Hethersett Athletic Football Club is enjoying its best ever season with three teams reaching cup finals and the men’s first team winning its second consecutive league title.

The club has developed into one of the largest in Norfolk with no less than 11 teams covering all ages and both sexes.

Hethersett Athletic was founded in 1991 as Hethersett Jubilee, changing its name about five years ago. It started with just one youth team but this season has teams at mini level (under-9s), boys under-12, boys under-13, boys under-14, boys under-15, three men’s teams, girls under-13, girls under-15 and womens.

The boys youth teams play in the Norfolk Sunday Combination and the Under-13s were triumphant in their cup competition where they beat favourites Hellesdon 2-1 in the final.

Two of the adult men’s sides play in the Norwich Sunday League and a third in the South Norfolk Sunday League.

The men’s first team made sure of winning Division 3B of the Norwich Sunday League with a 2-1 win at Robert Kett on April 22^nd. They went on to win the division by 11 clear points. This follows winning Division 4B the previous year. The men’s A team, which is made up almost exclusively of former youth team players, reached the final of the South Norfolk Players Aid Trophy where they were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Withersdale.

The women's team ended their first full season as league runners-up and were desperately unlucky to be beaten in the final of the cup 4-3 by Aylsham, having come back from 4-1 down early in the second half. In addition the girls Under-13 team came top of their fairplay league.

The club’s stated aim is to provide football for all ages and both sexes with the emphasis on youth and encouraging youngsters in the village and surrounding areas to take up competitive soccer.

"We pride ourselves on playing within the spirit of the game and have a strict code of conduct. Our disciplined approach has given youngsters the chance to enjoy football and the club is now adding success to that enjoyment," said club chairman Peter Steward.

"This success has been perfectly illustrated by the back to back championships for the first team. These have been achieved by close teamwork and open football. Many of that side have been together from a very young age. It’s great to see teams coming through the youth system into adult soccer."

The club has had many very talented players over the years, some of whom have become involved in soccer academies at both Norwich and Cambridge. Each team runs as a separate unit with its own coaches and managers.

This system has allowed the club to continually develop and it is always looking to add new teams, particularly at the younger end.

"We are at present putting together a business case to attract sponsorship at the club. We want to turn Hethersett Athletic into one of the top clubs in the county and one businesses will want to be part of. Sponsorship is very much a two way process and we want to make potential sponsors feel part of our club," the chairman added

There is a tremendous spirit at the club and a determination to succeed but at the same time ensure that players enjoy their sport and are a credit to the game.

Many of the players who have come through the ranks have made over 150 appearances for the club.

"In these days of nomadic players this is something very special. We hope that the way the club is run fosters loyalty amongst the players. Many of the adult players have played for Athletic from the age of 10," Peter Steward added.

The club’s annual presentation evening will be held in the Norfolk Suite at Carrow Road on Saturday May 19th when individual player of the season awards will be made along with the Lee Thompson Memorial Trophy for the person giving outstanding service to the club during the season.

The club has also launched its own web site at www.hethersettathletic.org.uk

For more information on the above press release please contact club secretary and founder Mel Perkins on Norwich 811304 or club chairman Peter Steward on Norwich 276078 (days), 811052 (evenings).