive wins on 20 points having won six and drawn two, including the last league game victory over a team which finished fifth and 12 points ahead of them.
One goal was scored by Archie Brown who recently made his debut aged 16 years and one day.
Martyn said: “These young lads have gelled so well as a group and have made lifelong friendships and shown great loyalty to the club.
“I am convinced they will only leave Bedale AFC when the opportunity comes to play for a team in a higher level in the FA pyramid.”
Bedale AFC were one of the first FA Community Clubs in the region forming a partnership with Bedale High School and the Bedale Junior Football Club and have recently been re-awarded their FA Charter Club status.
Last season, the club received the 1 Star England Football Accredited Club award having successfully negotiated the standards, including the young player pathways criteria.
The club is trying to recruit female footballers to enable them to enter a team next season in the North Riding Women’s Recreational League.
Any female players aged 16+ who are keen to play in a 7 or 9 aside team from September are invited to training sessions at the Heck Stadium at Bedale Sports Club and Community Centre at 6.30pm on Wednesday, April 30, Tuesday, May 6, Wednesday, May 14 and Monday, May 19.
For more details, email Michelle at bedaleladies@gmail.com.
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