CLUB HISTORY

 Yate United Football Club was founded by Lou Gunning in 1971 with the help from Roy Brunt and Keith Green, and is the oldest Boys Football Club in the Yate and Chipping Sodbury area. The first team, the Under 12's, entered the Bath and Bristol Schoolboys League in the 1971/72 season. The following year a second team was formed and the Club continued to grow to its present size, supporting the Colts team and teams from Under 7's to Under 16's. More recently the Club has played in the Stroud League and currently fields teams in the Hanham Minor (Under 9s, 10's and 11's) and the Avon Youth (Under 12's, 13's, 14's, 15's and 16's) Leagues.

The Under 7, 8 and 9 teams all run A and B sides. All the matches in these leagues are played within the former North Avon and Bristol area.

In the early years, Manchester United had a strong influence on the youngsters. As a result of many of the first Under 13 team supporting them, a red and black kit was purchased and, from that day onwards, red and black have been recognised as the Club's official home colours.

The Club has a Management Committee made of, Club President, Chairman, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer  and Fixtures Secretary, Club Welfare Officer, Club Development Manager . All these positions are held by long standing members of the Club who have in the past been either been managers, assistant managers or parents. The general committee is also made up of the above together with the team managers.

Currently the Club has over 200 registered players of which over 95% come from the Yate and Chipping Sodbury area. In order to ensure football for local players, it is written into the Club constitution that all players with the exception of a maximum of 5 per team must live within a five mile radius of Yate. We are also very proud of the fact that a high percentage of players spend all their youth football with the Club, and past players return to manage the teams, some not even having son's of their own within their team, such is the dedication.

The Club celebrated it's 25th Anniversary at the beginning of the 1997/98 season by staging a match between the Under 18 team and a Past Managers and Players XI held at Yate Town Football Club. This fixture has now become a tradition with the team finishing youth football, currently at Under 16 level, taking on a select XI made up of past and current managers and club officials.

Home games are played at local venues :- the Under 7's 8's,9's,and 10's at Yate Outdoor Sports Complex, the Under 11's, 12's, 13's, 14's, 15's, and 16's at Sunnyside Playing Fields. Training is held at either Yate Outdoor Sports Complex or at local schools, again ensuring the local flavour associated with the Club.

The Club has introduced 'Fair Play for Children' into its ethos, with all Managers and Club officials are vetted through the FA CRB Uunit before being allowed to assist with the running of the teams or Club. The safety and welfare of the children is paramount to the Club and all registered players are covered by a comprehensive insurance scheme.

Over the years the Club has been sponsored by many local businesses that have benefited from the publicity generated for their company's when displayed on club kit during the season and at tournaments..

The Club's outlook has been - for more than 30 years - and will be for the future, 'Football for Local Players' and for ensuring they get maximum enjoyment from the game during their time at Yate United.

The important point to remember is that the Club was formed to give the players of Yate a game of football. As long as we can do this, there will always be a Yate United !