As part of the Focus Schools Programme, all primary schools in the Kidlington area received 6 weeks of football coaching within their school, whilst Gosford Hill Secondary School Young Leaders took part in a Junior Football Organiser (JFO) Course. After the coaching sessions had taken place, players who had taken part were invited to the Garden City FC Festival, which was organised and helped on the day by the newly trained JFO Students.
Owain Prosser, Football Development Officer for the Oxfordshire FA, said “The success of the Football Festival was really a product of the hard work of Kidlington School Sports Partnership, Garden City FC and the Gosford Hill Young Leaders. This particular Focus Schools Project has been a great success, with 20 Young Leaders fully trained and volunteering, and over 150 young players finding out about Garden City Football Club.
It is hoped that this will be a big help in creating a new Under 7s team for next season whilst reinforcing the links between Garden City FC and the local schools.”
Garden City Football Club are one of only a few clubs who have achieved the Charter Standard Development Club Status and currently run many teams from Under 7 ages to Under 18. They are looking to create a new Under 7s team for the 2010/11 season. If you are interested in joining the club should contact the club secretary, Barry Hiles on barry.hiles@btinternet.com or 01865 849354 for more details.
Oxfordshire FA’s Focus School Programme aims to:
- Develop sustainable partnerships between schools and FA Charter Standard clubs
- Increase the number of young people, aged 5-16 years old, playing on a regular basis in an FA Charter Standard Clubs
- Increase the number of teams playing in FA Charter Standard Clubs
- Maintain / Improve standards in the provision of football in Oxfordshire schools
- Train a network of Young Leaders in football areas (coaching, refereeing, organizing tournaments etc) to enhance the future football workforce.
If you are interested in taking part in the Focus School Programme please express your interest to Owain Prosser on Owain.prosser@oxfordshirefa.com or 07956415583.