AFC Kesgrave were formed in 2007 as a single U10’s youth side, who were previously aligned with another local club. The aim was to create an inclusive football club, with a positive and safe environment that concentrated on the development of young players, without the element of winning at all costs. As the club grew, and in parallel to this, the coaches were also encouraged and supported to develop their own skills, as an enabler for this to happen.

The initial aim was to concentrate on establishing a stable youth setup, with the year on year priority to create a new U8 team to build from the bottom up, which proved a huge success . There was also a vision to create a pathway to enable youth football to transition into adult football by the time the original U10 team completed the U16 season.

2013/14 saw the introduction of girls football with 3 age groups being established. Whilst girls/womens football has not grown at the same pace, AFC Kesgrave still boasts an adult womens side that is now firmly established in the local Womens Premier league.

The start of the 2015/16 season signified a major milestone for the club. All youth age groups were represented with at least one team, and it also saw the introduction of adult football. Willis FC, who had been playing in Division 3 of the Suffolk & Ipswich League (SIL) , became “AFC Kesgrave & Willis”, providing a pathway from U8 football through to adult football. A brand new reserve team was also created, starting in the bottom division of the SIL (Div 6). This consisted of mainly players coming out of AFC Kesgrave U16 in addition to other young players from the area.

The 1st team gained promotion in the first season into Div 2, which was promptly followed by winning Div 2 the following season into Div 1. The reserve team also gained promotions in parallel.

By the 2016/17 season, AFC Kesgrave & Willis then became AFC Kesgrave to formally bring all teams under the single AFC Kesgrave brand that has proved very successful so far.

In 2017 we added a Veterans (Over 35s) in the Norfolk and Suffolk Vets League who have climbed to Division 1 South. In 2018 we introduced an adult mens third team (A team) which has proved very successful for our younger players to transition into adult football.

The AFC Kesgrave adult male 1st team have been very successful in County competitions winning the Junior Cup in 2018 and 2023 respectively. The aim now is to gain promotion into Senior football to provide a stable base in which to grow further in years to come, and to make that pathway from youth to adult football even more attractive.

AFC Kesgrave

Uppakessie - Newsletter September 24