The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Premier day out for footballers
BUDDING soccer talent from a weekly football project in the city have been treated to a “Premier” day out.
The group of youngsters from the Friday Night Football scheme run at St John Fisher Catholic High School, in Park Road, Peterborough, enjoyed a tour of Arsenal’s football ground, The Emirates Stadium, recently.
The project has been running for two years and regularly attracts more than 80 young people every Friday night. It is run in partnership by the Youth Offending Service (YOS), Cambridgeshire police and Peterborough United. The trip, as well as the scheme itself, is funded by mon- ey from the Community Leadership Funds of councillors Marion Todd, Stephen Goldspink and Nabil Shabir – members of Peterborough City Council for the East Ward.
Sports officer at the YOS Wayne Stainsby said the trip was a “well done” to the children for their attendance and behaviour and described it as a “huge success”.
He thanked the East Ward councillors for making the trip – and the scheme - a possibility. He said: “Without the help from the local councillors, we would not be able to fund this great project and offer incentives to the young people such as trips, tournaments and the opportunity to gain coaching badges.
A lot of the young people have now gone on to play for local clubs, and we have young people helping us run the sessions now they have gained their qualifications.”
Cllr Todd said: “As long as councillors receive Community Leadership Funding in East Ward we will always support this fantastic project and any similar ones.”
The Friday Night Football sessions start at 5pm for under 13s and 6.15pm for players aged 14 and over.
All young people are welcome.