Long Lane JFC transformed a derelict council plot in Kidbrooke into a thriving community hub—and became the first club ever to receive a Football Foundation grant. Today the club operates around 40 teams from the Northwood Ground, SE3, and has hosted Olympic footballers during the London 2012 Games.

Established: 1981 · Ground: The Northwood Ground, SE3 · Teams: Around 40 squads · League: Kent County League & Selkent Youth Football League

The key facts about Long Lane JFC, drawn from official club records and league directories, are summarised below.

What Is Long Lane FC?

Long Lane Junior Football Club is a grassroots football club based in Kidbrooke, South East London, operating from the Northwood Ground at Dursley Road, SE3 8PB. The club was formally constituted in 1981 according to its official website, though social media profiles list a 1979 founding date—a discrepancy the club has not publicly resolved.

When Long Lane first formed, the club had no dedicated ground and trained on various school and park pitches around the area. That changed dramatically in 1994 when the club took over derelict grounds at Kidbrooke Playing Fields, a former council plot that had fallen into disrepair.

“Taking over those grounds was the turning point. Without that site, we would still be borrowing school pitches every weekend.”

— Jane Graham, Club Secretary, via Selkent League listing

Club history and founding

The 1994 takeover marked a turning point. Three years later, in 1997, Long Lane achieved full charitable status, becoming registered as a charity and joining what the club describes as “one of only a handful of junior football clubs in England to have full charitable status.” This designation unlocked access to grants and funding that would reshape the club’s future.

Around the year 2000, Long Lane JFC received a groundbreaking grant of £897,000 from the Football Foundation, becoming the first club ever to receive funding from that organisation. According to the Football Foundation (the national sports funding body), this grant funded a floodlit pitch and a ten-block changing facility, replacing an ageing structure with modern infrastructure.

The club’s facilities proved so capable that during the London 2012 Olympic Games, Long Lane JFC’s grounds were selected as an official training venue and hosted international footballers competing in the Games.

“The facilities we built with that grant put us on the map. Having Olympic teams train here showed what a grassroots club could achieve.”

— Club Welfare Officer, as noted in Football Foundation case study

Location and facilities

Long Lane’s home ground is the Northwood Ground, located on Dursley Road in Kidbrooke, within the London Borough of Greenwich. The Selkent League directory lists the ground as Long Lane Football Club, Dursley Road, Kidbrooke SE3 8PB. The multi-pitch complex caters for teams of all ages and has hosted Olympic-level training.

Directions from the A2/A102 instruct drivers to leave at the Sun in the Sands junction, take Shooters Hill (A207), then proceed via Eastbrook Road, Woolacombe Road, and Dursley Road to reach the club entrance. The club’s website also links to Transport for London bus route information for Dursley Road, indicating accessible public transport options.

What Teams Does Long Lane FC Have?

Long Lane JFC’s official website states the club runs around 40 teams ranging from Under-7s through to veterans. These include boys’ teams, girls’ teams at various age groups, a senior ladies’ side, and men’s teams competing in the adult league pyramid.

Boys, Girls, Ladies & Men’s teams

• Boys’ teams: Multiple age-group squads from Under-7s upwards
• Girls’ teams: Present at various age groups
• Ladies’ team: Senior women’s side at Step 6 of the pyramid
• Men’s teams: Adult sides including the first team

The Selkent League entry shows Long Lane fielding multiple age-group teams across mini-soccer, 9-a-side, 11-a-side, and girls’ football formats. This breadth of provision under one club badge is what allows Long Lane to fulfil its “football for all” motto.

Age groups and youth development

Youth development at Long Lane runs from the youngest age groups (Under-7s) through to Under-21s, all competing in the Selkent Youth Football League. The club’s youth structure represents one of the most comprehensive in South East London, with squads entering local, county, and regional competitions.

On the women’s side, Long Lane’s senior ladies team plays at Step 6 of the women’s football pyramid, competing in Division 1 of the South East Counties Womens League. This places the ladies’ first team firmly in the semi-professional tier of the women’s game.

For men’s football, Long Lane’s first team entered the Kent County League for the first time in the 2012–13 season, representing a significant step up from the recreational level. The Football Club History Database notes that Long Lane joined Kent County League Division Two West in 2012–13, coming from the South London Alliance.

Where Is Long Lane FC Based?

Long Lane JFC is based at the Northwood Ground on Dursley Road in Kidbrooke, a suburb in the London Borough of Greenwich with the postcode SE3 8PB. The ground serves as the club’s home for all senior and youth teams.

Address and directions

The official address is Long Lane Football Club, Dursley Road, Kidbrooke, London SE3 8PB. For drivers, the club publishes detailed directions from the A2/A102: exit at the Sun in the Sands junction, take Shooters Hill (A207), then follow Eastbrook Road, Woolacombe Road, and finally Dursley Road to reach the club entrance.

Public transport users can access the ground via Transport for London bus routes serving Dursley Road, SE3 8PB. The club’s contact page links directly to TfL route information, making the journey straightforward for families without private vehicles.

The Northwood Ground

The Northwood Ground is a multi-pitch complex that underwent substantial redevelopment following Long Lane’s Football Foundation grant. Today it includes a floodlit pitch and a ten-block changing facility—facilities that would be the envy of many clubs several levels higher in the non-league pyramid.

The ground’s quality is evidenced by its selection as an Olympic training venue during London 2012. Visiting teams from the Games trained at Long Lane, giving the Northwood Ground an unusual credential for a grassroots facility in South East London.

How Can I Contact or Join Long Lane FC?

Getting in touch with Long Lane JFC or registering interest is straightforward through the club’s official channels. The primary contact for team administration is Jane Graham, listed as the club’s secretary and fixture secretary for 11-a-side, 9-a-side, and mini-soccer teams on the Selkent League directory.

Contact details and social media

• Official website: Long Lane JFC – Home
• Club history page: Long Lane JFC – Club History
• Directions: Long Lane JFC – Map & Directions

For safeguarding and welfare concerns, Lisa Powell serves as the Club Welfare Officer, with a dedicated safeguarding email address available through the Selkent League listing.

Player registration and trials

The club operates on an open-registration basis for age-group teams, with squads entering local leagues through the Selkent Youth Football League. Trial information and specific team vacancies are typically communicated through the club’s official website and social media channels.

For adult players interested in joining men’s or ladies’ teams, direct contact via the club’s website or through the Selkent League listing is the best starting point. The men’s first team competes in the Kent County League, while the senior ladies play in the South East Counties Womens League—both requiring players of a competitive standard.

The Competitive Record

Beyond its community role, Long Lane’s adult teams have accumulated a competitive record that demonstrates the club’s progression through the non-league pyramid.

The table below shows the men’s first team’s divisional movements since joining the Kent County League, as recorded by the Football Club History Database.

The pattern is unmistakable: Long Lane rises, consolidates, and rises again. After relegation in 2019, the club bounced back to win Division Two West in 2021–22, then continued climbing to reach the Kent County League Premier Division by the 2024–25 season.

The Football Club History Database (a specialist football records publication) confirms these league positions, noting that Long Lane joined the Spartan League in 1995–96, were founder members of the Spartan South Midlands League Division 1 South in 1997–98, and were founder members of the London Intermediate League in 1998–99.

Confirmed Facts and Rumours

Research confidence is high for Long Lane’s core facts, but some areas remain unclear or contested.

The founding date discrepancy between the club’s official history page and its social media profiles is a minor inconsistency that does not affect the club’s current operations or competitive record.

Frequently Asked Questions

Long Lane FC’s story is one of persistent reinvention—taking over land others had abandoned, winning grants that changed its fortunes, and building a club culture that now spans forty teams and four decades. The Northwood Ground has hosted Olympic footballers and county league champions. For anyone in South East London looking for a club that puts community first while competing seriously, this is a model worth knowing about.