About Prestwood Colts

Prestwood Colts & Girls FC was formed in the 1960’s, exact year uncertain, by members of Prestwood FC who wanted to encourage younger players to learn football skills to become potential players for the senior team. Initially the club was just for older teenagers, but over the years has grown to offer association football training and competition for boys and girls with ages ranging from U6 to U18 Youth football.

Prestwood Colts Panthers FC was formed as a sister club to enable us to enter more than one team into an age group in our leagues and to offer our football to a wide ability range, not just those who were “good” at football, but to include those who just liked playing and training with their friends.

The Girls section was added in the late 90’s and though a strength for many years declined for a while but has now recently restarted with a keen group of girls coached by some of our women coaches.

Currently the club has around 330 members drawn mainly from the Prestwood and Great Missenden areas and has over 70 Volunteers, mainly parents, providing the General Management Committee, Team Managers, Coaches, First Aiders, Referees and other club services.

Club Teams play in the following local leagues:

U6 – Do not play competitive football

U7 – U12 – South Bucks Mini Soccer Conference

U13 - U16 – The Bullseye Print & Awards Wycombe & South Bucks Minor Football League

U17 – U18 – South Bucks Youth League

Most years we have teams winning both league and cup competitions.

We are based on Prestwood Common, Nairdwood Lane in Prestwood, though we use several other facilities including Prestwood Lodge School and Sprinters Astroturf training pitch. We also use the facilities of Prestwood FC with whom we have a close and developmental relationship.

Club Teams participate in all County and League Cups and several other cup competitions in the area and every summer compete in many of the local tournaments played all over the region. Some also go further a field on a tour to another part of the country to play teams from both the UK and sometimes Europe.

All our teams have at least one FA Level 1 coach except the new U6’s whose coaches usually qualify towards the end of the season. Many coaches attain a Level 2 coaching qualification.

The highlight of the Clubs’ year is the Annual Presentation Weekend when we hold an intra-club tournament from U6’s through to Youth, combined with the presentation of the Club Annual Awards to players.

Each year every playing member receives a Club Award which recognises their own personal development through the year. Special awards are also made to players in each team.

The Players Player recognises a team-mate held in high esteem by their fellow team-mates, the Most Improved Player seeks to encourage individual football skills improvement, the Managers Player award is given to a team member who has worked hard for the team and proved a reliable supportive member and the Managers Cup is awarded for achievement over the season.

The Chairman’s Cup is awarded to a player from any age group who has not been awarded any other special award but who has supported their team and demonstrated their personal sportsmanship and commitment.

There are also very popular associated social events for volunteers and parents over this special community weekend during the evenings.

The Club colours are claret and sky blue.

In 2010 the Clubs commitment to the highest standards of organisation, management, child welfare and excellence in coaching have lead to the award of the FA Charter Standard.

For the future the Clubs seeks to further develop their coaching resource and facilities and 2 major projects are the improvement of drainage on Prestwood Common to increase availability of pitches over the winter playing months and the development/replacement of the existing Pavilion & changing rooms to provide a full clubhouse facility with dressing rooms to modern specifications and public rooms in which Club members can gather and socialise.

CLUB FINANCES, FUND RAISING & SPONSORSHIP

The Club needs to raise around £40,000 per year from subscriptions, grants, fund-raising activities, donations and sponsorships to meet operating costs. All officer, management and coaching posts are voluntary and unpaid. We have a policy of inclusion and no child will be turned away from the club if their parents or guardians are unable to pay the club subscription. We want to be a truly village club open and available to all children from all sectors of the community

We therefore rely on the generosity of our sponsors to help us raise the necessary funds each year. Most sponsorships are one-off contributions, for which we are very grateful, especially in these difficult economic times, and so we must continually seek new sponsors.