Bay increase their community links

Herne Bay Football Club are setting up a disability team to increase their links with the local community. Working in partnership with East Kent Mencap, the club are recruiting players for a team which will play friendlies and compete in the Ryman Disability Cup. Bay committee member Bob Gardner has been tasked with overseeing the project. He said: “The football club became a community club back in 2012. That enabled us to secure funding from the Football Foundation. “The first step was to set up a ladies team, who won the league and two cups. The next step was a disability team. “We had a meeting with the KCFA and their advice was not to leave it open-ended because we could get swamped with people coming from all different areas of disability. “We set up a meeting with East Kent Mencap three weeks ago and they were interested in our project. They were really up for it, so we’ve left it in their hands.” The new team will train once a week at Herne Bay High School, with two-hour sessions taking place on Wednesdays or Thursdays from 7pm. A taster day is being arranged for later this month, where prospective players and their parents and carers can meet Bay’s two qualified coaches. Mr Gardner said: “Once we’ve got ourselves up and running, we can open it up to other areas. It’s all new to us so we need to get an idea of numbers. “Herne Bay Football Club are keen to put more back into the community.” Interested players can phone Mr Gardner on 07907 799069.

Picture: Tony Flashman FM2746615 FINANCIAL BOOST: Michael Monks, owner of Cube Hair Design, in Mortimer Street, presents a £500 cheque to Bay commercial manager Ronald Boddy. The money will be used to kit out the disability team.