Football Foundation give Orpington FC helping hand (From News Shopper)

Football Foundation give Orpington FC helping hand

5:24pm Thursday 7th June 2012 in Other Clubs

ORPINGTON Football Club has received a £5,000 cash injection from the Football Foundation’s Grow the Game initiative.

The money will be used to create an additional two teams at mini soccer and U18 level, supported by qualified coaches who will have access to quality training facilities. Grow the Game’s core aim is to increase participation and enable more people to play the national game through supporting the development of grassroots clubs.

The programme is delivered in partnership with all of the 46 county FAs and funded by the FA and the government.

Orpington FC treasurer Chris Harper said: “The club is grateful to the Football Foundation for providing funding to resource at least two additional teams over the next year.

“The club will continue to expand its mini-soccer, with an emphasis on the skills development of players new to the game.

“In our grant application we also identified the need to provide a focus for 16 and 17-year-olds in order to retain and prepare them for their participation in senior football.”

Chief Executive of the Football Foundation Paul Thorogood added: “I congratulate Orpington FC for receiving this Grow the Game grant, which will increase sport participation and support football development in the region.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Kent county FA for their help in making this happen.

“The new teams and players generated by the Grow the Game scheme, since its launch three years ago, will go a long way towards helping the FA to achieve its growth target of 150,000 new participants by 2013.

“It is also helping government and Sport England get more people engaging in regular sport.

“The Football Foundation is committed, with funding provided by the Premier League, the FA and Government, to improve grassroots community sporting provision and help make this legacy vision a reality.”

For more information on the club, email chris.harper33@ntlworld.com or visit orpingtonfc.org.uk

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