A New Year, A Stronger Club:

The Next Chapter for Methley United AFC

As Methley United AFC enters a new year, Chairman Chris Paul reflects on the club’s remarkable growth, celebrates the people behind its success, and outlines an ambitious vision for the future — including the launch of the Big Red Project to secure long-term facilities for generations to come.

Dear Coaches, Committee Members, Players, Members & Supporters.

As we welcome the New Year, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been an incredible period for Methley United AFC and to thank every single person who contributes to making this club what it is.

Player Numbers & Impact

The scale of our club today is something we can all be immensely proud of. We now have:

  • 15 girls teams competing in the WRGFL
  • 2 Girls Futsal teams
  • 3 Ladies senior teams
  • 13 Selby league teams
  • 14 Garforth league teams
  • 1 Open Age Men’s team
  • 1 Veterans Men’s team
  • Our Mini Lions section with 45 children signed up and a waiting list, with a fantastic mix of girls and boys.

Across the club, we have over 650 players registered with the FA, from Under 5s right through to Veterans, and an impressive 574 games played so far this season across multiple local sites.


One of the things I am most proud of is the continued growth of the girls’ and women’s game at Methley United. This year, 36.5% of our registered players are female, with 63.5% male, and our female participation continues to grow year on year.

This is a testament to the inclusive environment we are building and the brilliant work being done by our coaches and volunteers.

These numbers place us firmly in the top 5 clubs in the West Riding by number of teams, and top 3 in the Leeds area, which is an outstanding achievement for a grassroots club.

Many of you will remember that in 2011 the club was on the brink of folding. Since then, our focus has rightly been on growth. We have now reached a point where we shift our attention to the next phase — development, particularly around facilities and pitch provision. This aligns closely with the FA Future Fit Matrix and ensures the club is sustainable for generations to come.

The Big Red Project

From 1st January, we officially launch the Methley United AFC ‘Big Red Project’ — our ambitious plan to raise funds to develop our own 3G facility in the village.

This is a huge undertaking, with costs in the region of £800k plus VAT, but we are in a very strong position. We are grateful to have the backing of the West Riding County FA, the Football Foundation, Methley Warriors, the local council, and our local MP, all of whom are vital in helping turn this dream into reality.

 

Over the next year, we will be running multiple fundraising and community events, and I would encourage everyone connected with the club to get behind them. Every contribution, big or small, helps move us closer to our goal.

 

Our first major initiative is the launch of the ‘Big Red Project’ Club Lotto, where 50% of funds raised go towards prize money and 50% directly into the project fund. This will be a key part of our long-term fundraising strategy.

 

You can support the Club Lotto and enter here:

Enter The Club Lotto

More Events & More Engagement

We are also looking to bring back the Chairman’s Dinner, an event many of you have asked for. This will include a high-profile speaker and entertainment throughout the evening, with the aim of raising significant funds for the club. Due to demand, this is planned for 2026, and we are already excited about its return.

 

To support everything ahead, we have welcomed 20 additional volunteers onto our committee, giving us the capacity to make real progress in 2026 and beyond. If you would like to get involved and help with the Big Red Project or any other area of the club, please contact us at info@methleyunitedafc.org and we will be in touch.

Finally, we continue to build strong links with professional clubs, with scouts attending our games on a weekly basis. Looking ahead to 2026, we are exploring partnerships with Leeds United and other local professional clubs, ensuring further opportunities and benefits for both the boys’ and girls’ game — and reinforcing our aim to be the very best grassroots club we can be.

 

Thank you once again to our coaches, volunteers, players, parents, sponsors and supporters. Everything we achieve is because of your commitment, passion and belief in Methley United AFC.

 

I wish you all a happy, healthy and successful New Year — and I look forward to what we will achieve together.

Up the Reds,

 

Chris Paul

Chairman