Herne Bay Women FC

In the last issue of Herne Bay’s CommunityAd magazine we had the pleasure to talk to sports broadcaster and all-round gentleman Peter Guise.

 

In this issue we speak to the seasoned sports journalist about his involvement in his local club Herne Bay FC and the incredible rise of the Women’s team who are yet again having an outstanding season. Peter has been involved one way or another since “well, seems like forever”, including a notable spell as Secretary back in the mid-70s where the club triumphed winning the Kent Senior Trophy although Peter confesses “that wasn’t down to me”.

 

What’s your role nowadays then, Peter, and what do you enjoy most about it?

For the past ten years I’ve taken on the admin role for Herne Bay FC Women. I’m the Secretary and it’s been very rewarding seeing the Women’s club grow and be successful. There’s plenty more steps to take yet but the long-term aim is to bring National League Women’s football to Herne Bay. The Women’s first team are only two steps below that at the moment so it’s hardly a pipe dream or wishful thinking.

 

The club seems like a community in itself, an extremely inclusive one as well as a successful one, how do you go about achieving that?

It takes a lot to run a club the size of Herne Bay and the level that the club is at. It has to be a community in order to do that. As far as the Women’s club are concerned, we have a strong association with Herne Bay Youth Rangers which runs the girls age groups below Women’s adult football. We are building a pathway for girls to progress into the adult game locally rather than have to go out of area.

 

How important is it for young people within our community to have access to sport? Especially given the last 19 months.

Sport for youngsters gives the exercise and purpose we need as human beings to grow and develop and it does that without us even realising it. It’s not just the physical growth and development either, it’s so much more. Mental growth, social development, it’s all there. Yes, it’s hugely important.

 

How crucial are volunteers to the clubs’ survival? Are the club in need of any volunteers?

Every local club, whether it’s a sport club or any other hobby club, needs its volunteers. There are so many different jobs, so many small tasks that can drop through the gaps without a volunteer to do them. In a football club, for example, there are tasks that have very little to do with football. There’s always painting to do, or an advertising board to be put up. My plea to anyone thinking of volunteering is to consider where your skills might be best utilised. What club would benefit from them. Then volunteer but don’t over commit yourself to the detriment of your own life because that won’t help you or the club.

 

Why do you think local football matters and why should readers consider going along to a game and supporting a local side?

There’s been a huge swing to local football in recent times. There are a variety of reasons as well. Cost is one of them. Travelling to the big cities isn’t cheap, the cost of entry isn’t cheap, but a local game just around the corner from home is affordable. Alright, you won’t see big name stars off the telly, but you’ll see players you can relate to and most likely will even be able to speak to after the game. You won’t have to turn up an hour before the game and you probably won’t take an hour to exit the ground. But your local club will provide you with good value entertainment that won’t cost you the earth.

 

Outside of the club what makes Herne Bay a pleasant community to be a part of? How long have you lived in the area?

I’ve lived in and around Herne Bay all of my 66 years. There are some great characters, and despite what some might feel, there is actually an awful lot to do if you care to take the time to delve into the basket of goodies that Herne Bay has to offer. There are more hobby clubs than you can shake a stick at. There are more activity clubs than you could possibly want, and the number of sports clubs of one description or another would take a side of A4 to write them down on. Every town has its issues, of course it does, and you only have to flick through social media to trip over them, but the overall score for Herne Bay has to be ringing the bell on that contraption that gets hit by the muscular guy with a mallet in a local fair, doesn’t it?

 

Find out more about the Herne Bay FC Women’s team by visiting their Facebook or Twitter @HerneBayWomen, or the Herne Bay FC website.

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