HYTHE & Dibden are gearing up for a night of celebration this Friday (July 31) to mark the official opening of their Clayfields ground.

After a settling-in period last season, the Watersiders’ new surroundings now feel like home and they want to get as many people along to their housewarming as possible.

Sydenhams Wessex neighbours Fawley AFC have agreed to play a pre-season friendly, kicking off at 7.30pm, and the evening’s guests of honour will include New Forest East MP Julian Lewis and representatives of the Football Foundation.

To make the occasion even more special, Hythe would like to see as many of their former players as possible celebrating the club’s move from their long-term residence at Jones Lane.

“We’d love anyone who has played for Hythe & Dibden over the years to come along and see the new ground.

"Everyone is welcome to come down, enjoy the opening ceremony and see what’s going on here,” said chairman Dave Cox.

“We wanted to make it a local thing, so Fawley are coming to play us and there will be a draw from the SO45 charity, which does a lot of good work for local people.

“They do a monthly lottery, and half of the money will go towards the Hythe & Dibden youth section and the other half to the Fawley Falcons youth section.”

On the subject of youth, it’s a major source of pride for H&D that their move to a new home coincides with a significant milestone in player development at the Sydenhams One club.

Eight youth team graduates – Billy Coleman, Callum Croucher, brothers Matt and Jordan Smith, Conor Brannigan, Jamies Ferrier, Tom Nash and Ollie Bradley – have made the step into senior football with the Wyvern League development side and, in some cases, the first team.

“It’s crazy the way it’s all come together at the same time,” smiled Cox.

“We’ve got a new ground and this is the first time we’ve had under-18 kids coming through to the men’s side.

“We’ve got Paul Winters and Phil Swainston, two people who played for the club, running the reserves, and two more, Lee Maceacheran and my son Terry, are part of the youth section which now has 26 teams.

“Plus we’ve got a new first-team manager, Gary Wheatcroft, who the lads all love, and Scotty (assistant manager Scott Johnston) is really enjoying it too.

“We’ve been getting 50 players at training and that’s fantastic.

“The ground’s looking really good with the fence, barriers and floodlights all up and the clubhouse up and running.

“The catchment area we’re in now means there are a lot of houses around us and we’re hoping to develop as a social club and get local people in.”