OFFICIALS of Ingleside AFC are looking forward to celebrating promotion from the Bristol and Suburban League Division Three this season - and a further expansion of the club with a GFA Charter Certificate.

"We are hoping to have an Under-18 side playing in the Bristol Combination League next year, and also to start a girls' team," said Bob Dadds.

Secretary and treasurer Bob has been an ever present with the team since just after it was formed in 1991.

The club's name was taken from Ingleside Road, Kingswood, home of founder member Pablo Douglas.

He founded the side after his son was keen to play football and so they kicked off in the Under-11 squad team in the Hanham Minor League.

The team progressed through the age levels, winning numerous titles, cups and GYFA trophies, while moving up to senior football in Division IV of the Suburban League in 2000.

Ingleside gained promotion to Division III as runners-up four years ago and now look set for the next step up the league.

They are led by Mike Randall, a former player until deciding to hang up his boots and become manager.

Squads from Under-eights to under-16s are now fielded each week in the Hanham Minor, Avon Youth and the Saturday junior leagues, as the club further expanded to include all age levels below the senior team.

Most of the players are old school friends from the Speedwell, St George and Kingswood areas, and many of them have been involved with the club since the formation.

These include Darren Dickinson, Daniel Clark, Ben Hodge and Mark Smith, who all played for the Under-10s in the Hanham League and have stayed together through the age groups up to adult level.

The versatile Dickinson can play in goal or right-back in a sound defence of Nick Blake, Jamie Jones, Luke James, Ben Hodge and Mark Smith.

The midfield duties are shared by Paul Wedlock, Daniel Clark, Nick Maynard, Garry Denner, Troy and Sam Randall, the joint top-scorer Jonathan Poole, who is supported in attack by Nick Pollinger, Ashley Burrett and Rob Chase, also the other goalkeeper.

Bob Dadds was manager of the Under-10s and followed the squad through to senior football when he became secretary of the Suburban League team.

Mike Edmund was a regular in the adult first team until taking over as chairman.

Mike also helps out coach Terry Clark, who like Bob Dadds has been with the club since the early days when his son Daniel joined the Under-10s.

The first team play at Netham Park, Avonvale Road.

From there it is only a short distance to the club's base at the Wackum Inn, Speedwell – the pub also sponsors the teams kit.

Having a relatively young first-team squad, Ingleside's future looks bright, with qualified FA coaches in charge of a successful youth development programme – so the best is yet to come.