All abilities junior footballers net grand donation

A Devon football club catering for youngsters of all abilities aged from under-8s to under-15s has been handed a cash award to help meet costs.

Ugborough FC, based in Ivybridge, trains youngsters from four to 18 and encourages them to take part in physical activity for the benefit of their health, regardless of their ability.

The club has been named a Community Champion by Persimmon Homes South West and awarded £1,000 which will go towards buying kit and paying rent for training.

Stafford Williams for Ugborough FC, said: “We are only a small club, running four teams from under 8s up to under 15s this year, but we serve a rural community and give more than 70 children opportunities that many of them could not get without the club.

“The children that attend are from the age of four up to 17 years of age for training, and then match play from under-8s to under-15s. We have a dedicated set of volunteer trainers who come along and help the children develop, but we just struggle with the cost of any additional needs. Our club is different to the many other football clubs, we develop and train every child no matter what the abilities, giving every child a chance.

“The exercise from organised sports can help a young child to reach an activity goal for the day and decrease the likelihood of them developing chronic medical conditions resulting from inactivity.

“Our weekly subs just cover the ground rent for our training and this donation will allow us to buy more kit including bibs and balls. It will make a tremendous difference.”

The housebuilder’s national match-funding programme Community Champions seeks to support groups and charities working to improve the quality of life for local people.

Stacey Harris, head of sales at Persimmon Homes South West, said: “This club has a large impact on the wellbeing of the children and we’re thrilled to hand over £1,000 funding Ugborough FC.

“Persimmon Homes South West has had a fantastic response to its Community Champions scheme and it is always a tricky task to pick our winners each month.

“If applicants were unsuccessful last month, we urge them to visit the Persimmon Homes website and to try again and hopefully they will become our next Community Champion. We are always keen to support the communities in which we build.”

Organisations can apply for funding by completing a simple online form at www.persimmonhomes.com/charity