How Things Stands at the Moment

It was back in 1995 that Rocky and Grace McMiIlan put together an Under 8 side so their two sons and their friends could enjoy football.  “We’d returned as a family from the Middle East.  The boys wanted to join a football club.  They went along to a local set up but we weren’t happy with the coaching or the general organisation.  Rocky and I thought we could do it better,” stated Grace. “That club has gone. Glebe is still here”.

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“But why Glebe?”

“Our first match was on Glebe Way, over in West Wickham,” Grace continued, “but we had no home and played on whatever ground was available.  Initially the name was Glebe Trotters.  As the boys got older ‘Trotters’ seemed a bit uncool so we dropped that part of the name”.

Asked what Rocky was looking for back in 1995 he said, "When we came back from the Middle-East things seemed to have changed.  You got that feeling it was not as safe for kids to go out on their own.  It also seemed some junior football clubs were off the pace at recognising the importance of safeguarding.  As Gracie said, we reckoned we could do better.  So we set about creating a safe space that helped kids get better at football."  

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"But I wanted us to be top class.  It was about helping young people become good footballers.  Using my connections we went about getting good quality coaches.  Our success has been built on these things: high standards, top coaches, safe environment, and a will to win.  I won't compromise on those objectives."

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From those humble beginnings Glebe now runs fun training sessions for children aged 4 – 6 years has over 20 Junior Teams from Under 7s to Under 18s.  There is a Ladies’ Senior side and the men’s senior team play in the Sea Pioneer Southern Counties East Premier League.  The most recent development has been the Wildcats for girls between the ages of 5 and 11.