It's time to turn survival into success, says Uppermill FC chairman Steve

As the club gears up for its centenary year in 2023, Uppermill FC chairman Steve Southern is eyeing significant progress both on and off the pitch.

Founded in 1923, Uppermill have grown from humble beginnings in the last 99 years or so, but right now the hopes and aspirations are high that a bright and successful future beckons.

"I've always said that Uppermill is a big, small club," Dobcross-based Steve, who is 54, told the Chronicle.

"We've got 25 or so teams on the go at present - three senior sides in the Manchester League, one vets team and 20-odd junior sides.

"We're really popular in the area, and when I was asked to become chairman of the club 12 months ago, I didn't hesitate.

"I've recently sold my business, so I found myself having a little more time to look at the structure of the club, and the strategy going forward.

“I feel we now have the structure of the senior section where we want it to be, with a strong first team, and a reserve team full of young players.

"Plus, our third senior team, our development team, is last season’s under 16s team. 

“The three managers of the senior teams are all pulling in the same direction for the long-term success of the club.

“Looking to the future too, we have three current under 16s teams and an under 17s team, and the task will be to create a conveyor belt for these players and coaches to join the senior structure in the seasons to come.

"The first team, under (ex-Chadderton and Royton Town) manager Mark Howard were promoted back to the Premier Division last season and we're flying high this season.

"The objective was just to stay up this season really, but Mark is a great guy and a great manager and the lads are more than just surviving.

"They probably are punching above their weight at the moment, but we have had some terrific results this season.

"Mark has resurrected the senior teams since he came in, and looking ahead, that's going to give us a platform for sustained success."

An experienced past player and manager, Steve is now determined to move Uppermill into a much more prominent position on the amateur football landscape with the help of his considerable business acumen, but they need their own headquarters first as they currently base themselves out of the Churchill fields satellite centre, along with other local grassroots teams.

Steve added: "Without getting too deep, we need to set ourselves strategic goals, we need a plan to achieve those goals and we need good people around us to enable us do so.

"I'm working on a business plan now, and if we can get the structure right off the field, then we can achieve our dreams."

Steve, who took over as chairman from Uppermill stalwart Phil Butterworth last year, has played for, coached and managed local grassroots teams for more than 40 years.

A talented left-footed midfielder in his school days in Chadderton, he actually spent time in the Manchester United, Bolton Wanderers and Halifax Town junior set-ups, before injuries took their toll.

He later played for and managed the successful team at Freehold, before then enjoying four years in charge of the Diggle FC team.

He linked up with the Uppermill coaching staff in 2016, before then moving aside to take up his current role in the boardroom.

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