Published: Monday, 15th June, 2009 1:48pm

Eversley FC on the march

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On the up: Eversley are set for life in the Combined Counties League after winning the Surrey Elite League last season.

WHILE sides such as Binfield and Ascot United have been taking the plaudits around the local football scene this season, one team has been quietly writing its own success story.

Eversley, under the guidance of manager James Griffin, won the inaugural Surrey Elite League in thrilling fashion thanks to a goal scored with just eight minutes of the season remaining.

Add to that the League Cup, which is also sitting proudly in the club"s trophy cabinet, and it has been a season to remember for everyone involved with The Boars.

And with the club moving back to Eversley this summer after a nomadic few years which has seen it based in places such as Camberley and Farnham, things have never looked better.

Griffin said: 'It"s an exciting time for everyone involved with the club.

'Last season was a real rollercoaster. With eight minutes to go the title was going elsewhere, but we got a goal and took the trophy.

'Now we have to start focusing on next season. We"re in a new league and we"re moving into a new home.

'Three years ago we were playing in the Aldershot Senior League so we have come a long way in a short space of time. It"s great for the club.'

Last season"s title win means that Eversley will be playing their football in the Combined Counties League. And they will be doing it in a brand new ground which has been built at a cost of more than £1.4 million.

In 1999 the club joined forces with Eversley Cricket Club and California Boys FC to form the Eversley Sports Association (ESA). The aim of the ESA was to develop the wasteland behind the existing cricket pitch.

Plans were drawn up to build a senior pitch for level six football (Combined Counties standard), an additional pitch, several junior pitches, an additional cricket square, indoor cricket nets, an astroturf facility and a new changing block.

The project received a grant of £666,556 from the Football Foundation in January 2007 and the rest of the money has been raised through fundraising generated by the ESA and local businesses.

The club"s return to Eversley will bring to an end a period which has seen it play on numerous council owned pitched around the surrounding areas over the past eight years.

Griffin said: 'It will be great news for everybody. We"ve had so many home pitches over the years. We"ve played at Camberley and Farnham, we"ve been all over the place.

'It will be nice to have somewhere to really call home, especially as it"s in the village as well. We"re a fairly localised side, most of the lads live within four or five miles of the ground. It"s another example of the club moving forward.'

Following last season"s title win and promotion, Griffin has already started planning for life in the Combined Counties League.

He is confident his current squad will be able to handle the step up, but admits he will need to bring in a few experienced new faces to bolster the numbers.

'I have an excellent squad of players,' he said. 'But I think we need to toughen up a bit as we"re moving up a standard.

'I"ll be looking to bring in maybe three or four new players to improve things. Technically we"re already very good but you need more than that at this level.

'We"ve got a fairly young squad, I think the average age is about 23 so we could do with a bit more experience. A couple of senior players will improve the squad.'

After the heroics of last season, which saw the title won on the final day thanks to a 1-0 win over Battersea Ironsides, many people would excuse Eversley a period of consolidation as they adjust to life in the Combined Counties League.

But Griffin will not accept that and say his team will have enough quality to cause some real surprises once things kick off in August.

He said: 'We"ll approach this season in a similar manner to last year.

'Nobody is expecting us to achieve anything so there"s no pressure on us. That can work in our favour.

'It"s a big change for the players to take on board, but as long as they adapt the same attitude and work ethic I think we will do well.

'We"re going into the unknown which is very exciting. It"s a big step up but I"m confident we can handle it.'

* If you"re a senior player who has played to a high level and are interested in joining Eversley call James Griffin on 07831 280093.