Sandhurst Development FC was set up by Sandhurst Town in 2001 with the intention of progressing younger players from local boys clubs into adult football. After three years of success the "Sandhurst Devels" were established as an independent organisation in 2004.

In their first season as a club, they finished 2nd in the Aldershot District Senior League, losing out by one point. They also managed to reach the Quarter Finals of the League Cup in the same season.

Since then, the Devels have finished no lower than second in the league and eventually won it on the last day of the season in 2007. As the Devels were doing so well and attracting a lot of players, they took the decision to start up a Reserves Team. This would act as a starting block for the younger players before progressing into the First Team. It would also act as a way of recuperating players after injuries or bad runs of form. In the Reserves', or DevDevs as they call themselves, first season (2007/08) they finished 4th in the Second Division and also won the Aldershot League Cup beating local rivals Yateley 4-0.

Since then the club progressed well and at the start of the 2008/09 season took the step to move both teams into the well publicized Reading Leagues. These leagues are fully covered by the Reading Evening Post and Reading Chronicle newspapers. The First Team secured a 5th place finish in the competitive Senior Division under the guidance of Chris Reid and also reached the Senior League Cup Final at The Madejski Stadium, where we were unlucky to be edged out 0-1 by the league champions Woodley Town.

There was to be no denying Phil Gater's reserve team however as The Dev Devs famously marched to the 2nd Division title and added a cup double by triumphing in the Junior League Cup Final. Captain Chris Sigley lifted the cup after a 3-1 AET victory over Marlow at Newbury Town, the mercurial Lee Gooch, Matt Watkins and Ant Andrews grabbing the goals.

Season 2009/10 saw the first team claim 3rd place in the Senior Division, with arguably only a cruciate ligament injury to Kiwi goalkeeper Craig Wilkins denying a clear run at the title. After a 6th place finish in Division 1, the reserve team bade a find farewell to legendary manager Phil Gater, who departed the club for fatherhood reasons.

2010/11 saw the first team go one better, securing a 2nd place finish in the Senior Division just missing out to champions Highmoor Ibis (who the Devs brilliantly defeated 3-1 away from home during the season finale). Matt Dodds picked up the reserve team mantle from Gater and led the side to more silverware, this time a 4-0 Junior Cup triumph over Wargrave at Scours Lane.

2011 was the end of an era, with Chris Reid resigning the first team manager position after 5 highly successful seasons. Several other long term stalwarts also announced their retirements. Reidy became Chairman while assistant manager Scott Kenward took over the first team manager role, ably assisted by A Team joint player/manager Doug Hunter.

2011/12 was a turbulent season for the club which ended in a 9th place league finish. However many younger stepped up into the first team and acquitted themselves well, most notably in a 7 match run of league wins, still a club record, including a famous 3-0 defeat of league leaders Westwood United. Another club legend retired at the end of the season, captain Ally Reid, who served the club with distinction for 13 years.

2012/13 saw further improvement on the field, with the first team rising to 5th place, narrowly missing out on a top-4 finish having again finished the season strongly including a 4-1 away defeat of outgoing champions South Reading. Top scorer Mark Farrell, Richard Steel and club captain Tommy Evans all played starring roles. The reserves were facing their own challenges as a result of the multitude of first team retirements, often stretching resources to breaking point.

Credit must go to club legends Craig Wilkins and David Shearman who ably stepped into the roles as manager and assistant respectively. Several young players were given their chance which continues to stand the club in excellent stead today.

2013/14 was another season of consolidation, with several of the STBGFC under 18 side given their debut seasons. Kenward and Hunter again guided the side to 5th place, secured courtesy of another strong finish with 5 wins in7. Unfortunately reigning league champs Reading YMCA were too strong in the cup quarter finals but overall a positive season which saw Rob Candlish named managers player of the season after over 100 appearances for the club with Dan Gosling (the only ever present) picking up Young player of the season.

Further challenges were experienced by Wilkins and Shearman with the reserves but relegation was averted with an 8th place finish and several under 16s were given their debuts as the club stayed true to its principles of youth development.

It was very much a case of all change at the end of the season with Kenward, Hunter, Wilkins and Shearman all resigning their managerial roles due to personal reasons. However the ship had been steadied and solid foundations in place with lots of youth talent coming through again as the club passed its 10th anniversary of independence.

The club was delighted to name Peter Kelleher as First Team player manager for the 2014/15 season. Pedro will be assisted by Ian Needham, who recently announced his playing retirement due to injury. Pedro will be entrusted with returning the club to the top-3 and securing more silverware after a 4 year absence. As always, the club will continue to give young players a chance to succeed.

The Devels play their home games at the Sandhurst Recreation Ground on Saturday afternoons. Facilities at the rec include their own designated changing rooms and showers and a bar. The Devels also have access to 2 full sized adult football pitches.

The aim of the Sandhurst Devels FC is to encourage younger players from boys football and progress them into men's football and help them establish as promising young footballers. The Devels currently has over 40 players signed on ranging from just 16 to 30. About 95% of the players signed on have played for Sandhurst Town Boys FC since they were under 8s, all the way through. The team also includes 8 ex-club captains too.

Sandhurst Devels FC

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