Andover FC took another step towards their goal of being a true community club this week as they welcomed the youth sides of RPM to the Portway.

The 13 youth teams, who now play under the banner of RPM Andover, held their AGM at the Portway on Wednesday night, and those in charge were full of optimism for the season ahead.

It is the first time in decades that Andover FC have had a youth set-up affiliated to the club.

And it is a sign that the club's management want to be seen as more than just the first team, and will be involving the town at all levels.

With Andover also having a reserve side in the Wessex League combination in the forthcoming season, for the first time in years, it means the club will be in its strongest position since the 1960s to offer football at all levels to local players.

The RPM Andover set-up runs from U7s to U18s, with teams in the Peter Houseman Youth League, the Testway Youth League and the Hampshire youth division in the older age bracket. More than 150 youngsters take part every weekend during the season, and the youth set-up is financially self-sustaining, thanks to sponsors and donations.

RPM Andover is also celebrating achieving the status of an FA Charter Standard Club, which means it has passed stringent tests of excellence set by the FA. The challenge now, says youth section chairman Martin Mitty, is to achieve the next standard, of an FA Charter Development Club.

"We've achieved the aims we had when we began in 1992," he said. "And now the younger players know they have a goal to aim for, all the way to the first team at Andover. Paul Hughes, who has had a successful season for Andover this year, is a former RPM boy, and I'm sure he won't be the last."

On 21 June RPM Andover will be holding a six-a-side tournament at Winton School, involving 2,500 players and families -- and Andover FC's players will be there to lend support. In July, there will be a sponsored marathon football match in aid of local charities.