A South Essex MP showed his personal support for a local football club, by attending their 50th anniversary celebration.
Rayleigh and Wickford MP, Mark Francois, was present at the 50th anniversary party of local club Rayleigh FC, which was held at the Rayleigh Club, on Hullbridge Road.
The club has grown steadily from one youth team, back in 1976, to some 66 teams today, making it one of the largest youth football clubs in England. Originally founded as ‘Rayleigh Boys’ the club changed its name around a decade ago, to acknowledge its development of women and girls football, of which it now fields around a dozen teams.
Mark met with club co-founder Brian Mitchell and other club leaders, who were also supported on the night by Danielle Belton, former leader of Rochford District Council and her husband, Stu, who is now Chairman of Rawreth Parish Council.
Speaking about the club’s celebrations, Mark said:
“Rayleigh FC is a great community club and, during its fifty years, literally thousands of players from in and around Rayleigh have worn the club’s colours. It was therefore a pleasure to be invited to join their celebrations at what turned out to be a very happy evening. I wish them all good luck for their next fifty years.”
