Thriving Wyrley Juniors are looking to expand

The 34-year-old club, which caters for a huge range of ages and abilities, will boast a whopping 64 teams this season, including five adult men's teams and three ladies' sides.

At junior level, Wyrley will be represented by 14 girls' teams and 39 boys' teams, while a walking football outfit and two disabled sides complete an impressive line-up.

Also not to be forgotten is the club's academy for four to seven-year-olds, based at Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre on Saturday mornings.

The girls-only academy for five to nine-year-olds on Tuesday evenings at the Long Lane ground, and a goalkeeper centre every Wednesday, also at Cheslyn Hay.

Keith Hardy, who has been chairman since 1997, said: "Probably about five years ago, we had about 40 teams.

"There has been a good progression, with about five new teams being added each year.

"We are creating three of four brand new girls' teams every year as well, so we are one of the biggest clubs in the area, if not the region."

The club's main base is on Long Lane in Great Wyrley, with the £1.15m complex opened by Sir Trevor Brooking in September 2012.

There is a plan in place as well to redevelop the Harrisons Ground on Hazel Lane, where they have secured a 20-year lease and several of their teams currently play.

Wyrley Juniors are a sister club of Birmingham City Ladies FC, they are one of 125 clubs nationally who are part of Team Nike and they have a formal link with AFC Bunclody in Ireland.

Over the years, they have received a number of awards in recognition of their efforts to get youngsters in the community playing the sport.

In 2011, Wyrley received the National FA Community Club of the Year award and landed the Queen's Award for Voluntary Services two years later.

Last year, they were awarded the Staffordshire FA Community Club of the Year gong for the sixth time in 12 years, and also picked up Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Community Club of the Year.

Hardy got the Regional FA Award for Outstanding Contribution to Community Football and was runner up nationally in 2010.

He said: "I was voted in recently for my 20th season as chairman. There's 100 or more people at this club that are working hard, giving up their time for free to coach their teams and get people involved."

One of the club's teams that has has recently won a trophy is the Wyrley Juniors Panthers under-11s girls.

They emerged victorious from the ESF Grand Final at St George's Park – England's training base in Burton upon Trent – with the ESF Championship Trophy.

The team has collected an incredible 14 trophies in the last two years and made it to the finals, after winning a qualifying tournament in Skegness.

In the grand finale, the Panthers topped the table with four wins and a draw without conceding a goal.

Manager Chris Nicholls said: "It was the icing on the cake to win the ESF Grand Finale.

"After only losing once in 60 games, over a two-year period, it is an incredible achievement for the girls who have developed so much.

"The aim for the ESF Grand Finale was to go and win it and to do so against strong teams from all across the country was fantastic.

"The tournament was very well run and the pitches and facilities at St George's Park were great."

Also, Wyrley Panther Juniors under-14s boys have received £500 of funding ahead of their first season in the 11-a-side format.

The team was given the cash via ASDA's Community Life project.

Manager Matt Love said: "Throughout the season it will play for new kits winter gear, any team building events for the lads to go out on and socialise.

"Also it goes a long way to paying for fees for referees and other things like that.

"My philosophy is to give as many people a chance as possible and build them from the ground up.

"Some of the lads we have got couldn't kick a ball when they first joined and now they are starting every week."

Chairman Hardy is immensely proud of each one of the club's sides and, in terms, of what he sees as success for the clu.

He added: "We have got teams who win a lot of trophies every year, teams that are always challenging in their divisions.

"Then we have teams who rarely win any trophies,but do it for the enjoyment. We welcome anybody who wants to play.

"We do our best to not turn anyone away so if there are no spaces in a team then we look to create a new one for those who are looking to get involved.

"The true success for the club is having as many teams playing football as possible."