“Combining excellence in the community with excellence on the pitch”
Berkhamsted Raiders CFC has become one of the most successful and respected youth football clubs in the country, and in Europe! Last Season, Raiders were awarded the Herts FA Charter Standard Community Club of the Year 2016/17 for the fifth time, and in 2015/16, Raiders won the UEFA European Grassroots Club of the Year – Silver Award. The awards recognise the magnificent work that Raiders volunteers put into running the club – the Trustees of the Charity, Committee Members, Age Group Coordinators, Managers, Assistant Managers, Coaches, Parent Representatives, Match Day Delegates and parents who make this Club what it is. We receive great support from our local schools, Ashlyns in particular, in making Raiders a true Community Club.
In 2022/2023, we will provide sport for a record number of members – over 1,300 boys and girls playing football in 94 teams from U7 to U18, plus a Ladies team, a Veterans team, Senior team, and initiatives for Walking Football, Futsal and Inclusive Football. Our fastest growing section is Girls Football – our priority in terms of the club’s development where we aim to grow our number of girls playing football to 500 by 2025.
Club aims and ethos
The Club is a registered Charity which has the following objectives:
- To promote community participation in healthy recreation by providing facilities for playing football.
- To advance the education of children and young people.
At Raiders, we play competitive football but we measure our success by the enjoyment and involvement of children from our local community, not just by winning Leagues and Cups. Our philosophy can best be summed up as:
“Combining excellence in the community with excellence on the pitch”
As a club, we encourage all parents to support good play, and sportsmanship, irrespective of which team is playing and we praise effort and performance more than results.
- The club will provide football for as many children and young adults as possible. No child will be prevented from joining the club on grounds of ability. This is a fundamental commitment as an FA Accredited Community Club. The Club gives priority to children living in the Berkhamsted and Northchurch community and those attending local schools, irrespective of ability.
- Each member will be encouraged to develop to the best of their ability in terms of football skills, athleticism, fitness, and tactics, and also as coaches and referees. All teams will play every game with a desire to win but within the “spirit of the game” as well as to the rules. Good sportsmanship will be considered an essential part of Raiders membership and for all teams, regardless of the competition being played.
- Raiders supports a “soccer for all” philosophy, but we are still keen to build the strength of our sides and develop an A team (known as the Reds) at all age groups that can win League and Cup medals. For each age group, Raiders runs a Red team that is selected on ability and is aimed at the strongest players.
- The players who make up our squads change on an annual basis as children develop and mature, as players join the club and as formats move from 5v5, to 7v7 to 9v9 and finally to 11v11. We encourage movement between teams within an age group. Children may play in a different team each year. The Club has a Squad Selection Policy which all players and parents are expected to “buy in” to when joining the club.
An FA 3 Star Accredited Community Club
As an FA Accredited Community Club, we operate to the highest standards set by the FA for youth football clubs. We take the FA Accredited and Community Standards very seriously, and all players, managers, coaches and spectators are expected to adhere to our codes of conduct and to the FA Respect guidelines.
We are 100% committed to supporting the FA’s plans for the development of youth football, and have led the way in implementing the proposals within the FA plan.
Support FA Respect
As an FA Accredited Community Club, we expect the highest standards of conduct from our players, parents and supporters. We are passionate supporters of the FA Respect campaign. We ask that you keep this in mind as you support your Raiders team. Always remember that football is there for the enjoyment of the kids, whether they win or lose.
Codes of conduct
The Club has Codes of Conduct for Players, Coaches, Parents, Senior Players, and Club Officials. Make sure that you and your children read them!
These are available for download here
We also have a Safeguarding Children Policy, Protection Policy, an Anti-Discrimination Policy, an Anti-Bullying Policy, an Internet Safety Policy, a Purchasing Policy, a Squad Selection Policy and Process, Photography Guidelines, a Complaints and Disciplinary Procedure, Goalpost Safety Guidelines, and guidance on the use of social networks, email and SMS with youth players.
These are all available for download here