OUR STORY
Havant & Waterlooville Youth FC was Founded in 1963 as ‘Leigh Park United’ with its headquarters located at Leigh Park Community Center and home ground at Front Lawn Playing fields in Leigh Park.
Teams at that time were run from under 11’s though to Under 16’s, and the club dominated local football in the ‘Portsmouth District League’. In 1982 the League changed its name to the “Hargreaves Portsmouth Lads League” with the club continuing to win trophies at all age groups.
Numerous players from the club went on to play professional football, some examples being:
- Malcom Waldren – Southampton FC
- Billy Eames – Portsmouth FC
- Clive Green – Portsmouth FC
- Micheal Seymour – Southampton FC
- Duncan Prat – FC Haarlem
- Paul Wimbleton – Portsmouth FC
In 1994 The club changed its name to ‘Havant Town Boys’ and moved headquarters to West Leigh Park. Success in the local league and the Hampshire Cup continued and in 1999 the club changed its name to ‘Havant & Waterlooville Youth FC’ following the merger with Waterlooville FC.
Today the club runs teams from under 7’s to under 10’s in mini soccer, under 11’s through to under 16’s in the “South Hants Glass League”, we also have under 18’s competing in the ‘Hampshire Youth League’.
Since the 2010/11 season the club has moved back to its original home at Front Lawn Rec.
The club currently has numerous players on trial at all age groups and short term contracts with local professional clubs. Such is the loyalty of club officials that our current president John Carter, was the original ‘Leigh Park United’ chairman. John has given 37 years service to the club as Manager, Secretary, Chairman and president. John also serves on the league committee of ‘South Hants Glass Portsmouth League’.