Petersfield Town Football Club are set to merge with Petersfield Town Juniors.

The merger will go through formally at an annual general meeting on Wednesday (July 5).

The move has been in the pipeline for several months and will see the two clubs merge to give Petersfield a unified voice for youth and adult football and begin a new era for football in the town.

The planned merger was officially announced in a joint statement by Petersfield Town and Petersfield Town Juniors.

The statement said: “Over recent months Petersfield Town Juniors FC and Petersfield Town FC have been in discussions about a merger of the two clubs.

“We can now confirm that the merger will be completed at a joint annual general meeting of the two clubs on July 5.

“The new Petersfield Town Football Club will give the town a unified voice for youth and adult football with which to argue for improved facilities in the town, and support our aim to provide football for the whole community in and around Petersfield.

“We will also have a clubhouse and home at Love Lane stadium for all our members.

“In order to complete the merger, both existing clubs, Petersfield Town Juniors FC and Petersfield Town FC, will be formally wound up, which requires a vote at the annual general meeting.

“After both clubs are closed down at their respective annual general meetings, we will convene a general meeting to form the new club on the same night, to be known as Petersfield Town Football Club, and begin a new era for football in Petersfield.

“All members are formally invited to attend the annual general meeting and witness the beginning of the next chapter for football for all in Petersfield.”

Former Petersfield Town manager and head of football Mark Summerhill was involved with the club’s early discussions with Petersfield Town Juniors, and he is delighted the merger is going ahead.

Summerhill, who left the Rams in May to take up a role as football operations manager at Southern League Premier South Division outfit Gosport Borough, said: “This is a massive step in the right direction for football in Petersfield.

“Uniting the two clubs will create a big, powerful, community football club.

“I was involved in the initial discussions with the juniors to see if there was common ground – and there was a lot of common ground.

“For the youngsters it gives them something to aspire to, and it gives more opportunities for people in the community.”