Although there has been a Youth Football Clubs associated with Baldock Town F.C. in the past (some very successful, I believe) Baldock Town Youth F.C. as we know it, was founded in 1988 when Paul Kitchener and Roy Ryall got together and formed an under-14 side, ably assisted by a young player called Barry Rainbow.

All three stayed very much involved with the club. Paul was the club's treasurer for many years from the club's inception, Roy is member of the Executive committee with a penchant for raising money, and Barry managed on e the team s for a number of years.

The on-field highlights include Roy Ryall's under-16 team winning the Royston League Cup in 1991 when they beat Bedwell Rangers 8-0 in the final, and Bernard Bibby's under 18's winning the Bedford Colts League in 1995. In the summer of 1994, the decision was made to rebuild the club from the bottom by recruiting 9-year-old boys each year to form successive under-10 teams. The decision to return 'home' to the Royston Crow League was made at the same time. We ended the 1994/95 season with our under l0's in the Royston League and the under 18's Bedford League Champions.

The next season the under l0's became two Under II sides and we recruited another bunch of boys to form a new under- 10 side. From these three teams plus an under 14 side, who joined us en bloc from Ickleford for the start of the 96/97 season, we have grown to our present level.

At the start of the 96/97 season our policy of recruiting 9 year olds was updated, and 7 and 8 year old boys were invited to join Baldock Knights, under the watchful eye of Mr. John Harper.

In the 97/98 season our Under 10 Templars reached the semi final of the East Anglia Youth Cup and were beaten 2- 1 in extra time by Abbey Youth of Peterborough.

The Under 10 Templars won the Royston Crow League Cup beating Fairlands 5 -4 on penalties after drawing in the final 0- 0 and the Under 15's were beaten 2- 1 by Bishops Stortford in their final.

Due to rule changes from September 1998 the under 8 's and under 9's could play only small sided games and became an integral part of Baldock Town Youth Football Club. The 98/99 season saw more success on the field with li1e Under 16's winning Division One and five learns finishing in second place in their respective divisions. The Under 10 Templars (Division B) earned themselves a first division spot for the coming season and the Under 11 Templars were runners up in the first division. The Under 15's, in their first season with the club, also won promotion to the top flight. The Under 12 Templars and the Under 14 Templars achieved promotion to Division Two.

The powers that be have decreed that no boy may play 11-a-side football until he has reached his tenth birthday and so from September 1999 the under l0's started playing the 7-a-side game.

Over the last few years we have developed our relationship with the Town's schools and Baldock Town Football Club - valuable allies for a club like ours.
We are always looking for kit sponsors for our teams, so if you or your company would consider splashing out please contact your boy's team manager or any committee member. As long as we get the support we need from parents and other adult helpers (we do not seem to have any trouble attracting young players) I predict a very interesting and enjoyable future for everyone concerned with Baldock Town Youth Football Club.