The joyous occasion was attended by David Browne, Mayor of Haringey, as well as officials of the Spartan South Midlands League and London Football Association.
There were several other guests making it a great evening.
Haringey manager Tom Loizou said: “We were meant to play a cup game. Everyone turned up and it got cancelled but we partied in the new club house. It was a good night.”
Along with the new club house Coles Park has also seen its facilities upgraded, meeting the needs of the FA if Borough were to gain for promotion – something Loizou has already set his sights on: “It means we can be financially independent and progress,” he added. “Hopefully next year we can push for promotion.”
The club’s fortunes took an upward curve last season with solid results on the pitch and financial stability off it, as the club chairman fought Haringey Council tooth and nail to prevent his club being moved from its home.
“It’s a fantastic sign of progress. Thanks to Aki Achillea the chairman for what he’s done,” said Loizou.
“He’s made it all happen for us. It’s a dream come true for him, for us and for everybody at the club.”
Aki himself is a Solicitor specialising in criminal defence work and also a higher rights advocate now representing clients himself in the Crown Court
An ardent Spurs fan and season ticket holder he now devotes his spare time to his beloved Haringey Borough Football Club. The only real football club based in White Hart Lane as he likes to say. Haringey fixtures come before Spurs when there is a clash and that perhaps demonstrates Aki’s affinity with the Club.
Haringey Borough FC has been around for over 100 years and Aki first became involved in the mid 1990’s.
He became Chairman in 2004 and has set about renovating the poor facilities to provide an income stream to move the Club to the next level in the non league Football pyramid.
During the close season the dressing rooms were moved, a new Clubhouse built, new terraces constructed and other improvements to the ground made. All self funded.
Aki said
“The ground was dilapidated and has been for years, the club simply could not progress and hence the decision to renovate and give the Club a real platform to move forward.”
“My dream is to see the Club progress as high as it can and that the best Cypriot kids grow up in North London and want to play for Haringey Borough . I intend to set up an academy that will be open to all but with our links to the Greek Cypriot League in England ( KOPA ) I would love to see more Cypriot players come through the academy.
We have Cypriot committee members including Goerge Kilikita who is well know as a Sports retailer , a great manager in Tom Loizou who is also manager of the Cypriot representative sides at all age groups and the best of the Cypriot coaches around, Peter Theori and Johnny Fitsiou as well as Dave Cumberbatch who is an honourary Cypriot!!”
John Bacon, club secretary and life-long supporter, was also in high spirits at the grand opening. He added: “I’m ecstatic. We’ve never had anything remotely of this quality and it looks like it has the ability to be a good revenue earner.
“What it has replaced was pretty tatty and people wouldn’t really want to spend an evening socialising there. But the new one is as good as any I’ve seen.”
Bookings are already filling up with an ‘Elvis night’ tonight at the club house.
The Clubhouse has a luxurious setting with a bar a dance floor if need be. The club caters for 120 people seated and parking for over a 100 cars. The new clubhouse will cater for all occasions, we have our onsite chef Chris Christodoulou who has over 30 years catering experience and as you know have only recently opened so they still have space for Christmas and New year events both evening and during the day for office parties .
Venue address
Coles Park, White Hart Lane, London N17 7JP
If you wish to make a booking please contact Tom Loizou 07956 284480
