Sav’s free football plan a big hit with community
THE Macclesfield community has responded with overwhelming positivity to the launch of The Savage Foundation, which will provide free football for youngsters at Macclesfield FC’s Leasing.com Stadium.
Founded by grassroots champion Robbie Savage, the scheme is designed to help ensure kids between five and 12 can pursue their love of the sport - irrespective of background and ability, without it being a financial burden on their families.
And in the post-Covid landscape, Savage believes that will be vital.
“So far we’ve had 200 applicants to the Foundation, which is quite remarkable, and there’s a good spread of age groups from five to 12.
“It’s been an amazing first two weeks, the team has worked exceptionally hard.
“We’ve had letters from parents saying that their circumstances have changed due to Covid - because of separations in marriages or because of financial problems and, where they’d been thinking their kids couldn’t carry on playing football, they now, through The Savage Foundation, can continue.
“I’ve got to say, some of the letters I’ve received have upset me and they really have underlined the mental and physical strain these youngsters are suffering, so The Savage Foundation is going to be amazing for them. Just from the letters I’ve had already, this is going to be changing youngsters’ lives and families’ lives around the Macclesfield area, and we haven’t even started yet. I’ve had about thirty letters from parents saying how much The Savage Foundation is going to help them and their kids and that’s exactly why I’ve done this.”
The Foundation, which is partnered with The Law Family Charitable Foundation, has also received backing from Kitlocker, who will provide the young attendees’ free kits, and Bazooka Goals, who are to provide sets of goals.
Youngsters going along to sessions will be given a passport with incentives to keep up attendance.
“We are putting in place a Passport scheme, whereby when the kids come we want to give them responsibility and create an environment where they want to come and train,” explained Savage.
“So, when they turn up, they will get a sticker of a football or a star in their passport and once they’ve got three stickers, that will unlock their kit. When they come again and they get another three stickers, they will unlock something else.
“We’ve got great brains behind this, good people and obviously I couldn’t do it without Macclesfield FC and Rob Smethurst or Andrew Law from The Law Family Charitable Foundation.
“I’ve also had talks with Rosie Harris from the Schools Sports Partnership and she loves the idea of getting the kids active, so we’re going to link up with them, and we’re also going to partner up with Active Cheshire.
“It’s really being embraced by the community and the one or two negative reactions will hopefully realise that this is beneficial for all because not only are these kids having an opportunity, The Foundation is also going to provide new players hopefully for grassroots clubs.”
In the main, initial concerns were made by some local grassroots clubs who were questioning the effect that The Savage Foundation may have on their own fabulous work in developing young players
But Savage and his team have come up with a solution which stands to be mutually-beneficial for all.
“Because we’re going to enter a Saturday Development League, where the Savage Foundation kids will play for free at Macclesfield FC, we are also committed to develop exit strategies based upon their natural progression. If they get to a standard where they believe and we believe they can go into a competitive grassroots club or league, we will fund them to go to that grassroots club.
“It means The Savage Foundation will be developing new players and creating a pathway into grassroots. clubs - so it really will benefit everyone.”
For details on how you can sign up to The Savage Foundation, visit www. thesavagefoundation. com.