Hillyfielders FC

Hillyfielders Football Club is an FA affiliated youth football club located in Honour Oak Park, South East London. With training and teams for boys and girls aged 6 to 18 years old, Hillyfielders FC is dedicated to helping children develop their football skills and passion for the sport.

As members of the SELKENT Youth League, Hillyfielders FC competes with teams ranging from under 8s to under 18s on Sundays. Additionally, the club has recently joined the Tandridge League, with their under 12 and 15 girls teams participating in matches.

The club welcomes children of all abilities and provides Saturday morning training sessions that are open to all in the local community. The sessions cost 4 per session for new and unsigned players, with discounts available for siblings. For specific training times for each age group, interested individuals can contact the club. It is worth noting that some groups may already be at capacity, so it is advisable to reach out to the club in advance.

Hillyfielders FC is committed to ensuring that football remains accessible to as many local children as possible. To achieve this, they have set the lowest membership fees in the area, charging about half the amount that other clubs do. These affordable fees enable the club to give opportunities to players who may not have had a chance to participate in organised football otherwise. The club's ability to keep fees low is due to the dedication of their volunteers and the support of local sponsors and fundraising events.

Despite their lower fees, Hillyfielders FC maintains a high standard of youth player development and boasts an impressive number of FA Level One coaches.

Hillyfielders FC was established in 1999, originally based at Hillyfields in Brockley. In 2006, the club relocated to its current location at Honour Oak Park Sports Ground. While most training sessions are conducted at Honour Oak Park, matches are played at Honour Oak, Firhill Road in Bellingham, and Kings College Sports Ground in Honour Oak Park. The club has around 200 children training on Saturday mornings, with several teams also training during the week at various locations.

Hillyfielders FC is affiliated with the London FA and participates in the SELKENT league, where they currently have 19 teams competing in competitive leagues. The club takes pride in having restarted their girls' team since SELKENT discontinued their girls' football competition in 2006. The girls' team now plays in the Tandridge League and aims to continue the club's legacy, which began in 2003.

Central to Hillyfielders FC's ethos is their reliance on dedicated volunteers who manage and coach the teams, as well as serve on the committee to keep the club running smoothly. The club has an open door policy, ensuring that Saturday morning training sessions are available to children of all abilities in the local community. However, it is important to note that some age groups may already be at capacity and unable to accept new players. While the Sunday team selection process is more limited due to a set number of players required, most individuals who attend training consistently and show dedication have the opportunity to improve and make a team.

The club encourages open and honest communication between the Sunday team managers, parents, and players regarding team selection processes.