Crookham Rovers Football Club, founded in 1972 in Church Crookham, is one of the oldest and largest junior football clubs in the Fleet and North East Hampshire areas. With over 200 playing members, the club aims to provide safe and enjoyable football for young boys and girls aged 6 to 18 years old. They also have a development squad for children as young as four years old.
All of Crookham Rovers' teams participate in junior football in the North East Hampshire Youth League. The club's primary goal is to develop both boys' and girls' football and promote the game as part of a healthy lifestyle. Through football, the club aims to help youngsters develop important life skills such as teamwork, a sense of fair play, and respect for others.
Crookham Rovers conducts training sessions for all of its teams and various age groups. The club ensures that every team coach is qualified to the minimum FA standards and undergoes DBS checks to ensure the safety and well-being of the players.
The club's history dates back to its foundation by Terry Jeal in 1972. Originally known as Ferndale Rovers, the club trained at Queens Avenue alongside Terry's son's friends. In 1974, they changed their name to Crookham Rovers after joining the North East Hants Youth League. The club adopted its traditional 'home' colours of green and yellow after Ferndale Rovers (yellow and black) merged with Wyvern Wanderers (green and black) in 1982.
Crookham Rovers Football Club attained charitable status in October 2006 and was awarded the FA Club Charter Badge in August 2007. Over the years, the club has grown in both numbers and strength under the leadership of Pete Grace, who took over the Chairmanship in 2010. The club now boasts around 20 teams represented in all age groups, from Under 7s to Under 18s, providing a platform for over 300 boys and girls to enjoy the “beautiful game.
In 2010, Crookham Rovers took an important step forward by forming the Comets, the club's first all-girls team. They also launched the Mini-Rovers, a development training scheme designed to introduce Year R and Year 1 children to the game on a non-competitive basis.
As Crookham Rovers celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022, the club looks forward to welcoming new players and supporters to continue growing and developing as a community-based football club. They also participate in The Football Association's “Respect” programme, which aims to combat unacceptable behaviour in the game at all levels, both on the pitch and from the sidelines.
Contact information for Crookham Rovers Football Club includes email addresses for the Secretary, Chairman, and Child Welfare Officer, ensuring that the club can be easily reached for inquiries and communication.
Through their commitment to providing a safe and enjoyable football experience for young players, Crookham Rovers has become a well-established and respected football club in the Farnborough community.