Blue Square South the new name for the Football Conference Southern Division will play host to a new club with a familiar looking name for season 2007/08.

Hayes and Yeading FC are the new entity created by the merger of Hayes FC and Yeading FC. The two sides, both members of last season’s Conference South and both located within the West Middlesex town of Hayes have decided to join forces, integrate resources and bring together a community, creating a new super-club on the non-league scene.

The combined forces of Middlesex and West London’s senior semi-professional football clubs will further raise the profile of non-league football in an area that traditionally struggles for crowds against local Premiership and Football League sides.

Former Hayes FC Chairman Derek Goodall said "It is well known that for years our clubs have struggled to attract the big gates needed to survive at this level. By combining efforts, know-how and strategy we can secure the future of high-level football in the area and provide facilities that the local community need and desire"

Counterpart Phillip Spurden, former Chairman of Yeading FC added "On the field both sides have been punching far above their weight for many years, but to build on that and take the next step we need to match that off the field as a business, in the stadium, surroundings and amenities. This merger not only secures the future of the football clubs but also guarantees that the future fans, players and staff of the club will be on a more even footing with rivals at this and the higher levels of the pyramid to which we aspire."

The merger of the two clubs and acceptance of only one space in the Blue Square South for next season has been agreed by the Football Conference League but is subject to ratification by The Football Association.

Hayes and Yeading FC will initially consist of a first team squad playing in the Blue Square South Division, Reserves playing in the Suburban Football League and a Youth side playing in the Allied Counties League. The existing youth set-ups of both clubs, two of the largest in the South East of England, will initially run as independent organisations while the integration of the senior sides is consolidated.

On the field Hayes and Yeading FC will be led by Garry Haylock who has been handed the manager’s role of the new club having been appointed as Yeading boss in December 2006. The former professional with Huddersfield Town and a host of clubs within the Irish Republic said: "It was a great honour to manage Yeading last season and an even bigger honour to be chosen to lead the new club into what are very exciting times. Obviously, I already know the players and staff of Yeading but I am also very aware of the talents that Hayes will add to that. I am also looking to bring in other players with experience at the highest levels to ensure that Hayes and Yeading FC are pushing for honours from the start of next season." Haylock will be joined by his former backroom staff, with Colin Davis taking charge of the Reserve set-up, a role he previously held with Hayes.

Off the field, one of the first tasks ahead of the newly formed club is to formalise plans for new facilities to meet Conference National requirements, and hope to boast 3^rd generation all-weather training pitches and community facilities unrivalled in this part of Greater London.

Hayes and Yeading FC will play their first team matches at Hayes FC’s existing ground of Church Road. Yeading FC’s The Warren will continue to provide social facilities, a training base and play host to Reserve and Youth team games.

Football Conference Operations Director John Moules commented "I welcome the fact that two nearest neighbours are joining forces to strengthen their position and that of Middlesex football to take both clubs forward for the benefit of fans and the local area."

Labour MP John McDonnell, the local Member of Parliament for both former clubs and Patron of Hayes FC, welcomed the amalgamation: "I wholeheartedly welcome this initiative which will not only give us a strong footballing base within the area but also provide an invaluable sporting resource for the whole community."

With consolidation in the upper echelons of the non-league pyramid the short-term aim of the newly formed Hayes and Yeading FC, the medium to longer term plans will develop a club capable of promotion into the football league.

ENDS

For more information contact

Tim Fuell – Press Officer

07782284164

or

Nick Bell – Press Officer

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nicholas.bell@talk21.com

Hayes FC were originally formed as the Botwell Mission in 1909 taking the name of Hayes Football Club in season 1928/29 to better reflect their location within the town of Hayes, Middlesex. FA Amateur Cup runners-up, County Cup Champions, Athenian League Champions, Isthmian League Champions, FA Cup giant-killers and founding members of the Conference South, Hayes FC have also been responsible for some of non-league’s most famous exports into the professional ranks including Robin Friday, Cyrille Regis, Les Ferdinand and Jason Roberts.

Yeading FC began life more recently, formed as Yeading Youth Club 1960. Withtheir memebership growing-up , they adopted the name of Yeading FC for the 1965/66 and so began an historical rise winning almost every honour available at junior level, before gaining senior status and joining the Spartan League in 1984. Winning the FA Vase, County Cups and Isthmian Championship Yeading rose to step two of the football pyramid and the Conference South along with a Third Round FA Cup tie against Newcastle United that stole headlines across the world. Famous Yeading old-boys include Andrew Impey, Charlie Oatway and DJ Campbell.