29 March to 1 April 2024

Over the Easter weekend this year members of our teams travelled to Belgium. We stayed in De Haan at the Centre Parc complex. This was our base for travelling to KSK Steenbrugge football club in Belgium for the cup tournament.

We travelled by coach after a very early start the day before. At the ground we received a very enthusiastic ‘welcome back’. The tournament is very much a lottery in terms of the strength of teams we faced. We played 8 a side. We had one substitute for the Lions. Some teams fielded one or two players that were up to two years in age above. So we were up against it with rather large players and teams of Academy standard. The structure of the leagues and rounds were such that teams streamed into similar strengths as the two days progressed.

Whilst our results were not so positive we ended on a high with a win. The way both our teams integrated and rooted for each other as time went on was something to celebrate. The singing and chanting of the Panthers for the Lions was amazing to witness. This was particularly so when a blended team of Panthers and Lions (many teams did this) took on Rotterdam Academy. They were a well drilled quality side. They were quite physical. Despite losing our boys stood against them with courage and determination. This has gone down in our teams ‘folklore’ as a defining moment in each of our teams playing history.

As Easter was early the weather was wet but at least it dried enough to enjoy the medieval city of Bruges before returning home. At Centre Parc  the lads were able to enjoy the swimming pool complex. We held a medal ceremony on our last night after a meal.

The main benefit of the trip was the shared experience of travelling to a new land to play football. The whole experience will have been an enriching experience for all of our players. They made many lasting memories and had a great deal of fun. Whilst they were two separate teams they came together as one by the end of the trip.

Thank you to the club for affording all of us this opportunity through its generosity.

Phil Malyon, Tour Organiser

16 February 2024, Steyning Town FC 

Four of the Crofton Saints U9 Lionesses represented the Chelsea Foundation today at Steyning Town FC in a league format tournament. Their team won the tournament with 4 wins and 2 draws playing against local teams from the Chelsea Foundation in the Sussex area.

Well done girls.

26 November 2023, Superstar Sports Tournament

Crofton Saints U7 Tigers played at the Superstar Sports tournament this weekend in Southampton and ran out winners so well done to all the boys that played, and the managers of course!

27 April 2023, Fareham Town FC 

Our adult first team who have just retained the first division title for the second year played in the final of the PDFA Victory Cup at Fareham Town on Thursday 27 April.

Steady rain all evening made conditions slightly challenging, but a good game was played between two evenly matched teams. Crofton Saints applied early pressure on the Wicor Mill goal, however it was Wicor Mill that took the lead with a good run and finish by their left winger, Bailey Steele. Crofton Saints found their equaliser with a well taken free kick from Dillon North and the teams went in level at half-time.

The second half started with Wicor Mill coming out and applying pressure on the Crofton goal, and 15 minutes into the second half our first team were punished once again by Bailey Steele, who tucked the ball home from close range. Wicor then with 15 minutes to play, had their right back sent off after a second yellow card, which gave Crofton a renewal of hope and we began to push for an equaliser in the final 10 minutes of the game. A minute into added time saw Danny Burns take a short corner to Dillon North who crossed and it was met by Harvey Clark who headed goalwards with the Wicor goalkeeper failing to stop the header and the ball crossed the line, making it 2-2. The final whistle followed shortly afterwards, so penalties would be required to decide the winners.

Crofton took first with Dillon North scoring with Wicor equalising. Then Ben Crosswell scored again with Wicor equalising. Darby Thomas took the third, which was scored but Wicor saw their third penaltiy saved with a fine effort by Crofton keeper Liam Lavin diving to his left. Connor Allen then scored Crofton's fourth (his first touch of the game!) followed with Wicor scoring their third after having the penalty retaken when Lavin saved, but was ajudged to have moved off his line too soon. That left the score at 4-3 to Crofton with one penalty a piece to take. Kacper Nasiadka stepped up and made no mistake, scoring Crofton's fifth penalty and winning the cup!

Starting Lineup: Liam Lavin, George Clark, Ash Simmonds, Dean Fitton, Pat Hilton, Malin Bowman, Darby Thomas, Ben Crosswell, Billy Broadway (C), Harvey Clark, Dillon North. Substitutes: Harry Preston, Connor Allen, Danny Burns, Ben Stanley, Kacper Nasiadka.

Final Score: Wicor Mill 2 - 2 Crofton Saints, Crofton Saints win 5-3 after penalties.

8-9 April 2023

Robbie Burns took his U15 Lions on tour to Bruges, Belgium last weekend to take part in the Bruges Open 2023 held at the home of KSK Steenbrugge.

Robbie said "I have to say I’ve just had one of the best weekends of my life!! From start to finish it was amazing, no traumas, we played our best football of the season, the parents were amazing and the team bonding was off the chart. The tournament and the officials were different class I’ve had selfies with managers, refs, other teams and videos galore."

That's a glowing report for the tournament, participants and don't forget the organiser, Stuart at ISL Football Tours.

Click here to see some more pictures from the tournament...

8-9 April 2023

Richard Smith and Tony Brown also took their team, the U12 Panthers on tour to the same tournament as the U15 Lions at KSK Steenbrugge in Bruges, Belgium.

Click here to see some more pictures from the tournament...