Three Bridlington-based football clubs have joined forces to make the future even brighter for players and all involved in the clubs.
Peter Smurthwaite who is the Chairman of Bridlington Town Football Club, was full of enthusiasm after hearing the news of the new three- club alliance.
In a statement to the Echo he said:
“We are pleased to announce we have made an agreement with Burlington Jackdaws and Bridlington Rovers to be part of a pathway to Bridlington Town AFC with Bridlington Rovers Lions becoming the Bridlington Town reserve team and play in the Humber Premier League Division 1 and will play under the name of Bridlington Town Rovers, they will be coached by Steve Lister who will be assisted by Mark Pratley and Paul Webb, home games will be played at Queensgate.”
“I am pleased we are able to link up with these two well respected community clubs our own investment in the new clubhouse was to help us invest more in the local community, this fits in well with the other initiatives involving the community with the “Run with it” School’s programme and “Andy’s Man Club” and the hiring of rooms for teaching purposes.”
“We will be looking to encourage young players in the town to be able to aspire to wanting to play for the first team.”
Brett Agnew and his assistants will also be holding occasional coaching sessions at the Bridlington CYP.
“We are now able to share facilities which will benefit all three clubs.”
“We would like to thank Terry Finney, John Kenney, Kevin Grantham and Nick Tudor for their time involved with the reserves and county teams.”
John Kenney will continue as a link between the clubs.
“We will be looking to organise some pre-season friendlies to be played at Queensgate.”
“Bridlington Rovers have worked hard over the last 5 years to make the step from junior to senior football as simple as possible. This was further evident in the recent partnership with Burlington Jackdaws, which has seen Rovers move into youth football. Rovers see working with Bridlington Town as the obvious next step in the football pathway and puts the final link in place that should benefit all 3 clubs Nick Sunley, Bridlington Rovers Club Development Officer said “Bridlington Rovers are pleased to be working together with Burlington Jackdaws and Bridlington Town, the clubs growth within the area is evident to see and it’s a natural for these clubs to come together to hopefully produce players from this area to play at the best possible level”
Burlington Jackdaws chairman Chris Kirkham is delighted with the latest developments which will see the club now become the first step of a pathway that can give young every player an aim to play in the Bridlington Town 1st team. “Things won’t happen overnight and the process will take time, with a clear strategy for each player with a local ambition including retaining players at adult level whilst hoping to provide the club with more Bridlington based players for the spectators to find an affinity to and support. As a club we will turn our full attention to the primary school ages, working with schools on recruitment at U7/8, and work with the Bridlington sports partnership on ‘an inter schools football league’, with the age groups of Under 9/10/11 before a transition into Bridlington Rovers once in secondary school.To be able to work with these two clubs ensuring we have a clear vision for footballers in the town had always been the aim for Burlington Jackdaws, in which we can now help build deliver and present to our young players and coaches.”
