The new season is already in full swing with player registrations, new players coming onboard but in the pause between registering players, I wanted look back to the 2024/2025 season as it draws to a close, it gives me a great sense of pride to reflect on the season past and look forward to another exciting year for FC Abbey Meads.
Appreciation
Before I move on to the highlights of the season, I would like to send my personal thanks to the FC Abbey Meads committee, who behind the scenes have helped shape a good football club into a great footballing community this season. Their efforts quite often go unnoticed, as a collective group, they have knocked down the obstacles and we’ve found a way through, together.
I would like to thank our managers and coaches, without them this club would simply not run. There are no words to express the gratitude of these wonderful people. The hours and hours of time they put into to our fantastic club is beyond comprehension. The late-night phone calls, the sleepless nights, the worry over match day decisions but most important, the love and care they have for all the children in their teams. Our managers and coaches are simply the best.
None of this is possible without you, our parents, the support you give season upon season leaves me speechless. Raising money on football cards, tea trolley offerings, early morning sausage and bacon roll making, half time oranges for the players and your ongoing positive encouragement are just a few examples of how your support helps makes a huge difference to children and the coaches. The togetherness this season has been exceptional.
The people I must thank the most is my family, Nick and Cody. Their patience and their understanding of my role at FC Abbey Meads. The countless phone calls, WhatsApp messages, emails & the weekday evenings / weekends I spend at Moredon which takes my time away from them. The strength they give me to keep going. They see the joy it brings; they wipe my tears when I didn’t quite get it right and pick me up when times are tough. To you both, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. (I didn’t quiet keep my promise of no more burnt dinners; I will do better this coming season!).
Achievements
Where do I begin! We started the 24/25 Season with 32 teams, whilst some were still scattered at different venues, we were able to move majority of the teams back home to Moredon and play all but one match at our home ground. It was no easy feat, with many obstacles in our way. However, by April 2025, we had all our teams back home and training together. I personally always disliked our teams being spread across different “Winter” training venues, so to be able to bring us back together, back home, is one of my many highlights of this season.
We have set up and put on holiday camps for our players, these are quite often sold out within days of announcing the dates.
We have set up partnerships with Aaron Oakley, who is a UEFA B licence coach and Will Henry Goal keeper coach and current goalkeeper for Chippenham Town FC.
We are delighted to have retained our 3 star accreditation for the 25/26 season and have been nominated by the Wiltshire FA to be one of the first clubs to move to a new accreditation platform, which will give us a Gold standard accreditation in the very near future.
Mini Soccer teams (U7 to U11)
What a year it has been for you all, I wish I could share all the excitement for all the Mini Soccer teams as there have been so many, unfortunately, I cannot fit them all into one message.
Our U7 team, coming up from Mini meads and playing their first ever league match! Scoring their first ever league goal, making their first save. Learning to pass and move, learning new positions and having a thrilling run in their trophy event this season. Its been a pleasure to watch you grow this year.
Our U9 Purples joined us this season, a new team, new coaches with a combination of players who had some footballing experience but many who were starting their football journey. What a journey it has been so far! If the 3G had a roof on it, it would have been blown off multiple times, from their first goal scored, to their first win, this team and parents know how to celebrate. Their first win was in January 2025, I am lucky enough to see these boys train on a Friday and to have them all running up to me and telling me about their first ever win is a memory which will last me a lifetime.
Our U11 Grey girls had a very successful League cup run and made it all the way to the final at Foundation Park. They are very much looking forward to their first season in competitive football next season.
Our U11 Blues showed resilience beyond their years, they fought all season against some really tough opposition. The coaches, players and parents, trusted the process and after 14 games with nothing but defeat, they got their win! FA rules prevent me from sharing the score, but it was an impressive win. As they ventured into tournament season, the wins kept on coming. Runners up in FC Chippenham Tournament, losing out on being champions by 1 single goal and runners up in the Carterton Town tournament.
Part way during the season, we welcomed a new team to FC Abbey Meads. The U11 Greys, which has been led by Darren since January. It can be hard to join a club part way through a season. Darren, the players and the parents have settled in amazingly and we look forward to their first full season with FC Abbey Meads.
Competitive teams (U12 to U17)
Another successful year for our competitive teams in their respective divisions.
We were able to celebrate cup and league success.
U12 Blue – Division 2 Runners Up
U12 Blue Girls – Division 1 Runners Up
U13 Blue – Division 3 Runners Up
U13 Purple Girls – Division 1 Winners, League Cup Winners and County Cup Finalists.
U13 Orange – Division 4 Runners Up
League and cup success could be classed as the pinnacle of success, however, our teams who didn’t win a cup or league placing this year, have had their own personal success during the season:
U12 Purples with a very respectful 8 place finish in Division 4 are looking to push on next season and climb up the table.
U12 Greys also finished in 8 place in Division 5. The team sadly say goodbye to their manager, Stuart, for personal reason who has decided to step down. Stuart cannot wait to cheer them on from the side-lines. We thank Stuart for his many years of dedication to the club and the team.
U13 Greens finished in 10 place this season and with some new summer signings are looking to improve on this next year.
U13 Grey secured a quarter final place in the Wiltshire FA County Cup competition and a Semi final place in the Oxfordshire League Cup.
U14 Purples Switched to the Oxfordshire League for the 24/25 Season to experience some new teams, with a respectful 8 place finish in a league with is renowned for being a higher level. The Purple comes back to the North Wilts League with a confidence and willingness to push on.
U15 Purples had their best season this year, finishing in mid table of division 4 and Dave couldn’t have been prouder of his team and all they achieved this season.
U16 Blue taking it all the way to the final few games of the season by staying in contention of picking up 3rd place, they just missed out. Simon and Jozef knew the boys gave it their all and are proud of their achievements.
U17 Grey finished 9th in the U17/U18 division, a slow start for the Greys, but they come back strong in the second part of the season. A strong start for these boys next season will see them up near the top of the table.
U16 Purple girls continued their success in the Oxfordshire girls league, with a respectful mid table finish. The girls are looking forward to next season in the U17/U18 league.
Men’s team
In just their second year together our Men’s team surpassed all expectations this year with a 3rd place finish in Division 1 of the Swindon and District league.
The average age of our men’s team is a mere 23 years old, with many who were itching for their 16th birthday for me to add them to the team, these boys have progressed through the youth phase and into the adults team, some even playing in both the men’s and our U17 team this year!
With youth comes vulnerability, our boys didn’t allow the old school banter, which comes with men’s football put them off or scare them, they knew they could out skill, out run and out football half the teams in the division and they showed maturity above their age by letting their football do the talking.
I am going to go out on a whim now and say they are the first men’s team to have a 16 year old score a hattrick in a league match. Now that’s what you call a pathway!
Non playing teams
At FC Abbey Meads we are keen to support football for all. This year, we have seen our Mini Meads (4-6yo) grow from 5 players to over 30 registered. It is a fun, interactive session. The children who would like to progress into a team, have this opportunity as soon as they turn 6. As a result of our success with Mini Meads this year, we have created 2 U7 teams.
Our Wildcats sessions, for girls aged 5-11 has also grown in popularity. We only started this venture in the first half of 2025, we now have 20 girls in attendance weekly. With our girls teams already being so successful the future is bright for our Wildcats and we hope to create more teams from this amazing group of girls.
I am personally very proud of my players in our Superstars team. The FA official stance on the Ability counts programme is called, Comets. They are known to us at FC Abbey Meads as FCAM Superstars, because they are just that, Superstars. They make my week and I count down the days until my Friday training with them. Although, some are getting rather cheeky as their confidence grows – but I wouldn’t have it any other way and I love them all.
FC Abbey Meads Future
As one season ends a new one must begin! To date, we have 39 teams affiliated to FC Abbey Meads, all ready and raring to get started.
We welcome some new teams into the FC Abbey Meads family
Our first ever Ladies team, led by Leo and Pinks. This is an exciting adventure and enables us to create a pathway for our girls to continue their footballing journey after 16.
The U15 Blues, being led by Tony and Adam. A strong team with huge potential and an ethos of being part of a family run set up.
The U10 Oranges, being led by Duncan, who brings a vast number of years coaching with him and we are delighted to have Duncan on board.
The U10 Blue, being led by Ashley, Ash was previously with the U9 Greys. Ash wanted his own challenge, bring his own ideas to a team and give more children the opportunity to play football.
The U12 Grey, being led by Giles. Jason, Lee and Giles had a very large U11 squad, they made the decision to divide and conquer for the new season U12 age group. 2 smaller squads, giving more playing time to all and not having to leave players out of the match day squad can only benefit all the players. Jason and Lee will continue with the U12 blues and Giles will lead the U12 Grey into next season.
We also welcome to the club our new U9 Grey team, another team in the top development for us and we look forward to seeing how they get on this season
We have two new U7 teams formed from our Mini Meads group, the two teams will be led by Mike and Ben.
We have secured a place in the Midland JPL league; this is another first for FC Abbey Meads as we look to create more pathways for all our players. More news on this to follow, as we are busy behind the scenes recruiting and trialling players for the first ever FC Abbey Meads JPL team.
As we close the chapter on the 24/25 season, and all go for a well-deserved rest during July. I look back on the 24/25 season as the most successful season in FC Abbey Meads history and I am truly excited for the future. The Future is Purple and Blue.
Lisa
Club Secretary
