Manager: Chris Bridgeman
Coach: Richie Durkin and Ruth Purse
Assistant: Dan Le Feuvre and Dave Woolcock
Without wanting to sound too philosophical for a grassroots football team, 'What is it to be a Bee?'
A Bee works tirelessly for the good of the hive, a common purpose, a collective goal, to produce something sweet.
Since our formation as a team in 2016-2017, the Braishfield Bees U16s, class of 2024-25, have trained and played as Bees. Some players may have come and gone, but this hive has continued to grow and get stronger, all the while playing with the mantra;
'Win with Modesty, Lose with Dignity.'
Since day one, it's always been fundamental that we play the game the right way. As Manager and Coach these past seven odd years, I'm filled with immense pride at how these boys have conducted themselves, win or lose. We are proud of the mature young men they have become.
The challenge has always been to be competitive, but importantly to ensure that we gave opportunities to develop players, and preserve the spirit and soul of this community team. It's been a hard marriage at times, but our efforts have been rewarded with success along the way; Jock McClorey Plate Winners in our first season together, Jock McClorey Cup Winners in 2019, U15s Alderbury Tournament Winners in 2024, U15 League Cup Winners in 2024 and again as U16s in 2025. Testament to the togetherness of the team, George, Joe and Tom have been with us since inception, while Louis, Noah and Will, have all remained ever-present since the U10s.
None of this could have been achieved without the assistance of Ruth, Dave, Chris and laterally Dan who have all brought huge commitment, enthusiasm,energy and ideas to the team.
Tremendous credit should also go to both the parents and the Club, whose faith in us, coupled with their generous support and dedication has made it all possible.
Every player to have worn the shirt has contributed and enriched this team. They have provided us with countless smiles and laughs along the way, and given me plenty of grey hairs too for that matter! A thousand memories that we take with us. Some that deserve to be written into Braishfield folklore;
- Super sub Sam's last kick of the game equaliser to send the Jock McClorey U9s Final to penalties, and ultimately win us the Cup (This was a trick George would repeat years later in a memorable and heroic one against Alton in the U16s Hampshire Cup).
- Nathan's 40 yard screamer.
- JD's jaw dropping box to box mazey wondergoal.
- Dylan's Worldie of an introduction to the team.
- Comprehensively beating our old nemesis Worthys Reds in our introduction to 11 aside.
- The camaraderie of the Romsey Relays.
- Belly flops in Swedish Lakes, Erling Haaland lookalikes, bad singalongs on Scandinavian buses, and being the 12th man at the Gothia Tournament for our fellow Bees.
- The underdog spirit and determination that saw us win our first League Cup Final - Missed penalties, endless injury time and heart in your mouth saves.
- And the pinnacle of it all, retaining our League Cup the following year, against Laverstock, at Laverstock with a big performance, and that Penalty Shoot Out. I will forever remain astounded by the bravery, calmness and precision of all those boys that stood up. It really was the zenith of our achievements together, and the sweetest of ways for this brilliant team to bow out.
Regardless of the silverware, ultimately the only success that really matters is if we've enhanced the boys' love for the beautiful game. I'd like to think we have. The real achievement will be if the boys look back in ten, twenty, thirty years time, and say "I loved playing in that team, with my mates, being a Bee"
It's been pure nectar ๐
Manager: Mel Doherty
Coach: Joe Hillier
Assistant: Pete Davies
It's been a fantastic journey for some of players who have been with the team for nearly 10 years...they have seen different managers over this time with Stuart, Nick and latterly me, Joe H, taking the helm for the last 3 seasons. There has been plenty of player attrition in this time but at the core of the group has been a group of friends who've always wanted to play football with each other every Saturday, come rain or shine, lose or win....
In the last season or two we came up against very good sides who thought, ate and breathed football and often taught us some tough lessons. This Bees team thought more about whether they were going out that night, whether to eat a packet of custard creams or Oreos (! :-)) but thankfully they were fit and filled their lungs with fresh air on Wednesday evening and Saturday morning.
I know they enjoyed an Isle of Wight tournament at at under 12 level which although didn't end in silverwear was very much enjoyed by the parents, and, players too, made lasting memories.
This team celebrated every goal they scored with passion and I think grew in confidence with many players playing in multiple or various positions over the seasons. As I said to the boys in my final team talk, above all, I hope they go on to continue to play football and continue to love the game, and reminded them of my stolen and doctored philosophy (thanks Pep) of "win the ball, keep the ball, pass the ball". It's a wonderful team game when it goes right!
I'd like to thank all those at the club who have made it possible for this team to operate - Michael and Ian particulary - but more importantly Mel D who has assiduously managed and organised pitches, kit, oranges and referees for as long as the team has been together. Without people like her, and the aforementioned, grassroots football simply would not be possible.
Thank you all. It's been a blast.
Manager: Michael Osborne
Coach: Tim Griffiths
Assistant: Neil Payne
Formed by Nick Tubb and Neil Payne, as the 4th Braishfield Bees age group team, the group was always a tight-knit bunch of kids from a few different Romsey primary schools and as such largely stayed together to the end in 2023 as U18s. It is testament to the players' strength of character and team ethos that 8 of the final 16 squad were original 2012 Bees U8s, and joiners over the years added quality and commitment all over the pitch.
The team had repeated success in Testway league tournaments and cup competitions, with titanic games against Worthys, Champion Sports, Broughton and Tidworth in particular over the years. Players developed their abilities alongside other sports, in particular rugby, meaning the team always sat on a bedrock of strong and committed defenders. This provided a platform for some fast players with an eye for goal to play on the counter. As the years progressed some players rotated and found new homes on the pitch, but the style of football ending up in our 4-2-3-1 stayed largely the same. Defenders were encouraged into attack to score with teammates providing cover, and a focus on switching play to find space in wide areas paid off year after year.
We had an amazing team trip to compete in the Gothia World Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden in summer 2017. It would have been nice to score a goal over our 4 games, but winning was very much not the point. I hope the boys made memories that will last a lifetime from that trip - the coaches certainly did.
It was tough managing through interrupted Covid seasons, but in their final few seasons we saw the boys develop hugely, both in their footballing ability but more importantly as considerate and mature young men. They have gone on to bigger and better things in life but were instructed as they left the club to never drop out of football, whether playing, refereeing or eventually coaching their own new Bees in years to come.
Multiple league and cup honours followed in competitive football year on year from U12s onwards, with Division 1 league and cup doubles at U14s and U18s, and a runner-up position in the 2022/2023 Hampshire Cup final as U18s at Havant & Waterlooville's stadium that remains the pinnacle of our small community club's footballing successes.
As manager, my abiding memories will be: a bicycle kick to win a league cup competition at Bishop's Waltham as U11s; Jack's shot off the post from downtown in Gothia (that post must still be ringing...); a semi-final cup loss as a 9-a-side team (with only 7 players available) and Harry's last minute equaliser to take it to penalties; Levi & Will's smash-and-grab to win the U18s cup 1-0 as U17s away on hostile turf; our Hampshire Cup semi-final comeback win away vs Elstead (and Neil's demented run down the line for the winner); and finally the most perfect team goal I ever saw us score in that same cup quarter-final at home vs Farnham Town: right-back to striker through six total players and seven total touches... beautiful.
Jimmy (GK) - between the sticks since day 1 in summer 2012, lead from the back, sometimes crazy, always committed. Mercurial.
Louis (Captain, CB) - a strong leader by example, read the game brilliantly and never backed down. Rock.
Vini (CB) - fun-loving founding member of the team, Gothia guide, strong in the tackle and in the air. Lejon.
Adam (WB) - a powerful and competitive wing back who ran forever and never gave less than 100%. Engine.
Harry (FB) - silent and deadly since 2012. Iron.
Henry (CB/FB) - another original cast member, with a powerful run and wicked left foot. Unreasonably strong. Mountain.
Jamie P (Vice-Captain - everywhere) - intelligent and considerate, played and could play every position from GK to wing. Bit of bite in him, he'd do anything for the team any time he was asked. Drove and inspired. Heart.
Levi (MID) - midfield was transformed when Levi joined and showed us what we were missing. Amazing awareness and timing, plus a brilliant passing range. Covered more surface than Dulux. Anchor.
Charlie (MID) - box to box midfield, turned out every week to take control. A player you always wanted on the pitch. Developed a strong partnership with Levi and loved a late run into the box for a goal. Machine.
Calum (WB) - one of the hardest working and most selfless players in the team, a strong runner with a good touch for a pair of size 13 feet. Braveheart.
George (WB) - team stalwart and popular squad member from day 1, quietly aggressive both in defence and attack. Pride.
Toby (RW) - aggressive dribbler and runner with a powerful shot and a key cog in the front four. Assist factory.
Will (STR) - match-winning hero in U18s league cup final playing as U17s, a strong presence around the box, wind him up and watch him go. Bull.
Samuel (MID) - founding 2012 attacker, lynchpin, left-footed midfield magician who could change any game. Comparisons with Messi are unfair on Messi. Silky.
Jamie N (LW) - a talented and clever attacking force with a great finish, and who transformed the team's ability to create and convert. Rapido.
Thomas (STR) - the last of the original 2012 crew, a skilful attacking midfielder with a good footballing brain and a tough tackle. Chief Complaints Officer. Added goals back to his game as leader of the line. Aeroplanino.
COYB... "Avanti e seduti"
Tim Griffiths (Coach) - the brains of the operation, joined the team for the last couple of seasons. Quietly fierce. The thinking footballer's Roy Keane. Tactician.
Neil Payne (Assistant Coach) - founding squad coach in 2012, title and cup winning manager, vice-chair, kitman, lino, taxi-driver, events manager, cheerleader - Payner did it all, and all for the love of the game. Soul.
Michael Osborne (Manager) - proud supporter, assistant, coach, then manager. Football should be played in small triangles, everywhere, always...
Manager: Gary Brown
Coach: Jamie Anderson
The journey for this team started on 24th Sept 2011 on a rainy morning at South Wonston. They were competing as U8 in a very competitive league, back in the days when you could still have leagues at that age!. Of the team that started that day, only two players, Charlie Anderson and Henry Brown remained on the team sheet for the teamโs final game at Laverstock on 9th April 2022. This equates to 10.55 years in a Braishfield shirt which is no mean feat. Charlie Taylor who joined very soon after the first game should also get an honourable long service mention.
Over the years the team has had personnel come and go but has always tried to play the game the right way and more importantly in the right spirit. In the early years the boys were talented but and played well but always seemed to be up against a couple of teams that had bigger, stronger and faster boys.
As the team went through the age groups and began to grow and get bigger a faster, then the more consistent results began to come. Honours started to come in 2017 when the team won the TWYL Div 2 title in a play-off against Alderbury.
Further wins were achieved in 2018 as Hythe & Dibden tournament winners, 2019 Braishfield tournament winners, 2020 TWYL Div. 1 Runners-Up & Braishfield tournament winners, 2021 TWYL Div.2 Winners (again in a play-off against Alderbury) and in the final year 2022 the boys (pictured above) finished Runners-Up in TWYL Div.1
They have always had really tough age group opposition but have grown as a team over the years and it has been a privilege to watch them develop and achieve great results with some really attractive football.
Manager: Ian Bates
Coach: Ady Moore
Assistant: N/A
2019 – 20 was the first season a team from the Club had entered the under 18s league and what a season for the under 17s…
Prior to the global pandemic; in the league we were the highest goalscorers, had the second best defence and sat 2nd with 3 games left and looking to lift the title however, following the decision to award points per game and playing one game less than the league leaders, we missed out on becoming champions by 0.18 however, promotion was gained. The same can be said for the cup, we reached the semi final but narrowly missed out on a place in final losing 2-1.
It has to be said, due to college and university commitments, players of to work for the first time etc, the squads commitment and professionalism was second to none. There was banter, there was jokes, there was honest conversations, there was change in tactics, formations but each and every player played their part in what was a most enjoyable and successful first season as under 18s.
To finish their time at the Club, the Under 18s played in the TWYFL Cup Final at Sherfield English Sports Ground but umfortunately lost 3-2 in a closely fought game. Throughout the season the squad showed tremendous commitment, fighting spirit and comradery when backs against the wall especially with so many injuries however, the coaching team, squad and parents/guardians have been a credit to the Club which makes us all very proud of each and everyone of you.
That’s a wrap from the Under 18s as they leave the Club but hey…it’s been a blast for the past 9 years ๐โฝ๏ธ๐ฅ ๐ #upthebees #beestogether
Manager: Julian Jones
Coach: Stuart Goodwill and Andy Darton
Assistant: N/A
The 2010 u8s included some of the team that finished with the group after a tumultuous double/double winning season at u16s level.
From the very start weโre Sam Briggs and Jonny Palmer with Alex Jones joining a few months after.
Under the initial management of James Gay the team started to gel, but reinforcements on and off the field were required with Julian Jones and Stuart Goodwill taking over the responsibility of managing and coaching the players. Progress was made over the years – even beating their arch rivals in the Cup Final, however another advance came with the introduction of Andy Darnton as Coach with additional playing strength added.
The team went onto League and cup wins and twice reaching the semi finals of the Hampshire Cup to Academy team Eldon Celtic.
Unfortunately at the end of a very successful period the squad broke up with many of the players joining Totton Development squad and a few players stayed to be the older players in a combined u17/18 team. Subsequently a couple of players have gone onto represent Braishfield Menโs 1st team