Romsey Town Youth under 18 Panthers played their last game this weekend after playing together for over 10 years. 

Many of the current squad started training with RTYFC on Saturday mornings at Mountbatten School when they were just five and six years old. They began playing competitively 10 years ago in the under 8 5-a-side league at Southampton Sports Centre with two teams that eventually amalgamated into one team in the under 11 age group. 

Tim Sadler and Craig Oakley managed the team from the start and remained with the boys throughout their journey. They spoke of it being an absolute privilege to coach the boys and to see them develop into such fantastic young men. The team has maintained a position in the top leagues throughout, and their sportsmanship and dedication to play the right way has always been recognised by, often frustrated, opponents. They would like to extend a huge thank you to all the people who have worked so tirelessly behind the scenes over the years to keep the club operational, and to the parents of the boys for their unstinting support in their running of the team.

Special mention should be given to the following players, who have been with the team since the early times: Harvey Bascombe, Jake Allen, Morgan Oakley, Freddie Sadler, David Cox Alvarez, Otto Jenner, Alfred Clemons. To all the boys, we wish you all the very best in all your futures. You did yourselves proud.