Football in the Community

Thousands of youngsters, including girls and children with disabilities, have attended a host of footballing activities organised by the Crystal Palace Football In The Community scheme. Stronger links are now being forged with the Club's Youth Development Programme, with the hope that some particularly talented youngsters might be discovered.

The main purpose of the scheme is to help Croydon's Premier League Club to become more fully integrated in the town, as leading Italian, Spanish and Dutch clubs have become a seven-days-a-week, rather than purely a Saturday afternoon, focus in Milan, Barcelona and Amsterdam.

In addition to children's sessions, Palace has launched activities for the over 50's, and has welcomed short mat bowls clubs to Selhurst Park in an attempt to integrate fully. It has organised school visits, which include a 4-6 week visit in school time; an offer of an after-school club; in-service training for staff; help with the formation and running of school teams; coaching tied in with the appropriate development of key stages within the National Curriculum. These school visits and after-school clubs have been extremely successful.

The scheme has also organised mini-soccer sessions and business leagues. It wants to share facilities with the community, even among those who might not be regular football followers. Women and people with disabilities are particularly encouraged. The scheme wants to promote participation at all ability levels.

As well as backing from Croydon Council, Football In The Community is supported by neighbouring Bromley Council and the Croydon Advertiser Group.

For more information on the scheme, please call Colin Walker on 020 8768 6063.

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Friday, 25 July, 2008

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