2025-2026 Plans & Info for Re-Joining 💙⚽️💛
- Ashley Thomas
- 4 days ago
- 8 min read
Dear Super Parent 🙂
As we near the end of another great season, Ben, Ashley and I have taken some time to reflect on how far the club has come and, more importantly, where we want it to go. First and foremost, thank you for your ongoing support — it means the world to us and is a huge part of what makes this club so special.
After four great seasons in our current setup, we feel it’s the right time to evolve 👍
WHY THE CHANGE?
Put simply, we want to make the club more accessible, more affordable, and deliver a higher-quality experience for our players. And on a practical note — it’s also about making the day-to-day running of the club more sustainable. Behind the scenes, it’s a big operation with big financial demands, and we want to ensure it continues to thrive long-term.
AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE IS A LINK TO OUR RE-JOINING FORM. YOU WILL NEED TO COMPLETE THIS TO BE CONSIDERED IN NEXT SEASONS SQUADS WHICH WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN APRIL 👍
CHANGE OF TRAINING FORMAT
Next season will see your mandatory commitment level change (however there is an exciting additional option available too).
We will be moving to 1 training session per week:
🏟️ Training will take place at Royal Russell on Weds or Thurs (dependant on your age group)
⚽️Training will be led by a mix of your team managers, and by Affiq, Valentino, and Ashley G, our Head of Coaching. Depending on the week, they’ll be leading or assisting to ensure every group gets the right level of guidance.
✅ To maintain consistency and quality, all sessions will follow structured plans provided to the managers — so every player gets the most out of their time on the pitch.
And the usual 1 match per week during term time + occasional half term / easter games:
Home and away games
WHY THE CHANGE?
This season, training attendance on Mondays and Tuesdays has been quite inconsistent. Some players have told us they can’t commit to both nights, others prefer not to train twice a week, and for a few, we’re honestly not sure why attendance has dropped. We completely understand — life is busy, and regular training is a big commitment.
However, running training sessions across four days a week currently costs the club more than £1,150 per week. That’s a significant outlay, and we need to make sure it’s being used in the best possible way.
By reducing the number of training sessions each week, we can ease the financial pressure on both the club and our members — making things more manageable for everyone without compromising on quality.
OPTIONAL TECHNICAL / CLUB NIGHT TRAINING
For those players who are serious about developing their game and taking their football to the next level, we’re offering a fantastic optional training opportunity:
Led by top coaches Valentino (soon to complete his UEFA A Licence) and Affiq, whose experience and insight have already made a huge impact across the club.
Monday or Tuesday evenings at Monks Hill Sports Centre Astro.
Small group focus: only 24 spaces available per hour — with a max ratio of 1 coach to 12 players, ensuring every child gets detailed, hands-on coaching.
A blend of technical development and game-based practices to sharpen skills, improve decision-making, and build real match confidence.
Optional goalkeeper-specific training will also be available on one of these nights (TBC – likely Monday).
👉 We strongly recommend this for players in higher divisions or those who are really motivated to push forward in their football journey. This is a chance to train in a focused, elite-style environment — the kind of setting that accelerates progress and builds real quality on the pitch. 👈
Additional Cost: Just £30/month, with a 4-week cancellation notice period.
🏟️ Monks Hill Sports Centre
⏰ 6-7pm or 7-8pm
⚽️🗓️ Age Group Training Times:
Mondays
6-7pm: U7s & U8s (boys and girls)
7-8pm: U11s & U12s (boys and girls)
Tuesdays
6-7pm: U9s & U10s
7-8pm: U13s & U14/U15s
WHY THE CHANGE?
We know that some players are eager to train twice a week, while others prefer to keep it to just one. Our optional training sessions offer the best of both worlds — giving your child access to high-quality coaching, while also providing flexibility if your personal schedule ever changes.
YOUR COMMITMENT
This season, we’ve faced a number of challenges that have had a real impact — including losing several players, a couple of managers, and even an entire team just three weeks into the season. When this happens, it’s the children who miss out — whether it’s from shrinking squad numbers or the lack of a consistent coach.
That’s why, going into next season, we’ll be introducing some clearer expectations and criteria for joining the club. We want to make sure every child has a great experience — and that can only happen when everyone involved is committed and aligned with what we’re building.
Here’s what we’ll be asking of all members:
You believe in and support our coaching approach and values (we’ll explain this clearly below).
You’re able to commit to both your weekly training session and match — if you know there will be regular clashes, it won't be the right time to rejoin.
You’re able to keep up with the monthly membership payments, which are clearly outlined below.
You agree to follow our Code of Conduct and terms of membership (outlined further on).
Most importantly — you and your child enjoy being part of the club and value what we’re offering! 😊
WHY THE CHANGE?
We don’t enjoy being strict — but we’ve learned that having the right, committed people involved is essential to keeping the club strong, stable, and enjoyable for everyone. At the same time, if our methods or structure don’t quite align with what you're looking for, that’s okay too. The last thing we want is for anyone to feel unhappy or out of place in the club 👍
OUR STAFFING FOR THE NEW SEASON
The club has become to difficult to manage with just one main key person! We really thank Ben for his amazing efforts and work this season. We aren't quite sure how he has done this to be honest with his full time job!
Next season we will have the following team in place:
Chairman | Ben Smith - replacing myself 9 years coaching and management experience |
Head of Coaching | Ashley Gumbrell - UEFA B Licensed Coach, and FA Licensed Tutor |
Club Secretary | Gianni Francis |
Age Group Co-Ordinator 1 | Valentino De Luca |
Age Group Co-Ordinator 2 | Affiq Lathieff |
Fixture Secretary | Valentino De Luca |
Safeguarding Officer | TBC |
Home Match Day Official | Valentino De Luca |
WHY THE CHANGE?
Decisions can be made more quickly, and any issues that come up can be addressed without delay — helping to create a smoother, more positive experience for both you and your child.
STREAMLINED SQUADS
To make sure every child is on the best possible development path, we’ll be taking extra care to place players at the right level — especially in age groups that have two or more teams. If we form a stronger team, they’ll be entered into a higher league division. Meanwhile, the other team can play in a league that better suits their current stage of development.
We completely understand that friendships are really important, and we’re mindful of the strong bonds that have formed between players. Please know that we’ll do everything we can to keep those connections where possible — we never want a child to feel put off or excluded.
At the same time, we believe it’s vital for children to be playing with and against others of a similar ability. It helps build confidence, develop skills at the right pace, and ensures they continue to enjoy the game.
WHY THE CHANGE?
Over time, we’ve seen some players struggle when placed in an environment that’s too challenging — and others not progress as quickly because they weren’t being stretched enough. Unfortunately, we’ve also lost some very talented and enthusiastic players in both situations.
This change is about making sure every child has the best chance to grow, enjoy their football, and reach their potential.
Once we have everyones intentions for re-joining next season, draft squads and any changes will be announced to you in the next 2 weeks.
PRICING EXPLAINED IN FULL
With the move to one mandatory training session per week, we’re really pleased to share that your monthly payments will be reduced to £40 🎉
That said, we’ve also taken time to review our payment structure to make the club more stable and sustainable — especially after facing challenges with player commitment and last-minute withdrawals. These situations, along with the large upfront costs we face at the start of each season (registrations, equipment, venue bookings, etc.), have led us to make a few important adjustments:
A 3-month notice period will now apply if you choose to leave the club.
August payments will still be required, even though there are no matches or training sessions during that month — this helps us cover key pre-season costs and plan ahead effectively.
We really appreciate your understanding and continued support — these changes are all about creating a stronger, more consistent experience for all players and families across the club.
Info | Price |
Re-registration Fee inc. June Pre-Season training Pre-Season training / payment commitment is mandatory | £65 |
July 2025 - May 2026 (11 months) This includes pre-season training in June and July. | £40 instead of £69 per month |
Optional Technical Night | £30 per month |
| |
Sibling Discount on 2nd, 3rd, 4th Child | 25% |
Cancellation Notice Payment Period Once Registered | 3 months |
Optional Technical Night - Cancellation Notice Payment Period | 4 weeks |
With your standard membership, you will receive approximately, 71 football experiences this season:
7 training sessions pre season (June and July)
30 matches (Sept 25 - April 26)
32 training sessions (Sept 25 - April 26)
1 tournament per team
1 end of season awards afternoon
Discounted football camps rate at £25 per day
Option to train on technical night at £30 per month with a 4 week notice period
TRAINING NIGHTS AND TIMES
Please see below for the training schedule from June onwards. Age groups are next season e.g. if you are a u7 now, you are looking for the u8 schedule below 👍
There may be some small changes to the day you train to allow us to offer your child the best coaching experience in line with the age group co-ordinators schedules:
🏟️ Wednesday @ Royal Russell School
6-7pm = U7s, U8s, Girls U10s
7-8pm = U11s, U12s, U13s
🏟️ Thursdays @ Royal Russell School
6-7pm = U9s, U10s, Girls U12s
7-8pm = U14s, U15s, U16s
PLEASE NOTE PRE-SEASON WEDNESDAY / THURSDAY TRAINING TAKES PLACE AT MARGARET ROPER CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL, PURLEY
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Re-joining responses submitted by Friday 4th April 🗓️
Easter Holidays Football Camps
Wednesday 9th-Friday 11th April
Tuesday 15th-Thursday 17th April
🏟️ Margaret Roper Catholic Primary School, Purley
📲 Book now for £25 per day: https://szunitedfc.classforkids.io/camps
End of season awards event
Sunday 18th May 11am-1pm (tbc)
-----
Next Season Dates 🗓️
Pre-Season training starts
w/c 2nd June
Optional Technical nights start this week too
Optional Pre-Season Football Camp (Weds-Fri each week):
w/c 21st July
w/c 4th August
w/c 18th August
First match of the season (tbc by the league):
Saturday 6th September
First training session of the season (tbc):
w/c 1st September
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO NOW...
You must now make your intentions clear for next season. With all of the exciting changes, we really do hope you will be re-joining us!
Quickly complete this form by Friday 4th April 2025: 👇https://forms.monday.com/forms/2dd66c2c5d3c361b2d835cf6348707da?r=use1
❗️ If we do not receive your form, you cannot be considered for next seasons squads ❗️
When asked about rejoining on the form, you can select Yes, No, Unsure at the moment 👍
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR YOU
Clubs ethos to training (from January's blog post): https://www.szunited.co.uk/post/january-football-teams-update-croydon-sutton
Goal of the season page: https://www.szunited.co.uk/post/goals
SZ United FC - Code of Conduct: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12-C8fmbg1xraoFc8-ork5rBV5t0SyFI6/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=110973415717977107500&rtpof=true&sd=true
Thanks so much all! We appreicate some big changes within the club, but after listening to ongoing feedback from this season, we know it is the right time to make them. Once we receive your form, we will start building the squads for next season and confirm your place!
💛 ⚽️ On a final note, we want to extend a huge thank you to Eleanor Richardson (Ted's Mum) for her generosity in the club sponsorship over the past 2 seasons. Please check out her venture Fine Toad - whose aim is to enhance, support and collaborate with small local businesses. Fine Toad has recently opened it's co-working and workshop space in Coulsdon. Be sure to check it out 🙂
✅ And if your small business is interested in sponsoring the club or a specific age group next year, please click here to register your interest.
Ashley, Ben and Ashley G⚽️💙
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