Falcons still flying after 30 years
28 Sep 2009

Falcons still flying after 30 years

From the Daily Echo archive, first published Monday 7th Jul 2003.

WHEN a group of cubs from Southampton's oil zone outgrew their scouts football team they hit upon the idea of setting up a club of their own.

Their parents got together in the back room of the local pub and, hey presto, the Fawley Falcons were born.

That was 30 years ago - and to celebrate their milestone anniversary the Falcons hosted their first ever five-a-side tournament at the Waterside Sports & Social Club this weekend.

The tasty two-day feast of football involved over 150 teams from all over Hampshire, spanning under-7s through to under-14s.

As manager, coach and event organiser Dave Potts explained, the money raised will go towards ensuring that the Falcons, who have over 200 players under their mighty wing, can continue to offer quality football without bankrupting the parents.

He said: "The total reason we're having this tournament is because the pitch fees for games and winter training have gone up so much and we've had to increase the players' signing-on free from £46 to £60, which is an awfully big jump."

That said, although fees can be as low as £30 or £40 elsewhere, many other clubs charge an additional couple a quid a week for training whereas, at Fawley, the signing-on fee covers everything.

Potts said: "Despite the rise to £60 we're still one of the cheapest around. But assuming there's an idiot like me who will organise another tournament like this one, then we can make sure there won't be another big increase in the foreseeable future."

The Falcons are also indebted to the generosity of sponsors and, only this week, Potts was handed a meaty £500 cheque from Aeropark Development Limited of Southampton.

"We're a charitable organisation and all the money we get goes straight back into the club to pay for strips, training facilities and so on," explained Potts. "We also do a lot other fund-raising events during the year."

Another key sponsor is the Fawley Falcon public house, where the club was born.

Thirty years on they boast 15 thriving teams from under-7s to under-15s, playing in the Tyro and the Eastleigh Mini Soccer Leagues.