New Southern Counties East League First Division club AFC Greenwich Borough have made a tremendous start to the season on the pitch, but there is so much more going on behind the scenes.

Following last Saturday’s match they sit in second place in the Southern Counties East Football League Division One table having started with a draw before winning their next nine matches. Only Rochester United are ahead of them with ten wins out of ten.

At present, the men’s first team are playing at Holmesdale’s Oakley Road facilities but the club is looking to build a ground of their own at the former RACS ground on the Eltham / New Eltham borders. However, the GB10 Sports Site will not just be a ground for men’s first team football. It’s going to be a hub for the community. The Women’s First Team played their first league match there earlier in October.

Owners, Garry Fiore and Brett Smith have worked together for many years and became shareholders and board directors of Welling United CIC in 2017. They set up a Welling United FC Academy CIC six months later to implement an academy structure for the 2018-19 season. This has grown significantly and was transitioned into AFC Greenwich Borough in May this year.

Already in place is an established youth academy with 34 boys teams and 22 girls teams. There are over 225 players in full time education and football in their Under 19s Scholarship Programme, licensed by the National League. They have a pre-academy for boys and girls from 3 to 6 years of age. 

Chairman, Paul Whitehead, is working hard on implementing the plans at the facility. These include two FIFA approved 3G pitches which will have fencing, floodlights, and spectator viewing with proposed covered standing and seating areas. There will also be six grass pitches including one full sized and others that will allow for 5v5, 7v7, and 9v9 games.

Six Padel Tennis courts will include one for wheelchairs. The clubhouse already includes a bar and changing rooms that will be the envy of many clubs at higher levels, and work is continuing on staff offices, classrooms, media room, gym and a rehabilitation/wellness suite.

Whitehead is loving his involvement with the club and said “I feel privileged to be chairman of this club. I’m really excited about the journey ahead as there is so much potential here. It’s great to be able to help young players progress from academy football to adult football at a senior club. The club’s inclusivity for local people and general charity support is very important to me as well.” 

All at the club are passionate about the community side which includes the deaf disability teams that were introduced three years ago. Walking Football will be played there and they will be hosting the first wheelchair football match on a grass pitch before becoming the London hub for wheelchair football. The club’s community programme includes partnerships with the Chartwell Children’s Cancer Trust, SE9 Nutrition, Market Traders and two local primary schools.

On Saturday, 2nd November, they will host a fireworks spectacular with the gates at New Eltham opening at 5pm. There will be a live DJ, glow toys, a lucky dip and food and drink. The event is designed to raise funds for Chartwell and Wyborne Primary School.

Having a first team was important to GB10 Sports to provide a pathway for their youngsters. Mason Burstow came through their ranks before a brief spell at Maidstone United was followed by signing for Charlton Athletic. He then went to Chelsea and made two first team appearances before being loaned back to Charlton, and then Sunderland. He was then transferred to Hull City and is currently on loan at Bolton Wanderers.

Caleb Kphora was another who came through the academy before signed by Crystal Palace at the age of fifteen. He broke into their first team last season and has recently secured a new five year deal.

David Kamara played for Welling United’s first team before moving to Peterborough United. He is currently on loan at King’s Lynn Town. Other players to come through the academy include Cameron Andrews, now at Lewes, while Borough players Javarn Pitterson and Brad Ryan both played first team games for Welling. 

Former Erith Town, VCD Athletic, Cray Wanderers, Lewes and Ramsgate manager, Tony Russell, has joined the club taking on the Director of Football role, whilst Academy Director Tom McNamee, and Stefan Payne, add experience to the first team to assist the younger members of the squad as they develop into the men’s game.