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Boys and girls urged to play football
2:32pm Thursday 4th September 2008
Comments (1)Football-mad fathers on an Oxford estate have vowed to break down barriers stopping people taking part in the game by holding free monthly soccer skills workshops.
The dads behind Greater Leys Youth FC said they hoped the regular skill sessions would encourage more boys and girls to take up the sport.
The football club was set up last month and is the first to represent the estate.
Parents have formed under-11s, under-12s and under-15s teams, but hoped the new monthly sessions would encourage more players and coaches to come forward to fill the other age groups.
Club co-founder Nick Courtney-Cramp said: "We want to put something back into the area.
"We want to keep the children off the streets and introduce them to sport.
"We would love to have a girls team - we want them to have fun and teach them basic football skills."
Each of the monthly football sessions will be held in the field adjoining Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre, in Pegasus Road.
Mr Courtney-Cramp, 40, of Columbine Gardens, Greater Leys, said the sessions would be open to all under-16s, but would particularly focus on six- to nine-year-olds.
He said: "All of our players have got younger brothers and sisters who come along and watch but are too young to join in. This will be something for them.
"We don't want to put any barriers up. There are some kids who might not be able to afford it if it was £2 or £3 a session. We are there for the kids at the end of the day, so if we can do something for free, it helps."
Greater Leys Youth FC has also been boosted by Oxford City Council and Sport England's Wellbeing Hub - which has arranged for the club to have free use of a football pitch in Blackbird Leys Park for home games for its first season.
The hub has also financed two FA-endorsed coaching courses for the managers.
Community development manager Khalid Sharif said: "Young people are the future for this city. If you do not invest in them early on, they could slip off the radar.
"This is about harnessing talent and if there are skilled individuals out there we can help them to go further and make them into positive role models."
The first football session will take place on Saturday, September 27. Call Mr Courtney-Cramp on 01865 401625 for more details.
Nick Courtney-Cramp wants youngsters especially girls to come along to soccer skills sessions
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Fee, ox4 7gy says...
12:19pm Fri 5 Sep 08
Blackbird Leys, Greater Leys, ...'THE LEYS' is a place where all can come together and continue to send out a positive message that 'THE LEYS' provide positive opportunities for our youngsters through various initiatives.
These along with other positive initiatives can work towards us all being responsible for sending independent and responsible young adults into Society!