freethorpe parish annual meeting

FREETHORPE FC ANNUAL REPORT
TO FREETHORPE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

This year has been a extraordinary year for Freethorpe FC both on and off the field off play.

The youth section of the club continues to expand in season 2005/2006 the club ran teams at U8s,U9s,U10s,U11s,U13s,& U16s boys and mixed mini soccer and two girls teams at U11s and U12s.This was an extra 3 extra teams from last year.

Freethorpe FC Youth many plaudits from other teams, the league and the FA for the manner in which the club is run, sportsmanship and the excellent facilities.

On the weekend 2nd /3rd June the club is going to be honoured to receive 4 sporting awards at four different age groups from the Norfolk and Suffolk Youth League, a remarkable achievement to win four awards from eight teams.

In October 2005 the youth section were awarded the FA Charter Standard to stand beside the adult section with its Charter Standard accreditation. All within the club were proud to receive the award which is recognition for all the hard work, time and effort of the official and team coaches in gaining the necessary qualifications in coaching, child protection, first aid and all being CRB checked by the FA.

This coming season further expansion is taking place with team at U9s, U10s x 2, U11s, U12s, U13s plus three girls teams at U12s x 2 and U14s.

The adult section was again honoured to receive the FA Charter Standard Club of the Year for both Norfolk and the seven counties of the Eastern Region in late summer 2005.

Both adult teams had a great season with the first team finishing runners up in the GYDL Div1 and the reserve team coming third in GYDL Div 2.

Next season we are almost certain that the first tem will be playing in the Anglian Combination football League with the reserve team still playing in the GYDL.Also the club is running a Sunday adult team in the Norwich and District Sunday League. This team will provide an exit route for our youth players to progress from youth to adult football.

Off the field of play with the support of the Parish Council, The Village Hall and the whole local community the Football Club on behalf of the Village Hall have been successful in gaining £50,000 funding from Barclays Spaces for Sports coupled with £29,140 being awarded from Sport England. These awards in addition to £7,000 donated by the Football Club and £1,000 donated by the Village Hall will fund the construction of the Multi-Use-Games-Area on the site of the old tennis courts.

This facility will be for the use of the whole community and will provide Tennis (May, June, July and August) with Football, Futsal and Hockey being played for the remainder of the year
Freethorpe School will also have use of the facility for both curricular and extra curricular use.

A £20,000 Development fund is currently being applied for and is expected to be gained. This fund must be used to develop the site and will provide professional coaching, opportunities for individuals to gain coaching qualifications and other relevant training. £2,000 of this fund can be used for the purchase of kit and equipment for use on the site.

After the MUGA is completed the next stage of the Football Club’s development plans is to concentrate on the Village Hall extension. The £20,000 from Broadland District Council awarded last year is being allowed to be carried over to this year and other monies are being pursued from BDC and other sources before submitting a funding application to the Football Foundation.

Hopefully the second element (the Village Hall extension) of the Football Club’s Development plan will be as successful as the first (MUGA) and will provide much needed disabled toilets along with improved changing room facilities for sporting activities.

Freethorpe FC would like to thank all within the local community for there help and support over the last three years of rapid development at the Football Club.

Hopefully the improvement of amenities and facilities at the Village Hall and Sports and Social Club will unite the Village and will encourage increased participation and membership and will help it to become the focal point of the community.

Report by Stephen Smith secretary Freethorpe FC

CLUB PRESIDENT DAVID GRINT OPERATING THE DIGGER GETTING READY FOR THE CONTRACTORS TO ARRIVE 

FREETHORPE GIRLS PLAYERS PROUDLY WEARING THERE BARCLAYS SPACES FOR SPORTS TEE SHIRTS  

STUART DACK BARCLAYS REGIONAL DIRECTOR SHAKING HANDS WITH PROJECT MANAGER STEPHEN SMITH AS THE WOKK STARTS ON THE MUGA.YOUTH TEAM MANAGERS IN THE BACKGROUND WITH FREETHORPE GENERAL MANAGER MARCUS SMITH AND DIRECTOR OF YOUTH FOOTBALL ANDREW KELF 

freethorpe children celebrating work starting on the MUGA 

Press release

2nd May 2006

BARCLAYS BOOsTS COMMUNITY SPORTS IN
freethorpe


Communities surrounding Freethorpe are set for a healthy 2006 as work begins on creating fantastic new sports facilities in their neighbourhood.

Freethorpe Village Hall has received £50,000 in funding from Barclays Spaces for Sports, a new three-year, £30m community sponsorship programme to create and improve sports facilities in communities across the UK. The programme is a partnership between Barclays, Groundwork and the Football Foundation.

This funding combined with £29,000 from Sport England and an amazing fundraising effort from the local community of £8,000 will ensure that a fantastic facility is created.

Local residents will be working with environmental charity Groundwork to create the new site that will see a Multi Use Games Area installed at the already popular recreation ground. The facility will create opportunities for training and coaching in a variety of sports including Futsal, Hockey and Tennis.

Not only will the project encourage people to take up sport and improve their health, it will also bring people together and strengthen community spirit. The project will work to ensure long term activity on the facilities and will provide coaching kit and equipment to encourage residents to take part and get the most out of the new facilities.

Project manager Stephen Smith of Freethorpe Village Hall said “Our experience shows that people really value the opportunity to have a say in improving their neighbourhoods and make them better places to live, work and play. Getting involved in these projects gives people confidence and makes us all feel proud of where we live.”

Louise Browne, Cashier at Acle Branch, said, “Barclays Spaces for Sports will create hundreds of new sports sites up and down the country. Our aim is to have a significant and long-lasting impact on local communities and grassroots sport throughout the UK for many years to come. I am delighted that the staff at Acle branch and the surrounding area are able to support this fantastic facility."

Ends

For further information please contact:
Kate Kingshott Regional Community Relations Manager,
Mobile 07775 555722

Notes to editors
A partnership between Barclays, Groundwork and the Football Foundation, Barclays Spaces for Sports will deliver more than 50 sports facilities each year from large sports based regeneration projects to multi use games areas offering basketball, netball, tennis through to skateboard and BMX tracks. Every site will be supplied with sports equipment and support such as coaching to help the community get the most out of the new facilities. In addition 1,200 coaching kit and equipment packs will be distributed each year to teams and groups in most need across the UK.

The Barclays Premiership and Barclays Spaces for Sports make Barclays one of the UK’s biggest supporters, investing £87m over three years.

For more information visit www.barclays.co.uk/spacesforsports