THESE kids’ football clubs scored a win by getting their hands on cash from our fab Footie For All Fund.
They are the first delighted recipients of £1,000 grants to help keep their squads going.
Last month we teamed up with Tesco’s Stronger Starts programme to give out £150,000 in grants to deserving clubs.
And we have been inundated with stories of teams making a difference in their communities.
From buying new boots and kit to allowing more kids to play for free, grants will help them make more of an impact.
And there is still time for you to enter as the new deadline for applications is now noon on November 13.
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Former England star John Terry backed our campaign to keep kids playing despite the cost-of-living crisis making it difficult for parents to fund their children’s training.
John said: “I’ve seen first-hand how football can change someone’s life.
“It doesn’t matter if it becomes a career or just something you continue playing for fun.
“For anyone to lose the chance to play footie would be a tragedy, but we all know times are tough for everyone thanks to rising prices.
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“I loved my time playing at grassroots level when I was little, and I want everyone to have that feeling of joy.
“It’s great that The Sun’s Footie For All Fund is helping clubs out, thanks to Tesco’s generous donation.”
Christine Heffernan, Tesco Group communications director, said: “From the range of applications that have come in so far and the stories we have heard, it’s clear to see that football clubs up and down the country need the support more than ever and that we’re reaching hundreds more children as a result of this funding.
“It’s encouraging to know that the Tesco Stronger Starts and Footie for All partnership will be getting children into doing what they love, playing more footie more often.”
Here we show how our deserving recipients are putting the money to work so far.
BEAMISH FC, STANLEY, COUNTY DURHAM
THIS grassroots team near Gateshead gives more than 450 kids a chance to play football in a safe space throughout the week.
The club is using its £1,000 grant to purchase full kits for its new reception-aged group to ensure no child feels out of place.
It means the tots, aged four to five, will get a Beamish FC shirt, shorts and jumper as well as a pair of sports socks.
Team fundraising manager, Deborah Maddison, told The Sun: “We operate in quite a deprived area which means that the cost of living is hitting families hard.
“As a club, we work really hard to make sure it is as accessible as possible for parents to send their kids here.
“Everything we do costs, which means we rely on grants like this to keep the club up and running.”
HEMINGTON HAMMERS FC, DERBY
THE Derbyshire club used to only have adult teams but decided last year to open up an under-tens squad aimed at deprived kids.
The move came after they heard from parents that many children in inner-city Derby weren’t able to play the beautiful game due to financial barriers.
Club vice chairman Andrew Bennett said: “We’ve seen their confidence grow as they’ve got better and better.
“They started the season losing most of their games and now they’re starting to win some.”
Hemington Hammers is using the £1,000 grant to accelerate their plans to take more kids on, purchase kit, pay for the training of new coaches for additional teams and cover admin costs such as first aid kits.
Andrew added: “We have seen that there is a demand for low-cost football, as we filled the first team in a matter of weeks.
“Now we hope to get more kids involved.
“The simple thing is, the more funding we get to put on the sessions, the cheaper we will make it for the kids, so they always have somewhere to play.”
PELICAN PARK COMMUNITY TRUST, HULL
PELICAN Park Community Trust in Hull does more than helping kids stay fit – it provides a chance for them to socialise and get away from potentially tough situations at home.
Now, thanks to The Sun and Tesco’s Footie For All grants, 50 more children are able to attend.
Jannette Hornby, charity manager, said: “We don’t want anyone to miss out on proper football training because of personal circumstances.
For many, it is a chance to run around and play in a safe environment, and that is vital for kids of all ages.”
Hull is one of the most underprivileged areas in the country, and a quarter of children in the city live with low income families.
The charity has been subsidising households who can no longer afford the training fees due to financial struggles.
They also offer a boot swap and provide kit free of charge, so no one is left out.
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Within just a few sessions, coaches and staff see a huge difference in the children who come.
Jannette added: “It’s a gateway for everyone into feeling better.”
THERE’S STILL TIME TO NET £1,000 FOR YOUR CLUB
DOES your child’s football club need a cash injection to keep it on the pitch?
Our Footie For All Fund is offering £1,000 grants to under-18s sides who are struggling in the financial crisis.
We have teamed up with Tesco’s Stronger Starts programme to give out £150,000 in grants and want to hear about your local club and what it does for the community.
We launched our fund after teams across the country told us how some kids are dropping out as families struggle financially.
Perhaps your side wants to offer parents help with fees, or needs new kit or space to play on.
See tescostrongerstarts.org.uk/footiefund to apply.
Applications close on November 13.
Grants are given on a rolling basis so it could start helping your club within weeks.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
