About Us

Willingdon Athletic Youth FC is an FA affiliated England Football Accredited Club located at Huggetts Lane Recreational Ground, Willingdon, East Sussex.

Willingdon Athletic FC has been in existence since 1918 and the Youth section was re-established in 2017 by Gary Norwood and his partner Laura Dempster, with a strong Under 14s team.

The Youth section has continued to grow and at the start of the 2022-23 season the Club has 13 league teams across various age groups and 2 further development squads. The teams play in the Southern Combination League, Mid Sussex Youth, Crowborough and Sussex Sunday Leagues and adhere to FA and Sussex FA rules and codes of conduct.

Our home matches are played at Huggetts Lane, Hailsham Community College and Willingdon Community School. Summer training sessions are at Huggetts Lane. Winter training is at various locations, we use outside pitches at Eastbourne Sports Park, Hampden Park Sports Centre and Hailsham Community College and some teams have indoor sessions at Willingdon Community School.

We hold an annual 6 a side tournament in May, covering all ages from mini kickers to U18s. 

The aim of the club is to provide qualified Managers and Coaches enabling every child or young person to develop to their full potential. Maintaining strong links with our senior teams provides our players the opportunity to develop into adult football and the Senior section with a pool of young talent. 

Our Commitment

• All youth teams are managed by at least one FA Level 1 qualified coach
• All adult volunteers are Enhanced DBS checked
• All coaches are First Aid Certified members
• All team coaches and committee members hold the FA Safeguarding Children Certificate
• Policies for coaches, volunteers, players and parents/supporters
• Club adheres strictly to all FA Safeguarding and Respect programmes and policies