Gordon McGrath, Ron Harvey and Mike Haggar were the first to organize the boys into a team and borrowed kit from Shinfield FC, which allowed them to play in the Bracknell Boys League in the Under 11s age group.

At that time, a laid-out soccer pitch was out of the question, so all their matches were played away from home by special permission of the League. The boys and dads all got together and gradually cleared the ground to form a training area with wooden posts used as goals. As the community grew over the following years, that temporary football pitch grew into

In 1977, a second boy's team was added and by 1980 three teams were playing soccer under the name of California Boys Football Club. In 1992, along with the seven teams playing 11 a-side football, 7 a-side soccer was introduced for boys and girls aged 5-10 years old. The Club soon added other venues to cope with the popularity including Gorse Ride School playing field in 1994, followed by Waverley Way in 1998 and Nine Mile Ride School field in 1999.

Today the Club is one of the largest in both the East Berks 7 a-side Association and the Bracknell Boys League. The Club has well over 300 members between the ages of 5 and 17 years old.

Some California FC players have gone on to play football at the highest level. Ian Paltiel and Lloyd Haggar both signed for Southampton and Daren Wilkinson played for Bournemouth. A number of others have played for Wokingham Town and Bracknell Town. A number of our current players have enjoyed spells at the football academies run by Clubs such as Brentford, Chelsea and Southampton.

We are again running our very successful Sunday Soccer School for the very young commencing in September, and parents interested in bringing along their sons or daughters should contact California FC.

We will boast a membership of over 300 boys and girls this season, with qualified coaches at all age levels, qualified first aiders and a large contingent of parent volunteers.

California Football Club, which is based in Finchampstead became the first youth soccer club in the whole of the Berks & Bucks County Football Association area to be awarded the FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION 'CHARTER STANDARD’ in 2001. Subsequently in 2002, we have been awarded the FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION STANDARD DEVELOPMENT STATUS, this time one of the first clubs to do so in the south of England. In addition to this achievement, California Football Club has been selected as the Charter Standard Development Club Regional Winners for the South Region 2002.

Club Chairman Simon Bellis says, “This prestigious award recognises the on going improvement and ambitious plans of the club to provide a higher quality of football development to the youth of the area. We owe a lot of thanks to a number of people who have brought the club to where we are today – Allan Buckland who pushed the club forward from it’s early beginnings, bringing in Bob Schofield, recent past-Chairman and current Secretary, to add extra impetus. Between them they managed the expansion of the club. A lot of praise is due to Terry Wiseman, our former Club Secretary who co-ordinated the applications for these standards, and to all the managers and coaches whose commitment to the required programmes, qualifications and ethics are the cornerstone to this success.”

“The future remains in the hands of the many committed volunteers who will continue to improve and develop the standard of the service we offer to the many young people of the area,” continues Simon Bellis. “The only limitation to our growth is the willingness of parents to get involved, and the availability for pitches on which we can train and play – this latter issue will remain a priority of the club for the forseeable future.”

The Charter Standard is the first stage of The Football Association's commitment to raising the standards within the provision of youth football throughout the country, encouraging County Football Associations to develop strategic plans to support grass roots football clubs. In the continuously changing environment in which football is developed, it is essential, according to the FA, to support and equip youth football clubs with the necessary structures to improve standards and maintain them.

The Standard identifies the way forward for youth clubs and assists the needs of clubs in recruiting new players, coaches and helpers; club administration; refereeing standards; opportunities to identify and source new methods of funding; dealing with parents and spectators; and child protection.

The Club is now seeking to further develop by forging links with the soccer academies of one or two of the Premiership or Nationwide Football League clubs in the south of England, and would be pleased to hear from local scouts.

California Football Club had worked towards the Standard for a number of months. This included bringing its coaching staff and managers up to a minimum of FA Junior Team Manager Award level, although a number of coaches had already attained the higher UEFA 'B' level. All committee members, managers, coaches and helpers went through a national screening process in line with the FA Child Protection policy, and the Club appointed U17 assistant team manager Liz Bettes as its Child Protection Officer. Managers and some parents undertook first aid training, and the number of qualified referees within the club was increased. The entire Club administration was reviewed, establishing a new constitution; a new code of conduct for players, parents and officials; audited accounts; a club directory; improving links with local schools; and a new policy on recruitment of boys and girls in the community.

California Football Club was one of the first clubs in the East Berks Junior Association to open membership to boys and girls playing in the same team, and now has in two all girls team run by Club stalwart Terry Wallis. The club would like to see the all-girls section grow and would be delighted to hear from any mother or father who would like to help us do this. If you are interested, please call club Chairman, Simon Bellis, on 0118 9787850, or email him on simon@californiafc.com .

A few seasons ago the then Chairman Allan Buckland introduced a Sunday Soccer School for the youngest age groups in the community linking with Gorse Ride, Nine Mile Ride and other junior Schools, and this has already produced two very talented age groups at Under 7, 8 and 9 this season.

California Football Club will cater for a membership of over 300 boys and girls up to the Under 18 age group this season, and has a future planned development which will allow it to continue to expand.

If you would like to find out more about the club, please contact Club Secretary Craig Lambert via email on craig@californiafc.com .