A “PROPER village” football club is celebrating a century of playing the sport this year.

Bramley United Football Club was formed in 1919 and this year will mark 100 years of its existence.

And in the clubs centenary year, so far things have got off to a flyer with, at the time of publication, Bramley United are unbeaten in the league and have a great chance to go on and win the 2018/2019 League One with that unbeaten record in place.

Formed just a year after the end of the First World War, the club has achieved a number of honours including winning the Basingstoke Division One title on three occasions (1959/60, 1967/68, 1977/78) and claiming the Peter Raynbird Cup in 2004.

Many of the players or members of backroom staff at the club have come through the ranks and following in family members footsteps.

Club secretary, Mick Walsh, told The Gazette: “Some of the people we have playing at the moment either their dads or grandfathers used to play as well.

“It’s a proper village club where everyone seems to know each other’s families and there is just a nice sense of community at the club.”

Mick himself joined the club in 1974, playing at the age of 15 and working his way up to club secretary.

Even though the love of the game is the common denominator for a lot of the players, the club is also a place to socialise and make friends.

One of the current crop of players, player manger Simon Goff, said: “I moved to Bramley from Burghfield Common in 2010.

“I met some of the Bramley United lads in the pub and I was invited along to training. Since then I’ve been a regular in the team and have for the last two seasons been player manager and am also a member of the committee.

“I was made to feel so welcome from day one and have felt a part of the Bramley family ever since. I’ve made friends for life at the club but also in the wider community since I joined.”

The club is now looking to continue on its great tradition and make sure its legacy carries of for another century.

Anyone looking to join the club or just looking for more information can contact club secretary Mick Welsh or send a message to the teams Facebook page facebook.com/Bramleyutdfc.