The new season is far approaching, and it is great to see lots of children registering for 2020/21.  If you have requested  playing kit as part of your registration, this page is the best place to get the latest update on when it will arrive and how you can get it. 
​
Disclaimer: we have around 200 children register every year and processing custom kit for this size of club is a lot of work!  I manage this kit along with a number of  activities for the club (as well as a full time job, family etc), so please be patient and look here first for updates - as soon as I have new information, I will post it here.  If you still have questions after reading the below, please get in touch 

Thanks!
David Percy
LYFC Secretary​

There are a number of steps that have to happen to get you playing kit; this is how it works:

1. You register your child on line, via the website
2. Approximately once a month, I batch up kit requests and send to our suppliers.  The batch name is the month of registrations it incorporates.  e.g. the June batch is mostly registrations in June.  Note: this is not an exact science and registrations at the start/end of a month may end up in the prior or following month's batch!
3. The supplier then processes the order and depending on the availability of stock from Adidas, we receive around 4-6 weeks later (if Adidas don't have stock, the timelines increase significantly while they restock and ship)
4. I let age group coaches and admins know the kit has arrived and also post here
5. Age group coaches/admins arrange to collect kit from me and then distribute to players

This batch arrived August 13 and age group coaches are notified of availability.  Also includes the four shirts that were left over from last season (finally!!). Coaches will collect from me and distribute in the age group.

Still Waiting For... - ALL NOW DELIVERED!
The following kit is still pending from this batch:

• 1 x U16 shirt - arrived with name misspelled so will be returned and corrected.  Arrived Sept 24
• All tracksuit pants that were supplied - arrived without initials so will be returned and corrected.  Arrived Sept 24.
• Ages 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, Adult Small tracksuit pants - on backorder with Adidas.  ETA mid November.  Arrived Nov 28.
• Adult Small tracksuit tops - on backorder with Adidas.  ETA mid/end October.  Arrived Dec 21
• Large socks (ie 8 1/2 and larger).  ETA mid/end October.  Arrived Nov 28.

Order placed with our supplier, ETA will be updated here when available.

We're all really disappointed that the 2019/20 season finished early, but we're following FA and government guidelines which mean that there is no football of any kind right now for LYFC.

However, we are planning behind the scenes to make sure we can start the new season with a bang!  Two things that you need to know:

Coaches' Cup
The world famous Coaches' Cup will be our curtain raising event at the start of the season.  This is a firm favourite with all of our players and we hope to stage this in August (pending FA advice).    We'll have more information on this closer to the event.

Registration
We have opened the registration for the new season, you can register online now via our registration page.  We'd really like to get as many children registered as early as possible so that we can kick off the new season promptly and make sure we get maximum football for all.  If we're allowed to start earlier than normal, it's likely we will, so early registration is a must!
As a little incentive, and a thank you to the LYFC family, we are offering an early bird (early magpie?) discount of £10 on every registration until the end of June.  We have also held registration fees at last season's levels as well as continuing the subsidised match day kit and tracksuits.
Every player must have their own Loxwood playing kit.  If you have kit from last season, then you're welcome to use it for the upcoming season if it still fits!  Looking ahead, we will likely replace our kit for 2021/22 season - this is not final and more news on this later, but a heads up if you're planning to buy kit and hope it'll last a few seasons.

So, while there's not near enough football right now, we're excited about getting back to football as soon as we can.  Register now and get the admin out of the way (and save yourself £10)!  

More news as we get closer to kickoff!
​Looking forward to seeing you soon

All at Loxwood Youth FC

It will come as no surprise to us all that the 2019/20 football season has been concluded for all grass roots football, including youth football.  You can read the FA's update here.  Each of the leagues we play in have implemented procedures on how to complete the season, including unresolved cup competitions - LYFC teams are active in several cups.  If you're keen to know more, please liaise with the coach of your age group.

It is a disappointing end to the season for all of us, not least our children who enjoy their football with LYFC.  This current period of uncertainty is challenging for all of us, but I'm sure our children are confused, worried and unsure of what will come next.  We're all dealing with lockdown differently and there is no right or wrong approach.  The thing that LYFC can do best is to prepare for when things return to normal, so that our children can return to football when it is safe to do so.

So, you will be pleased to know that we are preparing for the 2020/21 season and want to be back with a bang!  The LYFC committee is meeting this month to plan for the many aspects of a new season and we hope to be able to confirm a few things soon.  To whet your appetite, a few things we are working on:

• Opening registration process for 2020/21 to ensure we can get all players registered promptly
• Improved kit process to ensure the majority of kit is available at the start of the season
• Ground preparation and improvements
• Potential for a season curtain raising club fun day - e.g. moving the Coaches' Cup to August

The Coaches' Cup is a highlight of our season and to come back to football with a start of season Coaches' Cup will be a great way to reestablish our LYFC community and come together as a group for fun and football.  We'll obviously plan the new season in line with government and FA guidance, but we'd like to be ready to play as soon as we're able to host football again.  Hopefully this is welcome news and the behind-the-scenes activity will get all of our children playing football as soon as is practical (volunteers always welcome!  If you'd like to help drop us a line here).  

All the very best and stay safe,
LYFC ⚫️⚪️💪🏻 

All, following recent guidance from the FA that all grassroots football will be postponed for the foreseeable future, please be advised that LYFC will be following this guidance and fixtures and training will be cancelled.

We have not yet had confirmation from the two leagues in which we play so far, but wanted to share this news ASAP so you can plan accordingly.  As soon as there is new news we will share it.

I'm sure we're all disappointed by the lack of football for the next few weeks, but we obviously need to take the guidance seriously.  Hoping for happier times and football again soon!

We are all concerned about the continued news about Coronavirus and Loxwood Youth FC are closely following developments.  As a club, we are applying following  guiding principles:

Follow FA and League Advice
Sussex FA, and the two leagues in which we play - South Surrey Youth Football League and Arun & Chichester Youth Football League - have all issued updated guidance today, March 13th.  All bodies have said that league fixtures should continue as normal, and that they will regularly review the situation.
We (LYFC) will follow this guidance and continue to honour fixtures as scheduled. 
Training can also go ahead and will be at the discretion of individual coaches.

Drop Handshakes
The advice (not mandate) from the FA and leagues is that it is good practice to avoid handshakes before and after matches.  First bumps, elbow nudges and emphasis on "three cheers" should be used in preference to handshakes to recognise our opponents and good sportsmanship.
We (LYFC) will request that we avoid handshakes at matches.  It will be preferable for coaches to establish this with opposition teams before the fixture so there's no risk a handshake is "snubbed" inadvertently.

Be Comfortable and Exercise Choice
Of course the decision for all of us to participate (or not) in any activity is up to us as individuals and all of the LYFC committee and coaches will respect any personal decision to opt out of training or matches.  We only ask that you let your age group coach know if you decide not to attend a session.

As and when guidance changes, we will provide updates aligned to these key principles.  We're in relatively uncharted waters right now and I'm sure we're all keeping a close eye on the news!  
Good luck to all teams in action this weekend!
⚪️⚫️💪🏻

Very exciting to get a reference in the national press this week.....