A message from our Chairman

I would like to personally welcome all Players, Parents and Supporters to Bedford Panthers FC. It is with pleasure that I welcome all the players who have signed to play for Bedford Panthers FC for the new 2010/11 season.

The club, Bedford Panthers FC (BPFC) was founded in 2004 and is affiliated to the Bedfordshire FA and holds the FA Charter Standard Status accreditation.

The Club continues to expand every season, and we are proud to offer football development opportunities in grass roots football for both boys and girls ranging from 7 years to 15 years old from Bedford and the surrounding areas.

In addition to this I am pleased to confirm that we have formed an adults team (ex Goldington FC) in 2009/10 season. This will provide a pathway for our players to continue playing football at the end of their youth football.

This season we will be running mini soccer teams at under 10 and 11’s age groups in the Filmergraphics League. We will be running teams in the Chiltern League from U11 to U15’s. The adults team will be competing in the Michael R Peters Bedford District Sunday Football League.

There are many benefits that the club can offer players looking to be involved in our club.

All our managers and coaches are CRB Enhanced certified and as a minimum FA Level 1 qualified, with some of our managers and coaches FA Level 2 qualified.

I am delighted to announce our affiliation to the Group Ticketing Scheme with the MK Dons, allowing players and family members hugely discounted rates to the first team home games.

The club is insured through the Beds FA, which covers the club and players for public liability.

From September 2008, all Club volunteers, who have direct access to the players within the Club, will by Law, have to be CRB checked via the Football Association. I am pleased to confirm that Jermaine Burroughs has taken on the role of Child Welfare Officer. If you have any concerns or questions you wish to raise on this topic, or any other Club Welfare matter, please contact Jermaine Burroughs on 07834 532789.

Over the years the club has had a good disciplinary record. We wish to maintain this high standard, particularly as we have Charter Standard Status, so please take the time to read and familiarise yourselves with the codes of conduct.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of any local community youth football club, Bedford Panthers FC welcomes any interest from adults who feel able to assist in the running of the club, be it in a coaching capacity with one of the teams, or administrative capacity, helping with things such as press advertising, fund-raising, schools liaison or other administrative functions of the club. The Club can provide/arrange training courses in football coaching, first aid & treatment of injuries, child welfare, club administration etc, through the County Football Association. If you are interested in becoming more involved with Bedford Panthers FC, then please contact me.

I wish all of our teams playing this season the very best of luck and I do hope you enjoy the coming season. Remember it is not always about winning that counts, it’s about the taking part and enjoyment our players get out of the game.

Best wishes,

Dave Farooqui

Chairman

Email : dave@bedfordpanthersfc.co.uk