AFC SOLIHULL and Leafield Athletic marked the start of a partnership agreement between the two clubs with a friendly match at Rumbush Lane.
Solihull claimed a hard-fought 1-0 win thanks to a late goal from substitute Robert Ots with both teams to play their home matches at Rumbush Lane this season.
Leafield achieved promotion to West Midlands Regional League Division One last term while Solihull clinched the Midland Football League Division Three title.
Solihull’s former home at Tudor Grange Leisure Centre did not meet the grading criteria for Step Seven of the non-league pyramid which led to the groundshare between AFC and Leafield.
AFC Solihull chairman Tim Delaney said: “Our previous home ground at Tudor Grange Leisure Centre did not meet the ground grading criteria for Division Two of the Midland Football League so we had to look for an alternative venue and it was important that we remained within the Solihull area.
“We looked at numerous options one of which was Rumbush Lane, home of Leafield Athletic FC and it was clear from the initial conversation we had that they had the same values as ourselves and their vision for the future aligned with ours so it was a simple decision to create a formal partnership with them.
“The partnership will provide an opportunity for local players to develop and hopefully to progress up the non-league football ladder. Leafield Athletic achieved promotion last season to the West Midlands Regional League Division One (Step Eight) which is one level below ourselves following our promotion as MFL Division Three champions last season.
“The partnership between the clubs now allows us to offer a stepping stone and clear development pathway for senior players and as Leafield have a well established and thriving youth and junior section this will also provide young players with a pathway to develop and progress from youth football into the senior game.
“The partnership will allow both clubs to pool their financial resources but also share their wealth of knowledge and experience and as a result enhance the facilities and opportunities both on and off the pitch which will provide a far better matchday experience.
“The players of both teams will be able to ‘dual register’ for both clubs so we have the freedom to move players between the teams and ensure they are developed at the best standard to enhance their development.
“The positive impact will be massive for both clubs with the profile of both clubs being enhanced by the partnership agreement.
“At Rumbush Lane there will now be football matches played every Saturday throughout the season so we hope that the local community and people of Solihull will come along and support both clubs and really get involved in this exciting project.”
Leafield Athletic vice-chairman, Simon Birley, added: “We were approached by AFC Solihull as they were looking for a new ground having outgrown the ground they were playing at.
“We hope that our partnership with AFC Solihull will enhance the football opportunities of players coming through our youth teams and provide additional options for them to play open age football and remain within the Leafield family.
“From a Leafield point of view, in addition to the additional playing opportunities that the partnership will offer our junior teams, the partnership will also assist in growing the profile of both clubs and assist us in continuing to provide a safe place for particularly young players to play football for years to come.
“The positive impacts will be huge for Leafield Athletic. We’ve been in existence for 54 years and we continue to strive to offer the best possible opportunities and facilities to players from the local area.
“The partnership with AFC Solihull will enable us to continue enhancing player pathways but also to further invest in our facilities for local children, young people and the wider community.”
