Former Terras director named Ridgeway chairman

FORMER Weymouth director Tony Greaves has been voted in as Ridgeway FC’s new chairman at the club’s AGM.

The former Portland United chairman succeeds now director of football Tim Davis, who has transformed the club formerly known as Redlands Rebels.

Ridgeway operates a multitude of teams for all ages, and abilities while playing a huge part in the community at Littlemoor and surrounding area.

Greaves was a Terras director from May 2012 to January 2017, following a stint as Portland United chairman between April 2008 and May 2012.

READ MORE: Portland United and Ridgeway announce new partnership

In a Ridgeway statement, Greaves said: “It is a great honour to be asked to become chairman of this fantastic football club, and it was an easy decision for me to make having boys, girls, men, ladies, disabled players and mum’s teams playing under our banner.

"We are really trying to encompass and offer football to anybody and everybody who wants to play, learn and be coached in a friendly and professional manner by quality coaches.

“We have many more ideas and plans to push on and improve and expand our offering. Watch this space.

“I cannot end without mentioning Tim and thanking him for asking me if I would take the role of chairman, as without him this club would not exist and he will be a hard act to follow.

“As Tim is now becoming our director of football it has, in my opinion, made my job a whole lot easier.”

Outgoing chairman Davis reflected on his time as chief, telling Echosport: “In the two years since I created the club, I have worked tirelessly to position Ridgeway at the forefront of football clubs in Dorset and we have achieved so much in such a short period of time.

“We have achieved the highest three-star FA Accredited club award and that has been done with the fantastic support of the committee, managers, coaches, parents, volunteers and players.

“We have established a fantastic pathway for children of all abilities to enjoy their football all the way from when they come into the club at three years up to the adult teams.

“To keep up with demand we have now created a second men’s and a second women’s development team.

“We have forged a superb partnership with Dorset Abilities Group and provide coaching for their attendees.

“Working closely with Top Club Littlemoor, we have established football for children from the estate and surrounding areas and now get around 150-200 children a week attending sessions.

“This has also played its part in assisting the authorities with crime reduction and teaching the children old fashioned values of discipline and respect.

“We have several more exciting projects which are soon to be launched.

“I have realised to take the club further forward as we enter into becoming a partner club with Redlands Leisure & Community Sports Hub I needed help and support and I am delighted that Tony, who I have known for a long time and shares the same values, agreed to become chairman.

“By moving upstairs to a director of football role this gives me more opportunity to further extend the services the club offers and know that the day to day running of Ridgeway is in safe hands with Tony at the helm."

Elsewhere, Ridgeway have unveiled a new programme named ‘Fitball’.

The club has for around a year been working with the Dorset FA and The FA to get the scheme up and running.

Ridgeway are aiming the initiative as a function to improve children’s health and wellbeing, whilst raising awareness of fitness issues at a young age.

The sessions will commence on Wednesday, July 10.