ONE of Helensburgh’s most successful youth sports clubs has announced plans to set up a competitive adult team for the first time in its 50-year history.

But the chairman of Ardencaple FC says other amateur football teams in the area have no reason to fear the arrival of a new club on the local football scene.

Craig Holborn told the Advertiser this week that Caple’s application to join the Central Scottish Amateur Football League, and to play home games in Rhu, had been approved by the league’s executive committee.

The new adult team will begin playing competitive amateur football from the start of the 2018-19 season.

Mr Holborn said: “We are absolutely thrilled that our application to join the Central Scottish Amateur Football League (CSAFL) has been successful.

“It is unprecedented that a brand new team be catapulted straight into the higher echelons of the amateur game but members of the CSAFL executive committee were so impressed by everything about Caple – our proud history and record of achievements to date, the quality of our club infrastructure and governance, and our ambitious plans for the future – that they unanimously decided to welcome us with open arms.”

The Helensburgh and Lomond area can already boast three adult amateur football teams – Helensburgh FC, Rhu Amateurs and Cardross AFC – while in nearby Dumbarton and the Vale of Leven there are numerous well-established amateur clubs, including some of the top teams in the country.

But Mr Holborn said Caple’s management hoped to continue its existing “healthy relationship” with the area’s other football clubs.

“No-one need be unduly concerned by our plans to form our amateur side,” he continued.

“Our primary motivation is to provide our players – past, present and future - a pathway that allows them to remain at the club and play football locally and at a decent level.

“We are also being driven by the need to fully embrace our local community and to introduce adult football, both pre-requisites to satisfy fairly demanding criteria laid down by the SFA if we are to succeed in attaining Legacy status.

“Players, whether ex Caple or not, will invariably find their own level.

“We are simply looking to provide those who wish to compete in what we believe to be a very testing environment, the Central Scottish AFL, an opportunity to do so.”

The formation of an adult Ardencaple FC team follows hard on the heels of the recent introduction of an over-35s team alongside the club’s flourishing youth set-up.

The news comes as Ardencaple players past and present prepare to celebrate the club’s 50th anniversary at a special sports dinner at the Commodore Hotel in Helensburgh this Saturday, April 14.

Mr Holborn said: “We just can’t wait for pre-season to get started. Everything is in place – potential squad members, coaching and management team, training and playing facilities with our home venue agreed as the Navy grass pitch at Rhu (weather permitting) and alternatively the artificial turf at Hermitage Academy, a dedicated physio for sports injuries, our team sponsor for kit and even post-match hospitality being arranged since we aim to host our opposition after every home fixture.

“We have already identified the nucleus of our squad – mainly ex Caple players who have come through the youth ranks over the years and are currently scattered across a variety of teams and a variety of leagues, both amateur and at the junior grade.

Any player interested in being part of Ardencaple’s ranks for the 2018-19 season is asked to contact Craig Holborn on 07378 272744 as soon as possible.

The CSAFL already boasts many of Scotland’s top amateur sides including local rivals St Patricks FP’s from Dumbarton, Drumchapel Amateurs and Colville Park, winners of the Scottish Cup for the past two years. In fact, the League can point to an unrivalled pedigree of providing the winner of our national competition on more than 50% of the past 25 seasons, not to mention an impressive track record in other prestigious competitions such as the West of Scotland and East of Scotland cups. Clearly, a great place for any talented, ambitious player.

Caple has traditionally focussed on children & youth football and has not previously ventured beyond operating at u19 level. However, the Club has always been keen to provide a pathway for its players who remain committed to playing football into their adult years and who would prefer to do so at the highest level. Previous initiatives to work in partnership with other clubs have proven unsuccessful, hence Caple’s decision to take control of its own destiny. This recent inclusion of adult football, following the successful introduction of over 35’s and now bolstered by the formation of an amateur side, helps satisfy specific criteria of a SFA quality mark audit that is nearing completion. Indeed, Caple fully expect to be assigned the pinnacle level of Legacy Status, the first Club in the region to merit such a prestigious award.

Craig continued “We just can’t wait for pre-season to get started. Everything is in place; potential squad members, coaching & management team, training & playing facilities with our home venue agreed as the Navy grass pitch at Rhu (weather permitting) and alternatively the artificial turf at Hermitage Academy, a dedicated physio for sports injuries, our team sponsor for kit and even post-match hospitality being arranged since we aim to host our opposition after every home fixture. We have already identified the nucleus of our squad, mainly ex Caple players who have come through the youth ranks over the years and are currently scattered across a variety of teams and a variety of leagues, both amateur and at the junior grade. We shall be reaching out to all of them in due course and hope to see some of them at our 50th anniversary sports dinner this Saturday at The Commodore. Whilst providing a pathway for Caple players (past, present & future) is a clear objective, we should emphasise that membership is open to anyone and everyone possessing the right blend of experience and desire to play at the highest level. Those interested should get in touch ASAP by calling me on 07378-272744.”