Club History

Akzo Juniors Football Club was formed in April 1997. The club was formed after the company AKZO NOBEL wanted to help the children of Darwen by giving something back to the community. In 1997 the club started with 5 teams - 2 under 9's, under 10's, under 11's & under 15's. With the help of sponsorship from AKZO NOBEL, we were able to give all children the chance to play football whatever their circumstances. This then progressed from five teams to fifteen teams in the space of seven years. 

Local companies helped us with kit sponsorship and lots of fundraising helped us to become one of the largest clubs around with over 200 children now playing Saturday and Sunday league football and another 30 or so just training each week.

In the first season the club was formed the players and managers were unsure of what was ahead and the emphasis was to give as many children as possible the opportunity to play football. It was a surprise to all when the under 10's team went the whole season unbeaten and won both the league trophy and the league cup. Since then, many of our teams have been successful in various leagues, cup competitions and club tournaments.

With football now becoming more and more popular, local professional clubs started to take notice of our teams. Over recent years around sixty of our players have progressed from junior league football to academies and schools of excellence, Here is a list of professional clubs our lads have been involved with.

Each year since the club was formed we have held a club holiday. In the first year, we took most of our lads on tour to Wales playing in the Easter Festival of Football and over the last eight years we have been to

The club has held various sponsored events to make it possible for all children to attend, this being the first holiday some of the lads had. 

 

Each year to help with the ever increasing costs, we hold both our annual 7 a-side Tournament and Sportsman's Dinner.

 

As always, our main aim is to give children of all abilities the chance to be the next DAVID DUNN or DAVID BECKHAM. So if anyone out there can help our cause by sponsoring a team or two PLEASE GET IN TOUCH.