We, together with Concept4Football and the Safer Neighbourhood Teams, brought ‘football fever’ to Sutton in the run up to The World Cup.
As part of our community cohesion projects to encourage young people to get more involved in their neighbourhood we ran a Youth Football Event at Sutton Arena over the recent half term.
With the support of Concept4Football, a professional football coaching company run by Gwynne Berry and the Safer Neighbourhood Teams, headed by PCSO Stephen King, we held football coaching sessions and mini World Cup tournaments.
Every day for the half term week over 60 boys and girls ranging from 7-16 years of age came along to take part in our football extravaganza.
At the end of the day the kids were given SHP Youth Football Event football bags and water bottles, kindly sponsored by our partners Smith & Byford and KNK Building Limited and produced by Recognition Express, as well as special SHP Youth Football Event gold medals.
On one of the days we were lucky enough to be joined by John Salako, an English former professional football player, who popped down to share his ‘footballing experience’ with the kids. He not only took part in the football sessions with the kids but also answered loads of their footie questions.
Lynne Mitchell, SHP’s Community Development Officer, who organised the event said: "We’ve all had a fantastic time and I’m thrilled that the football event has been such a great hit with the kids.
"I can’t thank Concept4Football, the Safer Neighbourhood Teams, Sutton Arena, Smith & Byford, KNK, enough for all their help and support. A special thank you to Recognition Express for our fantastic banner and of course a huge thank you to John Salako.
"Most of all I want to thank the children for coming along and their mums and dads for making their lunches and ferrying them all around!
"We hope to carry on with these tournaments and hopefully we can start to improve the lives of the kids that live in our borough - it's all about getting out in the fresh air, exercising and meeting new people."
One of the kids, Nyah aged 9 from Sutton, said: "Today’s been great, it gets you active and gets people off the street. Mums get peace and quite while the kids are having fun!"
If you came along to one of our footie sessions and want to tell us all about your day and what it meant to you then why not add a comment on our Facebook wall or email us at Football2010@suttonhousingpartnership.org.uk|
Posted on Friday 11th June 2010