CLUB
HISTORY
In
the autumn of 2001 Robert Dobson, David Andrews and David Moore regularly took
their 5 year old boys to play football in the Mount School Sports Centre on
Sunday afternoons. Within a short time there were up to a dozen children
playing regularly, and by late 2002 thoughts turned to the idea of forming a
team.
Graham Reeds made enquiries of the Mitchell League. The season had already
started so it was suggested that we play friendly matches against teams which
had free weeks. First there had to be sorted out a few essential
details.
First a name. York Lion Cubs was the favourite but – as we played at the
Mount School – the York Mounties won much support (especially from the
Canadian contingent). Eventually there was a vote and York Cubs FC was the
successful compromise candidate. Our shirt colour came from mixing the colours
of the two schools then attended by the majority of our children. Yellow and
red together made orange. The badge was courtesy of a parent who ran a design
company. The inspiration was the Premiership logo, which was reversed and made
into a Lion Cub so as to avoid being sued!
Graham ordered 12 orange strips and a pair of goals. The parents financed it
by paying the first membership fees. In January 2003 our club was formed and
on 19th January we played - and won - our very first match in the sports hall
against Wigginton Grasshoppers under 7s.
From then we played once per month and lost only once. In May we entered a
team in the Rawcliffe Tournament and got to the semi finals. It was the
turning point. We realised then that we could hold our own in a league and we
applied to join the Mitchell League under 8s for the following season.
In April 2003 Graham Reeds and Steve Clipston became the first parents to
qualify as FA coaches. In October David Andrews, Steve Pitt, Brian Copley and
Simon Mallett joined them. By then the big-brother, little-brother syndrome
had kicked in and more teams were needed. David, Steve & Brian agreed to
form an under 7s league squad for the next season and Simon started an under
10s team who would play friendlies. In September 2003 we started our first
league season at the Mount School Fields with four teams in two age groups.
In February 2004 we were awarded FA Charter Standard Club status after a
rigorous quality check by the North Riding County FA. In April 2004 we
finished our first league season as under 8s division 2B champions and
division 2A runners up. We only lost one game in fourteen matches.
In June 2004 Steve Clipston was awarded his FA level 2 coaches badge and
Graham Reeds followed in April 2005. Dave Patmore, David Andrews and Paul Power
also obtained their FA coaches badges
over the course of 2004-05. Where they led others followed and by 2009 we hade
a total of 17 coaches on the books, three of them at level 2.
In 2007 we had our first league champions with that season's under 8s; a feat
they repeated the following year, and again this year, by becoming the first
11-a-side York Cubs team to win their league. Also in 2008 our under 12s won the Mitchell
League Cup. In 2009 it was the turn of the under 11s to win the Ryedale
League Plate. We add to that several successes in local knockout tournaments
for nearly all age groups over the seasons. We believe the quality of our
coaching and organisation speaks for itself.
In 2006 moved to new facilities which are now extensive
enough to field mini soccer teams at all 4 age groups (under 7s to under 10s)
and six 11-a-side teams playing from under 11s to under 17s ladies. Our
premises on the Knavesmire are part of the Southbank Sports Community Club and
we now have 4 mini soccer pitches (with space for a further two
training pitches) and shared use of up to six 11-a-side pitches. With plenty
of room for growth we have now set our sights firmly on achieving Charter
Standard Community Club status over the course of the next couple of
seasons.
In
2009 were were joined by two ladies and girls teams that took our total
membership to more than 150 children and young persons, all playing football
wearing the orange of York Cubs and York Cubs Ladies. In 2010 we had one age
group of league champions (under 11) and two cup finalists (under 14s Lions
and under 17s ladies) as well as league runners up (under 10) and divisional
runners up (under 12).
In 2010-11 we had our most successful season on the field. The under 12s were
again League Champions, and were also FA Cup winners and Mitchell League Plate
winners. The under 11s were League Champions and Ryedale Plate winners. Both
Plate finals were held at York City FC. In addition the under 13s won the
Minor League Fair Play Cup, for exemplary behaviour over the course of the
season.
The web site started in February 2004 as a means of communicating training and
match information to our growing numbers. Now we carry reports of most
matches, photographs of our children playing football, and a wealth of
information about the club and for club members. The site is constantly
updated and revised. It is operated in accordance with strict child protection
guidelines overseen by our own club welfare officer.
Above all of these achievements in such a short time we value the most our
sense of sportsmanship and the happy and encouraging atmosphere at our
training and matches. Our current membership levels reflect the fact that we
have children from 35 different schools who learn and enjoy their
football with us. We must be doing something right!
We seem to have come a long way . . . .
For an article in the York Evening Press from September 2003 click here
For
an article in the Evening Press from May 2005 click here
For
a major article in the Park Life section of the Evening Press from February
2007 click here
Graham
Reeds
Director, May 2010
