Academy Banks on quite a celebration!
TINY Woods Academy welcomed Jeannie Kielty from the Banks Community Fund to help celebrate its fifth birthday.
The Academy was launched on July 4 2013 by Josh Rutherford and Jamie Dixon when they were both students at Newcastle College.
Since then it has given children in Northumberland a platform to progress into grassroots football.
In its five years, the Amble-based Academy has managed to attract former professional stars and upand-coming players to inspire young budding footballers.
These have included Nolberto Solano, Olivier Bernard, Kevin Ball, Julio Arca, Gary Bennett, Kieron Brady, Callum Williams and Yasin Ben El-Mhanni.
The Banks Community Fund have provided funds for the Academy to purchase much-needed equipment.
FA-licensed coach Josh Rutherford has also formed two new clubs in Amble East End Juniors and Amble East End Walking Football Club.
Rutherford said: “‘We are very grateful to the Banks Community Fund for helping the Academy to form these wo clubs which inspire both the younger and older generation.’
Kielty said: “So much effort, energy and determination has gone into making Tiny Woods Academy a football club for the whole community.
“It offers football for those as young as five and walking football for those who later in life want to get back into sport and exercise.
“The Academy is a fantastic asset for the people and families in the surrounding communities. As a business which has worked in South East Northumberland for more than 30 years we are proud to be playing our part in supporting this great club and we are looking forward to seeing their successes in years to come.”
Amble East End Juniors now has two teams at under-seven and under-eight level as well as a Development squad which will compete in the Pinpoint Recruitment Junior League in September.
Amble East End Walking Football Club have competed in friendlies and tournaments since November 2017 and managed to win their own tournament as part of the Amble Puffin Festival in May.
Rutherford added: “The clubs are progressing very nicely.
“Numbers are expanding each week, which is fantastic, and it makes all the hard work worthwhile.’
Anyone wanting to join the club should contact Rutherford on 07714 862 292.