HARWICH and Parkeston and Dovercourt Vipers are joining forces and merging - giving hundreds of youngsters in the town a clear pathway from youth football into the men's game.

The Vipers have been a feeder club for their senior neighbours for two years but now the pair are fully amalgamating.

The Dovercourt outfit, an FA Charter Standard Club, are changing their name to Harwich and Parkeston Youth, which, in turn, will feed into Harwich and Parkeston.

"The sleeping giant (Harwich and Parkeston) is about to get a very rude awakening," said delighted Vipers chairman Chris Smith, who will now be chairman of Harwich and Parkeston Youth.

"Following the alliance between the clubs two years ago, we felt the connection needed to be more cohesive.

"After discussions with (Harwich and Parkeston chairman) Tony Armstrong, it was therefore agreed unanimously by the Dovercourt Vipers committee to amalgamate fully with Harwich and Parkeston.

"There were obviously reservations about the name of our club coming to an end, after the hard work and success we made of it.

"However, looking at the bigger picture and the prospect of joining forces with a club so rich in history, we decided it could be nothing but a good thing to merge completely.

"Hopefully this move will restore Harwich and Parkeston back to its former glory and it would also be a fitting legacy to Dovercourt Vipers.

"It gives the youth teams coming through a clear vision and pathway through to adult football.

"And it means there will be a seamless progression from each of the two current youth clubs, Harwich and Parkeston Mini Shrimpers to Harwich and Parkeston Youth, feeding into Harwich and Parkeston.

"They will all now be playing under the same structure.

"I think most children in the area dream of playing in a school final at the Royal Oak.

"Now the reality is that when they reach their mid-teens, the stadium, complete with covered seating and floodlights, will be their home pitch.

"This can only be a good thing for football in the community, with such superb facilities on most people’s doorstep.

"It will bring local youth talent through the ranks and strengthen the senior side, to hopefully help them push on through the leagues."

Long-serving Harwich and Parkeston chairman Tony Armstrong was equally upbeat about the development.

"The timing could not be better, given the success of our team last season and (manager) Glenn Eldridge having had a fantastic first campaign," he said.

"We're also proud to announce that we've been incredibly fortunate to secure sponsorship from Sato UK.

"They're a well-known local labelling company who have agreed to purchase a kit for every player in our club. It's great news."