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22 07 2025

2025 RRJFC Chairman Newsletter

Hi all,

I hope you are all well and having a good break.

I’m incredibly proud to have completed my first year as Chairman, and I want to extend a heartfelt thank you
to all our coaches, managers, and committee members for their tireless work this season. Your dedication is
what keeps our club thriving, and I’m excited to continue working with you to build on this success.
A huge thank you also goes to all the parents – for your commitment to getting children to matches, your
ongoing support, and your help volunteering across key events. And of course, to our sponsors, whose
contributions have helped fund kits and supported our annual tournament – you make a real difference.

Club Successes This Season

Sometimes it’s easy to forget how much we’ve achieved, so I’d like to take a moment to reflect on some of
the season’s highlights:

Annual Tournament

Another fantastic tournament weekend, blessed with great weather and our biggest turnout yet in terms of teams, attendees, and funds raised.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered, and a special mention to Rhys Hackling, Anne Stonehewer, and
Victoria Ashby for their exceptional contributions.

Coaches Match

This was a brilliant, fun-filled event with some quality football and a fantastic atmosphere to celebrate our
U16s. They secured a 4–2 win (despite a rather dubious second half penalty decision!).
We wish all our U16 players the very best in their future endeavours – whether continuing with the Allied Counties team, the U17 Juniors, or wherever life takes them.

Chiltern Comets

We proudly launched Chiltern Comets, a pan-disability team for 6–12 year olds, in collaboration with four local clubs. While two clubs have since stepped back, we’re now welcoming 30+ children – up from just 5 in September.

We were thrilled to include the Comets in our annual tournament for the first time. A massive thank you to
Callula Ashby for leading this inspiring initiative. I can’t wait to see how it grows next season and beyond.

Heart Screenings

In early 2025, we hosted a heart screening event in partnership with Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), aimed
at 14–35 year olds. Around 100 people took part, and notably, six were referred for further medical review –
powerfully underlining the importance of this kind of preventative initiative.

Huge thanks to Lucy Caille for organising this vital event. We plan to run another in the future
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On Field Successes

We have had a hugely successful season on the pitch across all of age groups and it’s great to share what we’ve achieved across these teams. In addition to the above we’ve had multiple finalists across tournaments, however couldn’t fit them all in!

2025-2026 Annual Registration Fees

I think that we can all agree that the move to Pitchero from Love Admin proved a big plus for us this season and after some minor tweaks we will continue to use Pitchero as our registration system. Updates will be shared by your age group managers on when you can re-register.

The fees for the 2025-2026 season are as follows:

£100 (Prev £90) 1st Child, £60 (Prev £55) 2nd Child, £35 (Prev £30) 3rd Child

These fees are the club’s primary source of income and go directly toward essential costs such as kit and equipment, pitch maintenance, grass cutting, line marking, and access to facilities. While our costs have increased significantly, we’ve worked hard to keep any rise in fees to a minimum to ensure registration remains affordable for all families.

Please remember: Pitchero offers a monthly payment option if that suits your budget better. If you’re facing financial difficulties, don’t hesitate to speak in confidence with your age group manager – we’re here to help and ensure no child misses out.

We’d also kindly ask that everyone tries to register during the summer break, as early registration helps us prepare properly for the season ahead.

Finally, please check your Pitchero notification settings to ensure you’re set up to receive club updates. We only send out important messages and will never spam your inbox.

Junior/Senior Club Updates

Over the last two seasons we’ve worked hard to align the Junior and Senior clubs under a single OneClub vision. This began with the alignment of the club badge two seasons ago. While we’ve been united in appearance, operationally we’ve still been functioning independently – missing out on valuable financial and operational opportunities as a result.

Over the past year, we’ve been carefully exploring how a true integration would work. These discussions have now resulted in the creation of an Executive Team to oversee the entire club operation, and we’re pleased to confirm that the Junior and Senior clubs are now legally merged into one entity.

Is this a snap decision?

Not at all. Conversations around this change began nearly two years ago. Over the past year especially, my priority has been making sure the Junior division is not only safeguarded but also set up to thrive with increased support and greater opportunities.

We’re already seeing the benefits: from gathering at the Clubhouse to watch the Women’s Euro Championship, to launching our first-ever summer camp at the Kamtech Stadium (limited places available – sign up HERE!) and having our Allied Counties team now using Kamtech as their home ground. These are just a few early signs of how we’re already growing stronger together as OneClub.

Why have we done this?

Becoming a single legal entity unlocks greater access to funding and support from the FA. This includes opportunities for clubhouse refurbishment, ground improvements, and new equipment – all of which benefit the entire club community.

Will this impact Junior club finances?

No. The Juniors will continue to be fully supported. The newly formed executive team includes balanced representation from both Juniors and Seniors. Our current Junior Treasurer will now serve as Club CFO, with full responsibility for setting and managing budgets that ensure our young players get everything they need – while also helping us become more financially efficient.

The executive team also includes individuals with deep roots in the club – people who’ve been part of the journey from Minis to Allied Counties, and even into the First Team. This diverse experience ensures all areas of the club are understood and supported.

Key Dates for the 2024/2025 Calendar

• 6th September 2025 – Official start of football training for the club
• 7th September 2025 – First matches of the season
• 24th April 2026 – Annual U16s vs Coaches match
• 3rd May 2026 – Presentation Day
• 9th and 10th May 2026 – RRJFC Annual Tournament

Wishing everyone a lovely summer break and look forward to seeing you all in the 2025/2026 season.

Best Regards,
Dan

12 06 2025

Risborough Rangers Junior Football Club 2025 AGM

The Risborough Rangers Junior Football Club 2025 Annual General Meeting will be held at 8pm on Thursday 3 July 2025 at the Senior Ground at Horsenden. All members and parents of our players are welcome to attend. The election of club officials for the 2025/26 period will take place at this meeting.

If you would like further details at all of this meeting then please email the Club Secretary at rrjfc.secretary@gmail.com

10 06 2024

Risborough Rangers Junior Football Club 2024 AGM

The Risborough Rangers Junior Football Club 2024 Annual General Meeting will be held at 8pm on Thursday 4 July 2024 at the Senior Ground at Horsenden. All members and parents of our players are welcome to attend. The election of club officials for the 2024/25 period will take place at this meeting.

If you would like further details at all of this meeting then please email the Club Secretary at rrjfc.secretary@gmail.com

25 08 2023

Girls Football Drop-In Sessions this September

Join us for our Girls.

Football drop-in sessions:

Monday 4th & 11th September
5-6pm 9-11yrs & 6-7:15 12-15 yrs
Wades Park HP27 9AX

Girls are permitted to play junior football in both mixed and girls-only teams. At Risborough Rangers we are committed to building up girls-only football.
We welcome girls of all footballing abilities, with coaching provided by FA-qualified coaches.

Our ethos is to have fun by creating a safe, social environment in football. We aim to develop a player’s skills, self-confidence, and overall enjoyment of participating in sport and exercise.

For more details please email: rrjfc.girlsfootball@gmail.com

13 06 2023

2023 Annual General Meeting

The 2023 Annual General Meeting of Risborough Rangers Junior Football Club will take place at 8pm on Thursday 6 July 2023 at the Senior Ground, Horsenden. Members of the club and parents of those who play for the club are very welcome to attend. At the AGM we will be electing the following officials for the year to come – Chairman, Club Secretary, Treasurer, Fixture Secretary, and our three Vice-Chairmen. If you have any queries in relation to our AGM or wish for more information then please do not hesitate to contact our current Club Secretary at rrjfc.secretary@gmail.com‘

24 02 2020

THE FA ANNOUNCE UPDATED HEADING GUIDANCE

The Football Association [The FA] has today announced updated Heading Guidance for all age groups between Under 6 and Under 18, in association with the Irish and Scottish FAs.

The updated Heading Guidance, which will be introduced immediately, will provide grassroots Clubs, Coaches and Players With the recommended heading guidance for training sessions. The Guidance does not make any changes to the way matches are played.

Following the publication of The FA and PFA joint-funded FIELD study in October 2019, The FA established the independently-chaired Research Taskforce to guide on possible changes to heading coaching, review concussion management protocols, and advise on future research projects.

Find out more here at theFA.com

Although there was no evidence in the FIELD study to suggest that heading the ball was the cause to the link with incidence of degenerative neurocognitive disease, to mitigate against any potential risks, the updated Heading Guidance has been produced in parallel with UEFA’s Medical Committee, which is seeking to publish Europe-wide guidelines later this year. The Irish FA and the Scottish FA will also adopt the same Heading Guidance.

The updated Heading Guidance includes:

• Heading Guidance in training for all age groups between Under 6 and Under 18

• No heading in training in the foundation phase [primary school children]

• Graduated approach to heading training for children in the development phase between Under 12 to Under 16

• Required ball sizes for training and matches for each age group

• No changes to heading in matches, taking into consideration the limited number of headers in youth games

FA Chief Executive, Mark Bullingham, said: “This updated Heading Guidance is an evolution of our current guidelines and will help coaches and teachers to reduce and remove repetitive and unnecessary heading from youth football. Our research has shown that heading is rare in youth football matches, so this guidance is a responsible development to our grassroots coaching without impacting the enjoyment that children of all ages take from playing the game.”

Irish FA Chief Executive, Patrick Nelson, said:”Our football committee has reviewed and approved the new guidelines. As an association we believe this is the right direction of travel and are confident it will be good for the game, and those who play it.”

Scottish FA Chief Executive, Ian Maxwell, said: “While it is important to re-emphasise there is no research to suggest that heading in younger age groups was a contributory factor in the findings of the FIELD study into professional footballers, nevertheless Scottish football has a duty of care to young people, their parents and those responsible for their wellbeing throughout youth football.

“The updated guidelines are designed to help coaches remove repetitive and unnecessary heading from youth football in the earliest years, with a phased introduction at an age group considered most appropriate by our medical experts. It is important to reassure that heading is rare in youth football matches, but we are clear that the guidelines should mitigate any potential risks.

“I would like to thank our colleagues at the English FA for their collaboration in this process and UEFA’s Medical Committee for their guidance.”

Download the updated heading guidance

Q&A – Updated heading guidance

19 02 2020

FIFAR – Support local youth club

FIFAR supports Risborough youth club by supplying new Dart board and electronic score board.

THE IMPORTANCE OF RISBOROUGH YOUTH CLUB:

Being part of a group can help young people develop important personal and interpersonal skills. These include the ability to think critically and solve problems, and the assumption of personal and group responsibility.
It can also help young people gain self-confidence and self-esteem. Contributing to a group can help them see themselves as being able to really help other people, and having something important to offer.
It can help reduce the risk of becoming involved in unsafe activities, such as using drugs and alcohol. Being involved in community activities has been shown to be a protective factor–that is, it helps young people to make healthy choices. That’s because by being involved in an organization, they can develop a “safe” identity, and are less likely to participate in unsafe activities (such as becoming sexually active before they are ready) to feel they belong.
Young people involved in organizations can develop job skills, including organization, the ability to run meetings, and experience working with a wide variety of people. These skills that young people learn from being part of a group can help them be better prepared for any job they might choose.
Often, organizations give youth a “safe space” that they wouldn’t have otherwise–a place where they can express themselves through arts and activities, or just by being able to talk openly with peers and caring adults.
Youth organizations offer opportunities for leadership that young people might not get otherwise.
Young people involved in organizations can receive information on staying safe and healthy from their peers or adults they know and respect. They then pass on this information to other young people. In this way, youth organizations offer a credible way for young people to learn about staying healthy, because they can learn about it from friends they admire, rather than adults or other outsiders whose opinions they might not value.
Young people can develop a strong support network of other young people who make healthy choices, and who can help convince them to stay healthy, too.

ADVANTAGES FOR THE COMMUNITY:

Youth organizations can help change public perception of young people from being “the problem” to an important part of making life better in the community.
Involving young people in the community helps them see themselves as part of the whole; they really do become less likely to cause problems and more likely to want to look for solutions.
By involving young people, the community is allowing them to carefully develop their leadership potential, so that as they grow and learn they can become thoughtful, prepared leaders of the society.
Other community organizations can often partner with youth organizations, to mutual benefit. Young people can bring a tremendous amount of life to an organization; often, their energy, enthusiasm, creativity, and perspective are invaluable to members of larger community initiatives that choose to actively involve them.

12 01 2020

U13’s Match Day Experience

RRJFC U13’s experience a match day experience hosted by our very own 1^st team at the BEP stadium. Mark Eaton (1^st Team manager) and his team gave our u13’s a training session on the day when the senior club was playing a match therefore they got to see the tactics board prior to the match and meet all the 1^st team players .

Great day out and a big thank you to our 1^st team who are currently top in their division.

08 01 2020

FIFAR Sponsored Walk

Max Gray (Under 12s), was lucky enough to raise the most money for the FIFAR Sponsored walk. Which is a great community charity supporting local schools.

Andy Quigley promised to get tickets to a Premier League game of anyone’s choice and we picked the Manchester Derby.

It was a great game of football, with United winning 2-1. Good football was played, and it was like watching RRFC under 12s!!

Thank you to Andy Quigley and everyone at Risborough Rangers for a great day

08 01 2020

Beth Mead , England and Arsenal professional footballer visits Risborough Rangers and surprizes our Pan Disability team. Copy

Beth Mead believes it’s time to tear down misconceptions about disability

Christmas came early for the Risborough Rangers pan-disability Junior Club when Mead surprised them with the new accessible HONOR 9x smartphone.

The phone includes a groundbreaking PocketVision app making it easier for partially sighted people to read text more clearly.

The England winger said: “Football helped build my confidence as a young girl.

“I’m actually working with some individuals at the moment to learn more about myself as a player.

“I’ve dug a bit deeper into how I am as a person off the pitch and how I am on it.

“I don’t actually realise that maybe I’m different when I’m playing until someone has actually picked up on it.

“When I’m on the grass I’m confident I show who I am as a person whether it’s in a shot that I take or a skill I do.

Visually impaired YouTuber and team coach Ricky West gave Mead and the team a smartphone masterclass

“It’s so important that sport is open to everyone and HONOR is helping these young disabled people build their own self-belief and leadership skills.”

Mead, from Whitby, North Yorkshire, is currently recovering from a badly bruised leg after a crunching tackle in the Gunners’ 3-1 win at Everton.

The table toppers have scored a whopping 73 goals in just 19 games across all competitions so far this season and it has been a landmark year for Mead.

She was part of the record breaking North London Derby in Novemeber which saw 31,213 fans at the new Tottenham Stadium – the highest ever WSL crowd.

And will cherish the memory of playing in front of over 77,000 fans at Wembley in the Lionesses’ disappointing 2-1 defeat to Germany in the same month.

The new PocketVision app helps partially sighted people to read.

Credit: Alamy Live News

2026 TOURNAMENT ENTRIES OPEN

RISBOROUGH RANGERS JFC