Supporting National Children’s Day!

Today The Football League Trust (The FLT) and its network of clubs are supporting National Children’s Day! National Children’s Day highlights the importance of a healthy childhood to ensure that they can grow into happy, healthy adults. The Kinder +Sport Move and Learn project does exactly that!

During 2015/16 The Kinder +Sport Move and Learn Project, a national school based education programme, will have had over 47,000 childrenmoving’ and ‘learning’.

Now into its second year, the project is aimed at children aged 9-10 and is delivered by 14 Football Community Trusts that combines six weeks of practical sporting sessions with classroom sessions.

The emphasis of the project is the importance of a healthy lifestyle for children; encouraging physical activity, promoting nutritional education and building the awareness of healthy diet and active lifestyle.

Thanks to the support from Ferrero The Kinder +Sport Move and Learn Project is building year on year with an 18% increase in children ‘moving’ on last year.

Aiden Couch, Project Manager at The FLT, “We are delighted to be supporting National Children’s Day. The Kinder +Sport Move and Learn Project is just one of many projects that The FLT deliver to help children get active, and break the cycle of inactivity many of them fall into. In 2015/16 The Kinder +Sport Move and Learn Project will engage with over 47,000 children, and this is only set to increase”.

Using the power of football the project is supported by a number of professional footballers. Acting as role models to the children, players speak about their lifestyle as a professional footballer and the importance of an active lifestyle.

CN4uXHlWIAETy4G

Recently nominated PFA Community Player of the Year, George Friend, Left back at Middlesbrough has been a huge supporter of the programme “It’s vital that we educate children from a young age on a healthy diet and encourage an active lifestyle. The Kinder +Sport Move and Learn Project is a really fun and interactive project engaging thousands of children each year. I’m extremely proud to be able to support such an important programme”.

 

Walking Football Regional Finals 2016

This Saturday, Football clubs from around the country will compete in the Walking Football Regional Finals for a place to compete at the prestigious St Georges Park on 7th June.

Acting as a prime opportunity to stay active, Walking Football is a brilliant way for the older generation to stay active and keep fit, participating in a sport that they love. A slow-paced version of the game which is aimed specifically at the over 50’s, allows participants to cover 30 miles and burn 4,200 calories over a 3 month period, just by playing for 1 hour a week.

Every May and June, we run the Walking Football Cup, in which EFL Clubs hold a local competition through their community trust. The winners are then selected to represent their club at a regional level. The top 2 teams in each region then qualify for the finals. Last year, Plymouth took the winning title with a 2-1 win in the final against Blackpool. Walking football has been growing year-on-year, with 56 of the 72 clubs taking part this year, the competition has been tougher than ever.

Commencing in Derby on Monday 9th May, teams representing Derby County, Burton Albion, Nottingham Forest, Mansfield Town, Walsall, Crewe Alexandra, Coventry City and Wolverhampton Wanderers all made the trip to the Moorways Sports Centre to take part in the Regional Finals of the competition. Mansfield Town were the overall winners, beating Nottingham Forest 1-0 in the the final.

14th May will see the remaining 4 finals take place. With over 40 teams taking part throughout the day at Blackpool, Doncaster, Exeter and Luton, Saturday is a big day for Walking Football.

FA Girls Football Festival at Wembley’s Powerleague

More than 200 U16 girls from 26  Football League and Premier League clubs will take part in a special FA Girls Football Festival on Saturday 14th May from 8.30-13.00, at Wembley’s Powerleague. Ourselves and the Premier League have invited girls’ teams from across the country to take part in the unique 5-a-side tournament, which takes place before Sunday’s SSE Women’s FA Cup Final between Arsenal Ladies and Chelsea Ladies.

The three-year Football Participation Programme, aimed at driving female participation in football, has already seen over 60,000 girls, aged 14 and over, take part in a range of footballing activities, since its launch.

The-FA-Girls-Football-Festival-at-Wembley

Saturday’s event is the pinnacle of the season, with their ongoing hard work and commitment being rewarded by an invite to this fantastic tournament.

This one of a kind scheme is spearheaded by The FA, Sport England, ourselves, and the Premier League, with sessions across the country being delivered by the Premier League and Football League member clubs.

The celebratory FA Girls Football Festival will give the girls a chance to take part in a 5-a-side tournament outside the iconic Wembley Stadium, as well as having the opportunity to challenge their skills with a variety of innovative interactive equipment including Batak boards, Speed Cages, an inflatable target shoot and Quickfeet trials. To further enhance the festival experience, there will be music, hair braiding and face painting taking place throughout the morning’s competitions.

Created in collaboration with Continental Tyres the festivals provide an exciting, interactive football experience for both those new to the game and regular players. So far more than 35,000 girls have taken part in The FA Girls Football Festivals in association with Continental Tyres, which have been running successfully since 2011.

Oxford United Women’s Captain, Katherine Nutman and her teammate Lauren Haynes will be attending to join in with the girls’ activities and answer any questions the girls may have. Also in attendance are Referee Ambassadors Joanna Stimpson and Mary Harmer, delivering a referee workshop while Charlotte Lade will be delivering a freestyle workshop.

With the festival ending at 13.00, the girls will then have the chance to watch their heroes and catch all of the action from the SSE Women’s FA Cup Final in Wembley Stadium, just next door.

FA director of football participation and development, Kelly Simmons, said: “Our festivals, run in partnership with Continental Tyres, have been a huge success since they launched.

“One of our big areas of focus is getting more girls to play football and we are grateful to both The Premier League and The Football League Trust for encouraging and supporting their Clubs to participate in both our participation programme and in this special festival.”

“We also know the power of role models and I am sure that going to watch the SSE Women’s FA Cup final in the stadium, watching an exciting game of football and seeing so many excellent players will be a real inspiration to the girls.”

Guy Frobisher, Marketing Director UK, of Continental Tyres said: “The FA Girls Football Festival with Continental Tyres continues to grow year on year, giving tens of thousands of young girls from around the country the chance to get involved with the sport. At Continental Tyres we are extremely proud that 2016 is our 6th year partnering with the FA and undoubtedly is set to be the biggest and best so far. Who knows, perhaps in a few years’ time we may see a number of our festival attendees playing for their country”.

JD Sports Supports Bury FC Community Trust

JD Sports and Bury FC’s Community Trust have agreed to a revolutionary three year community sports sponsorship deal.  The backing of such a renowned British brand, will help the community trust get the recognition they deserve for the great work they do in the local community.

In addition to substantial in-stadia branding, the leading UK sports retailer will be closely affiliated with Bury FC’s highly-praised community arm, with the JD logo featured on all of the Trust’s staff clothing and literature, endorsing the relationship which will enable the Club’s charitable arm to extend their valuable work into more schools in the Bury area.

JD Sports Fashion PLC’s Executive Chairman, Peter Cowgill, is delighted with the new deal:

“We are extremely proud of our Bury roots ever since the JD story started here well over 30 years ago, and so we have always felt that it is entirely fitting to be partnering with one of the town’s most famous organisations in Bury FC.  I am personally delighted that as an extension of our relationship, for the first time we will now be working closely with the Club’s Community Trust as part of our commitment to the town. The Football Club may get the headlines, but I believe the work which the Trust does to inspire kids in local schools deserves greater acknowledgement and we are very pleased to be supporting these invaluable activities”

Mike Morris, CEO of the Bury FC Community Trust added:

“Successful sponsorships in any sport are always founded on very strong relationships and we are extremely proud of the close ties that Bury FC have had with JD Sports over many years.

It is particularly fitting that, with their headquarters being in Bury, JD has chosen to assist our work in local community by affiliating with the Bury FC Community Trust and we are extremely grateful for their long-term support for the Club”

For information on the Comunity Trust visit the NEW website, by clicking here.

For information on JD Sports Fashion plc, please click here.