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Grassroots football

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 8:20 am
by wilks_bfc
I have recently started coaching a team of under 8's.
In the short time that I've been doing it, I have found all of the Coaches and Committee Members volunteer 100's of hours a week of their FREE TIME, to ensure the 300+ children we have at the club get to enjoy a game that we all love.

This is replicated at ever club across the country.

This isn't an easy task, we feel we are constantly fighting battles with keeping costs down and trying to provide safe and useable facilities for the kids to play and learn, a task made harder coming into the winter months when alternative training facilities have to be found.

The attached petition could help us and every other Grassroots Club in the country.

It will take you a minute. Don't forget to click on the link in your email. Thank you.

Please share, you could help make a difference.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/200094" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Grassroots football

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 8:28 am
by Sutton-Claret
My 2 boys play for their local grassroots team in North Yorkshire. I have nothing but praise for the coaches and volunteers who give up their time to ensure the kids are not only well trained but enjoy their time. I'm constantly humbled by their commitment - even when they get abuse from some muppet who thinks his son should be a striker and never subbed......

Re: Grassroots football

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 8:36 am
by Sutton-Claret
Signed and share on FB (not that I have many friends)

Re: Grassroots football

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 8:41 am
by wilks_bfc
Thanks Sutton.

Not competed as yet as didn't have enough for a new team but in last 2 weeks have gone from 4 to 9

Been completing my Level 1 over the last few weekends and some of the experiences that have been told are boggling.

Re: Grassroots football

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 8:56 am
by bfccrazy
Signed - The costs and added costs of things are crazy.

My nephew plays u13 this season in East Lancs league and his team have been fined £50 and forced to take a loss because they wanted to rearrange an FA regulated cup match which the FA decided to play at 1pm this Sunday just gone. As most of his team are ST holders the club tried to rearrange and then agreed to play the game by which point it was too late and got a fine instead.

I understand that fines etc are needed - but I'm sure the FA can last without taking these kind of fines from grassroot teams for something so simple. Common sense does not prevail it seems.

Re: Grassroots football

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 8:57 am
by Sutton-Claret
wilks_bfc wrote:Thanks Sutton.

Not competed as yet as didn't have enough for a new team but in last 2 weeks have gone from 4 to 9

Been completing my Level 1 over the last few weekends and some of the experiences that have been told are boggling.
When my eldest lad started going about 6 six years ago they had 8 boys in his age group - they now regularly get 40+. They put 2 teams out every other week (9 aside plus 3 subs).

The club was awarded some money to spend on the playing fields through Sport England which is funded by The National Lottery.

Re: Grassroots football

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 10:06 am
by South West Claret.
wilks_bfc wrote:I have recently started coaching a team of under 8's.
In the short time that I've been doing it, I have found all of the Coaches and Committee Members volunteer 100's of hours a week of their FREE TIME, to ensure the 300+ children we have at the club get to enjoy a game that we all love.

This is replicated at ever club across the country.

This isn't an easy task, we feel we are constantly fighting battles with keeping costs down and trying to provide safe and useable facilities for the kids to play and learn, a task made harder coming into the winter months when alternative training facilities have to be found.

The attached petition could help us and every other Grassroots Club in the country.

It will take you a minute. Don't forget to click on the link in your email. Thank you.

Please share, you could help make a difference.


https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/200094" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Well done Wilks, been through the process myself and a very interesting experience I found, one tip don't take any lip from people who are usually the first to criticise but the last to praise weather it be parents or others.

Keep at it no matter what..and that includes having to endure the infuriating over the top FA bureaucracy, locally and nationally.

Re: Grassroots football

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 10:51 am
by Andingle
Signed and shared

Re: Grassroots football

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 10:56 am
by UpTheBeehole
I'm always happy to support a Labour manifesto pledge.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... -manifesto

Signed.

Re: Grassroots football

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 2:22 pm
by claretbucky1978
Wilks i have a page on Facebook.
Football friendlies Burnley and surrounding area u8s. Its a locked page but il let you in. Quite a few teams on there for friendlies and all coaches are superb and self graded so if your a newish team lowish on ability they will be others in the same boat.

Had my boys since 5 and currently at u9s with the same kids. Time consuming out of kids football but still as keen as i were 3 years ago.

The work what goes on inside the club by others is absolutely phenomenal. Some extraordinary dedicated people......

Re: Grassroots football

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 6:44 pm
by wilks_bfc
Cheers bucky. What's the page?

Re: Grassroots football

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 6:53 pm
by No Ney Never
I've signed the petition, I'm number 838. Good luck with it and also your coaching.