Footballers in Devon were celebrating today following the award of three Grow the Game grant’s by the Football Foundation, the country’s largest sports charity.
Marine Academies JFC, Lympstone AFC and Young Devon FC will each receive £5,000 over a three year period to increase participation of both players and volunteers at their clubs.
Marine Academy JFC hopes to attract younger girl players into their structure to continue feeding players through to their successful ladies side. The funding boost will also allow parents and volunteers to become fully qualified FA coaches, improving the quality of coaching delivered throughout the club.
Young Devon FC will work with young men and women to develop their skills in football and create young leaders, who will work towards improving the community through intergenerational and engagement initiatives.
Lympstone AFC will be able to start up three new youth teams this season, entering them into the Exeter Youth League at Under-8, Under-9 and Under-10 level. Participation at the club is set to grow significantly with an additional 40 youngsters joining the club this year. The club will also now be able to train an additional six FA qualified coaches, improving the quality of the coaching experience for participants.
Funded by the Premier League, The FA, and the Government via Sport England, the Football Foundation is the nation’s largest sports charity. Since it was launched in 2000, the Foundation has awarded around 8,000 grants worth more than £420m towards improving grassroots sport, which it has used to attract additional partnership funding of over £520m.
Darren Stewart, Marine Academy’s Sports Manager, said: “The invaluable support from the Football Foundation with regards to the Grow the Game grant we received will enable us to both increase the sessions and the teams within our club but also give us the resources to get out and about in the community.”
Chris Gooding Club Chairman at Lympstone AFC, said: “The Football Foundation have made a significant contribution to the club's development this season, supporting the club in developing new teams. Without the participation of the youth, the game will not grow.”
Ryan Christophers, Senior Youth Worker at Young Devon, said: “I’m working towards creating a community Football Club which will involve disadvantaged and vulnerable young people in positive activities through engagement in football.”
Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation said: “We warmly congratulate the three clubs and the Devon County FA for their hard work and dedication in securing this award.
“Our Grown the Game scheme helps fulfil one of the Foundation’s core objectives, which is getting more people playing more football. During the 2009-10 season, Grow the Game projects attracted more than 21,000 new players to our national game.
“These new project’s in Devon are but three examples of thousands across the country that the Football Foundation is supporting with money provided by our funding partners – the Premier League, The FA and Government.”
