Ahead of the youth season, Needham Market Football Club have made some changes to the structure of the club. Robert Peace (Academy Director) has been appointed as Youth & Female Chair. Alongside this appointment, two Vice Chair’s have been appointed with Freya Louis as Female Vice Chair and Roger Oakley as Youth Vice Chair.
This move is due to the increased provision within the youth and female sections of the club, and it is important NMFC continue to strive forward offering some of the best provision in the county. On Robert’s appointment, he said: “I am honoured to be appointed as Chair for the Youth and Female Provision within the club. We are very proud of the facilities and environment we provide players to best reach their potential. This further enhancement within the club represents the progress we have made in a short space of time and the continued development we wish to make.”
Robert was influential in the introduction of youth and female provision in the club and the move will continue him to oversee the teams and enhance the pathway into the academy and senior teams. Needham Market FC has a successful female provision with an U14 girls’ team and two senior women’s teams, with the first team playing the highest level of non-league football in Suffolk. The youth boys’ teams include the four Eastern Junior Alliance teams (U13-U16’s) and the Junior Premier League U16 team that reached a national final last season.
Freya Louis will have more responsibility within the female provision for the senior teams, youth girls and Wildcats allowing her enthusiasm and knowledge to best drive female provision forward in the club. Roger Oakley is vastly experienced within youth football, and this will be well suited to continuing the success the junior teams have brought to the club in recent years. Kim Harding has also been appointed fixtures secretary and James Mant will continue in his role overseeing matches at Bloomfields on a Sunday.
Keith Nunn, who continues as Chairman for the adult provision said: “This is an important step for the club and ensures we continue our upward trend with the women’s and youth teams. This appointment also reflects our one-club ethos to allow individuals of any age and gender to enjoy football at Bloomfields.”