Information

 

 

An Introduction  to:           Crawley Down Football Club

Ground:             Haven Sportsfield, Haven Centre, Crawley Down, West Sussex.

Facilities:           Include: Social Club, Hall, Meeting Rooms, Snooker etc.

Web site:            www.crawleydownfc.com

Crawley Down FC is heavily involved in promoting football from the young age of 5 years (U6) through to adult.  There are four adult teams including a Ladies Team, Youth Under 18 Teams and a full range of Junior youth sides starting at 5 years and ranging up to 16 years.

Adult

          1st X1        - Senior level football in the Sussex County Football League.

          2nd X1       - Intermediate football in the Sussex County Football League Reserve Section.

          3rd X1        - Junior football in the Mid Sussex Football League.

          Ladies X1  - Junior football in the Sussex County Women & Girls Football League.

The 1st Team’s Senior status is equivalent locally to Three Bridges, Oakwood and East Grinstead Town all of whom play in the Sussex County Football League.  Crawley Town FC being the most Senior team in the area.

Crawley Down however have strength in depth with complete integration of all the youth teams and we actively encourage our Youth Team players into 1st & 2nd team football if they have the skill and commitment to play at that level.   As many as nine former youth team players make that step up each season and others have played in 3rd team adult football.  With the introduction of Floodlights and hard standing at The Haven Centre we will be eligible to play in the FA Vase and also the FA Cup depending upon team results. This facility and also seating accommodation is also required by the 2006/7 season to keep us at the present Senior level.  (See note in Moving Forward below)

Youth

Youth Level is in football terms Under 18 and the Crawley Down Youth Team currently play in the Sussex County Youth League on Sundays.  With the introduction of Floodlights at The Haven Centre we hope to be entering a youth side in the Southern Youth Floodlight League probably playing on a Wednesday evenings.  Eventually teams will be eligible for the FA Youth Cup Competition.

Ladies

Our ladies team play Sunday afternoons and are well supported, they are now in their 6th season and progressing very well, this year they achieved a creditable 4th position their highest yet.  They play in Div One of the Sussex County Women & Girls Football League.

Junior

The Junior Youth or Minor section of the Club at present run teams from 5 years of age where the emphasis is mainly on having fun and training.  At Under 8 & 9 years the emphasis is on training but they also play 7-a-side friendly games each week either in the Crawley or Mid Sussex Youth leagues.  At U10 years the first real competitive football starts, playing 7-a-side football.  U11 is the first age group that teams play competitive 11-a-side football and this carries through the various age groups up to U16.  From U11 to U16 the teams generally play in the stronger Mid Sussex Youth & Minor League where they will be coached to a standard to progress eventually into the County Youth Side and then into adult football.

Support

The Ist team matches are very well supported and consistently home crowds out number teams playing in the 1st Division.   We play all over Sussex on top County Grounds and so sponsorship attracts a good deal of exposure.  Local Derby’s can attract as many as 400 people.  When the 1st X1 is doing well an average a 100+ gate is likely. 

Moving forward

At the end of February 2003 Crawley Down’s Committee decided with the new floodlights and hard standing soon to be installed, that the time had come to establish a Football Management and Coaching team to push the Club forward into County Division one.  With that aim in mind several appointments were made to secure probably the most sought after Manager/s and Coaches in the area.  These appointments will attract both players and further support to the Club, the end result being to provide a much more successful first team squad and generating success all the way down through the organisation of Youth, Ladies and Junior teams.  It is certain that the Teams success will generate more use of the Haven Centre and the Social Club and also bring in much needed business for those organisations and the Community of Crawley Down and surrounding villages.  Note: On going negotiations with Mid Sussex District Council over a lease arrangement continue, the final outcome will either see us continue at Senior level or unfortunately the Club will have to fold with the loss of the largest organisation for Sport especially the Youth in the Community and also an untold loss in revenue for the Crawley Down Social Club and The Haven centre.

Sponsorship

We are obviously looking for Major Sponsorship from local organisations to help us fulfil these aims.  We have the necessary infrastructure but funds are desperately needed to help us succeed.   The further we progress; the need for more or updated equipment and extra facilities rises exponentially, Ground maintenance equipment, Physiotherapy, Kit washing & training equipment are all areas that tend to be easily forgotten.  We would also like to be able to build new changing rooms a storage area, seated stand and fitness centre in the future.  Major Sponsorship will also gain from coverage in local papers either from Football Club press releases, Match reports or Sponsors own advertisements. 

What can we do for Sponsors?

Networking opportunities for businesses are huge, there’s the infrastructure within the Club as well as the large catchment area.  Local businesses will benefit from contacts and recommendations from within.  Plummer’s, Carpenters, Builders etc literally hundreds of small businesses are either Players, Supporters or Parents.  There is always somebody who knows how or where to get that job done no matter how small or large it may be.

The Catchment area covers the majority of Sussex and Surrey, opportunities arise for Companies to advertise at home games and this can be extended to away matches if kit sponsorship is part of a deal.  Companies advertising special deals for Crawley Down supporters ‘who produce a current programme’ will further increase their chances of attracting the local community to their business.  Restaurants, Pubs, Car purchase/servicing, Sports & Fitness Clubs, Hotels, Retailing, UPVC products, Discount buying etc. etc. All these and many other businesses could benefit.

Although its attractive to offer Sponsorship to develop ones own trade, Sponsorship is also very attractive in being seen to be helping to support facilities amongst the local Community and many indirect opportunities and recognition can come from that.   

We can offer

Sponsorship:  In the form of Club or Team sponsorship. One or more Teams, Senior/Youth/Ladies or Junior.  Sponsors names printed on team strip, Home/Away or both.  Match Ball Sponsorship, Player sponsorship, MOM, Pitch side & Ground Equipment, Training bibs, Presentation Evenings & Medals etc.

Advertising:   Kit Bags, Tracksuits, T Shirts, Caps, Programme (Full, Half, & Quarter page), Newsletter, Pitch side boards, Etc.

Internet:         We have our own well-used and interactive Web site, various advertisements and links to your own business web sites can be created.  This has UK & World wide advertising advantages; we regularly get contacted from outside the UK.

All these or other possible opportunities will be negotiable as many variations could be applied depending upon the needs of the Sponsor, Advertiser and Crawley Down Football Club.