IT IS 20 years since Headley Sports Association was re-invented – the anniversary is next month – and it marks two decades of sporting success that has shown how good management can create a harmony among the variety of clubs under its umbrella.

Although it is a small village, Headley can boast sports clubs that have more than made their mark in local sporting history and they all radiate from their home base, the Headley Recreation Ground with its large playing field, bowling green and tennis courts.

Standing alongside is the impressive pavilion built as a shell for £180,000 with the help of Lottery funding, and completed by volunteers.

Then in 2001 the upper storey, with its balcony overlooking the grounds, was added.

Association chairman Don Stevens explained: “Before we built the pavilion most of the clubs were making do with not very suitable places to change and keep their equipment such as the bowls club were using an old portable classroom.

“This is when the association, which had lapsed, was re-invented so that we could raise money to provide one building that would act as a hub for all our clubs.”

Don Stevens works with a management committee plus four appointed trustees.

After the pavilion was built the association handed ownership to Headley Parish Council – which always maintain its full backing to sport in the village – which then leased it back to the association for a peppercorn rent.

The pavilion is also headquarters of the Headley Sports Association which makes the football, cricket, bowls and tennis run smoothly but equally important ensure that the funding is there to support them.

“The parish council maintains the exterior and we look after the interior,” said Mr Stevens, who describes the trustees’ monthly meeting as crucial to the continued success of the association.

They deal with any problems that might arise with the various clubs plus keeping a close eye on the money needed to keep things running.”

They have a lot to juggle with as the cricket alone – the first matches in Headley were played on the Glebe Fields 130 years ago – boasts three senior teams, a ladies team formed two years ago, and a junior section.

Football has three senior teams plus a veterans’ team and a large youth football section and it is clear the pride Mr Stevens has in this group of youngsters, whose ages range from six to 17 and have won accolades and trophies for their sporting prowess.

“They are one of our most successful groups but we also have our very successful bowls teams,” said Don – both he and his wife, Betty, play for the club.

“They really make their mark in the leagues and we also enjoy some very friendly home matches.”

Although part of the association, Headley Tennis Club has its own small pavilion by its floodlit courts and competes in both the East Hants summer and winter leagues.

One of the main roles of the association is the “binding together” of all the clubs who use the recreation ground and acting as peacemakers should a situation arise between them.

“They all have different needs” said Mr Stevens, “And we help avoid confrontation in the system, such as, as our constitution states, the cricket season is from April to September when they have priority of the ground and the football season the winter months.

“However they sometimes overlap and if they do, depending on whose time slot they overlap, the cricket has to ask permission of the footballers and vice versa to play final matches.”

With such a wide range of successful sport in Headley, money is always needed for expansion.

In fact Mr Stevens admits their next big project will be to take over a neighbouring field to expand their facilities, particularly to provide more room for the youth football and also grass courts for the tennis club.”

“We have a footfall of 900 people using the pavilion and grounds and we need to expand and also build a bigger car park,” he explained.

“We will be consulting the parish council, which owns the land and who are always such a great support to us, but we will need to start raising money to do it.”

So it is surprising he shows no anger after Whitehill Town Council voted, at its June meeting, that the £400,000 developers’ contributions for sporting facilities to be divided between both them and in Headley and Lindford, should only be used for Bordon and Whitehill.

“It wasn’t what was proposed when the Green Town development was agreed as developers’ contributions were to be used for a wider area of sport than just Bordon and Whitehill.

“I think Whitehill Council have made a blinkered decision or do they think once they get all the sporting facilities they need they can keep all the people who play in their clubs inside the boundaries of the town?

“It doesn’t work like that. We have players who come from other villages and town because they have friends who play here, who like our facilities, and there should be more consultation on this and some sort of alliance worked out between us.”

At present income comes in the way of membership fees and grants from the parish council.

But the association has also made the pavilion pay for itself by renting it out to various groups.

For example the Arford Bells practice there every Monday, a nursery school uses the downstairs rooms and in the winter the pavilion is used by a table tennis club.

It can also be hired for functions, parties and meetings and is a popular venue.

Next month will mark a 20-year success story for the association but, so far, said Mr Stevens, there were no plans to mark the occasion.

However there could be another anniversary celebration as Mr Stevens, who was born in Yorkshire and is a former divisional officer with Guildford Fire Brigade, and his wife will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary next month.

They have lived in Headley since he retired.

“I love the rural life and wanted to find a pretty village after working in towns all my life and we were very lucky we found Headley,” he said.

If they do have an anniversary party it will be a big one as they have five children and 11 grandchildren.

But Mr Stevens said: “I don’t know if anything is being planned.

“My wife isn’t saying anything,” he laughed.