Community Football Success

Newtown Sports Junior Football Club has achieved the Football Association’s highest accolade for grassroots clubs in becoming a Charter Standard Community Club.

To celebrate this achievement, combined with the build up to the World Cup Finals, Malvern Hills District Council and Malvern Town Council have kindly allowed the Club use of their facilities to promote an Introduction to Football for both Boy & Girls; especially Boys in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classes, and Girls in Year 3, 4 & 5 classes. These are FA Approved TOPS Accredited Soccer Coaching Courses, led by a Level 3 – UEFA ‘B’ qualified coach. Boys – every Saturday Mornings 9:00 am – 10:15 am @ Lower Howsell Playing Fields and the Girls – every Thursday Evenings 6 pm – 7 pm @ The Chase ATP.

Newtown Sports Junior FC are an established football club based in Malvern, who provide opportunities for boys up to the age of 18 and girls up to the age of 16 to train, play and enjoy football. Formed in 1979 the Club has grown and this season has 18 teams affiliated to the Mercian Festival Junior Football League and Stourport & District Youth League.

As recently reported, Newtown Sports Junior Football Club, in association with Malvern Hills District Council and the Worcestershire Football Association, are running a series of FREE GIRLS ONLY football coaching sessions at The Chase Technology College, on Thursday evenings between 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm aimed at girls from Year 1 to Year 7.

Even though it is the school holidays these sessions are a huge success, attracting on average 25 girls. As a consequence, Newtown Sports Junior FC are the first club in Malvern to enter a girls team in to Mercian Festival Girls League, specifically at the U12 age range (Years 6 & 7). The Club would like to enter more teams at various age levels, but they require new volunteers to help coach and manage the teams, who will play on Saturday mornings.

Club Chairperson Martyn Twinberrow said “We have been overwhelmed by the energy and enthusiasm these girls have shown and we would love to be able to give them all an opportunity to play against other “girl-only” teams, however we need more volunteers, preferably women, to help coach these girls. This would be a great opportunity for any girls who play or love football to get involved. More specifically, it would be ideal for any 6th Form Pupils or College/University students who are involved in sport/leisure to get additional experience. The Club would place the volunteers on an FA Level 1 training course which is an excellent qualification to have, as well as providing them with the resources and support to play and train the girls.”

Anyone over 16 who is interested in getting involved in Girls Only football, or indeed girls in Year 1 to Year 7 who want to play, should contact Martyn Twinberrow Chairperson on 0777 378 3017.

Newtown Sports Junior Football Club has become the first football club in Malvern to attain the Football Association’s Charter Standard award. This is a prestigious accreditation through which the FA seeks to establish, reward and encourage good practice at grass roots levels so that parents and children can demand a minimum standard of provision.

Newtown Sports Junior Football Club, in association with Malvern Hills District Council and the Worcestershire Football Association, are running a series of FREE GIRLS ONLY football coaching sessions at the Chase Technology College, Geraldine Road, Malvern. Chairperson, Martyn Twinberrow says “Newtown Sports are fully aware that a majority of Primary school aged girls in Malvern have been overlooked when it comes to football. These sessions are aimed mainly for girls between the ages of 5 and 11, where the main objective is to introduce the girls to some structured coaching and to encourage those of all abilities to come and have fun.”

The sessions will take place on Thursday evenings between 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, starting on July 24th for six weeks on the school’s all-weather playing surface. Newtown Sports will provide Qualified Coaches where the emphasis will be on having fun and learning new skills along side other girls. So, whether they want to turn up just to one session or all six, its entirely down to the individual. All participants should wear appropriate clothing e.g. sport’s top, shorts/tracksuit bottoms, trainers & shin pads.

Subsequently, if there are enough numbers, Newtown Sports hope to enter an U10 and/or U12 team in to the Mercian Festival Girls League to play matches against other girls. However, the main emphasis for the girls is to enjoy themselves.

Newtown Sports Junior FC are the biggest junior football club based in the Malvern area, who provide opportunities for boys up to the age of 16 and (currently) girls up to the age of 12 to train, play and enjoy football, whatever their standard.

Newtown Sports Junior Football Club became the first football club in Malvern to attain the Football Association’s Charter Standard award, and has recently applied for Charter Standard Development status. These are prestigious accreditations through which the FA seeks to establish, reward and encourage good practice at grass roots levels so that parents and children can demand a minimum standard of provision. All of the Club’s coaches hold FA Coaching qualifications and the club implements an FA approved Child Protection policy.

For further information contact:
Martyn Twinberrow – 0777 378 3017
Simon Elmes – 0775 479 7801

Newtown Sports Junior Football Club has become the first football club in Malvern to attain the Football Association’s Charter Standard award. This is a prestigious accreditation through which the FA seeks to establish, reward and encourage good practice at grass roots levels so that parents and children can demand a minimum standard of provision.

To become recognised in this way the club’s coaches had to complete FA coaching courses, attend child protection training and agree to adhere to codes of conduct.

Andy Norman the Worcestershire FA Development Officer, said: “This is an excellent achievement by Newtown Sports Junior FC, who become one of only a handful of clubs in the county to achieve the status.”

Club Secretary, Don Loader said: “I am very proud of the Club achieving this award in my final year. I have been involved with the Club for 21 years, and I would like to thank all the Volunteers at the club who have put in a great deal of time and effort to achieve this award. By completing first aid, child protection and football coaching training, we are able to say to parents that their children can play at the club in a safe environment and receive quality football coaching.”

In addition to getting the Charter Standard, the Club has recently been accredited as a TOP Sport Football coaching centre. The FA TOP Sport Football programme aims to offer 5-11 year olds appropriate football opportunities as part of a community programme.

Chairman, Martyn Twinberrow said: “Again, this is a marvellous achievement by the Club, however we do not intend to rest on our laurels. We intend to raise the profile of the Club and improve the opportunities for all young children to get involved in football. Our aim is to expand our Saturday morning coaching sessions for more Primary School children in Malvern. Over the years we have generally attracted children by word of mouth. Now we have the qualified coaches and FA recognition for a community programme we intend to be more pro-active and encourage those of all abilities to come and have fun, especially the majority of girls in Malvern who have been overlooked. To this end we have established a Coaching Centre that takes place on Saturday mornings between 9.00 am – 10.15 am at Lower Howsell Road Playing Fields for boys and girls aged between 5-11.

If you would like more information about Newtown Sports Junior Football Club or the Coaching Centre, please contact Don Loader Club Secretary, on 01684 567977 or Martyn Twinberrow, Chairman on 0777 378 3017.

Newtown Sports Junior FC are an established football club based in Malvern, who provide opportunities for boys up to the age of 16 and girls up to the age of 11 to train, play and enjoy football. Formed in 1979 the Club has grown and this season has 10 teams affiliated to the Mercian Elgar Junior Football League.

Newtown Sports Junior FC are an established football club based in Malvern, who provide opportunities for boys up to the age of 16 and girls up to the age of 11 to train, play and enjoy football. Don Loader, who co-founded the Club in 1979, is Club Secretary and Martyn Twinberrow is welcomed as the new Chairperson. In 1979 the Club had just one team, but over the years the Club has grown and this season has 10 teams affiliated to the Mercian Elgar Junior Football League.

This year the Club has set itself some ambitious targets off the field. Firstly, it is striving for its FA Charter, which is the Football Association’s own “kite mark” that recognises Clubs who use qualified coaches, have an approved Child Protection policy and conform to the FA’s Code of Conduct. Secondly, the Club is looking to promote girls football especially at the younger age groups. With the assistance of Avril Irish the Sports & Recreation Officer with Malvern Hills District Council, Newtown Sports FC were awarded a Lottery Grant of £5000 which will go towards developing the younger age groups, and help with much needed equipment, as well as funding additional coaching courses.

With the popularity of football at the highest level it would be easy for people to think that the grass roots game is well financed. Whilst the Lottery Grant is a shot in the arm, Martyn Twinberrow says, “This Club has existed for over 22 years however, it survives from year to year. The Club is at a cross-roads, we have over 200 children involved with the Club and we are fast outgrowing the facilities provided by the Town Council. The Lottery Grant gives us a short-term injection of cash, but we are aiming for the long term. The Club has no ground or club house to call its own and with an ever increasing membership, we really need to establish some secure roots. Unfortunately, local Senior football seems to get priority above the boys and girls of Malvern. We need to move the Club forward, obtain the FA Charter, and find a permanent home.”

Whilst the emphasis is on fun and several players have gone on to play professional football (Gareth Downs – Coventry City, Craig Humphries – Cheltenham Town, Mark Sheppard _ Kidderminster Harriers and Peter Nightingale – WBA, to name but a few). With a new season about to kick-off, Newtown Sports invite all 5 – 8 year olds (school Years 1 2 & 3) to Saturday morning coaching sessions at Lower Howsell playing fields, 9:00 am to 10:30 am from September 7th onwards throughout the season. Children will be coached by qualified coaches, and can enjoy refreshments afterwards, whilst the parents enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. Come along and Register with the Club for the new season.