Thank you for taking the time to read about AFC Stoneham and our plans and vision for the future. We currently have 157 teams and over 1700 players supported by 500 volunteers ranging from our minnows right through to our senior adult teams.

Within the predominately male structure, we have between four and ten teams in most age groups with a clearly defined player pathway into a very good standard of adult football with our first team currently playing at Step 5 in the Wessex Premier League.

In our female structure, we have increased the number of teams from one to thirty four since 2019 and expect this growth to continue whilst we look to replicate the male structure and player pathway.

Our young male and female players are the future of the club. Whilst always loving to win we do recognise as a true community club that we offer football at all ability levels understanding that the "beautiful game" is a vehicle to teach young people both life lessons and disciplines through team sport which they will hopefully utilise through their lives as they progress and develop.

We aim to align our different age group teams into foundation, development and advanced teams to ensure that children play and train at the correct level to maximise their enjoyment whilst understanding that children play for different reasons and all develop at different rates.

At the older age groups our structure, for both male and female, creates a player pathway which allows our most developed players to maximise their potential at AFC Stoneham. Our club is fully committed to promoting our young players into our senior teams at the earliest opportunity to make that, sometimes, underestimated transition into the adult game.

Our clubs progress and growth in recent years has been rapid and includes:

  • An increase from 9 to 157 teams and 1700 players in the last 10 years

  • Promotion to the Wessex Premier league

  • Growth and Development of Female football to 34 teams

  • The introduction of our own Girls Wildcats Centre

  • The introduction of our own Development Centre

  • The forming of “AFC Stoneham in the Community” and supporting local projects

  • Our own Saturday Morning Fun Clubs 

  • Moving to our new £10M home in January 2020

  • Increased sponsorship and support

  • Increased profile and awareness of our club in the local community

  • Promotion to the Womens Southern Regional league

  • The creation of both new disability and deaf teams.

  • Three Star FA Accreditation

  • National recognition as one of the largest grassroots community football clubs on the UK

  • The club visited both 10 Downing Street and Buckingham Palace during 2024 as recognition for being a “Community Champion”.

The clubs proud achievements during 2025 included:

Social Value Impact report - £6.5 M

During 2025 we commissioned a Social Value Impact report to quantify the amount of positive effect we have on our local community. We are so proud that this figure totalled over £6.5M

The report was structured around four key headings of Volunteers, Investment, Health and Our Community.

The report concluded that, “AFC Stoneham helps to create a united football environment that tackles inequalities, delivers inspirational opportunities and improves health for all within our community. We are at the heart of our community, generating defined social, health and economic benefits”.

Second largest community grassroots club in the UK

AFC Stoneham was confirmed as the second largest grassroots community club in England during 2025 with 157 teams and over 1700 players which we are immensely proud of. Having grown our girls teams from one, only six years ago, to thirty four today the club now has the largest number of girls teams of any one grassroots club in the country.

Mens first team

Despite the huge disappointment of missing out on promotion via the play offs, having been league runners up for the second consecutive season by 19 points, we reached three cup finals winning two of them and notably the Hampshire Senior Cup for the first time on our 106 year history.

Ladies first team

Our ladies had another successful season finishing third in the league having been runners up during the two previous seasons. The club has been delighted with the progress of many young players from our junior teams progressing into our first team which we feel ensures a bright future still very much with the aim of progressing the team to the next level.

Nike / Kitlocker contract

In light of our growth and standing within grassroots clubs in England we were approached by Nike and Kitlocker to become a Nike Partner Club and signed a three year contract in the summer. The benefits are not just around kit and also allow for support in many other areas of the club aligned to our longer term aims and objectives.

Summer Tournament

We held our tenth consecutive summer tournament with over 5000 people and 180 teams visiting our home ground over the weekend. The Tournament is now established as one of the best and biggest in the South of England.

The Tournament will be held over the weekend of July 4 and 5 in 2026.

Kenyan Teams

AFC Stoneham were delighted to be able to form and fully support four new teams out in Kenya driven by our young coach Jacob Dockree who visited and set up the teams for us during the second half of 2025. Jacob is due to return in February to support and develop this fantastic project further.

Sponsorship

The number of businesses now sponsoring our teams increased during 2025 in no small part due to our new Sponsors Brochure which is available via the club and on our website.

This increased sponsorship allows more teams to now play and train in our new Nike kit and supports the club moving forward. Every piece of sponsorship is hugely appreciated.

The move to our new facility in 2020, aligned to the growth and development of the club, allows for a wonderful opportunity to surpass our vision and leave a legacy of a community grassroots club with outstanding facilities for future generations to expand on.

AFC Stoneham are very ambitious and we want to be the best we can in all areas of the club. We would love to have more volunteers, sponsors and players from the local community to help and support us in both creating and achieving our vision.

Mark Stupple, AFC Stoneham Chairman

07841696579

chairman@afcstoneham.co.uk