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