By Marcus Fisher of BSYFC.

Bradley Stoke Youth FC (BSYFC) was again selected from all the FA Charter Standard Clubs in the UK and Ireland to walk around the Wembley pitch, and perform a Guard of Honour, moments before the kick-of of the Community Shield match between Manchester City and Chelsea. This is the fifth time in five years that BSYFC have been selected and once again we were proud to be only 1 of 8 clubs selected for this great experience. BSYFC was represented by squad players and coaches from the U8 Whites.

It was a long day, but an experience the team will never forget. The day started at 8.15am with the coach leaving Bradley Stoke for arrival at Wembley for 11am. We were greeted and hosted by McDonald’s representatives and were based in the Wembley press room for the majority of the day.

At 12.30pm we had our first walk around the Wembley pitch as we performed the rehearsal for the main event, and had our photo taken by the main photographer on the pitch with our BSYFC placard. En route to the pitch, we were able to see behind the scenes of Wembley Stadium, and were fortunate enough to walk past the HOME and AWAY dressing rooms, and to see the famous tunnel leading onto the pitch.

After the rehearsal, it was back to the press room for lunch and a football quiz. This highlighted just how little the managers Marcus Fisher, Simon Newman and Wayne Jukes know about football (and how much the children did know about football!). Interesting fact: Wembley Stadium has 2,618 toilets, more than any other venue in the world. One of children knew this!

We then had our final briefing and it was time for the real thing. We walked past the changing rooms again and into position at the side of the pitch next to the stars of Chelsea and Manchester City, who were completing their warm up. We then came out to 90,000 supporters applauding as we walked around the pitch and performed the guard of honour, with every child waving their flag and the BSYFC placard on full show; a fantastic effort from the children who represented BSYFC incredibly well.

More: Squad on pitch for total of 30 minutes prior to kick-off »

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You may have seen us running on the streets of Bradley Stoke and wondered who we are and what we’re about, writes club coach Leona Mills…

Sole Sisters is Bristol’s first all women England Athletics affiliated running group and we have over 130 members. We run all over North Bristol using a variety of locations to keep our running routes interesting and varied. Sole Sisters has 15 active coaches taking out different groups on a Monday evening, running between 3 and 6 miles. We are an inclusive running club, we like to chat and we never leave anyone behind – front runners will run back to regroup and there will always be a coach at the back of the pack. The club runs three beginners groups a year that follow a ‘couch to 5K’ format over six weeks with many graduates of the course joining the club as members.

Running has grown in popularity over the last few years and we have really noticed a love of running and racing amongst our Sisters. We regularly have Sisters taking part in parkruns, 10ks and half marathons, as well as a growth in long distance running. In the last four years we have had over 25 Sole Sisters taking part in a variety of marathons at home and abroad as well as six Sisters taking on ultra-marathons this year alone.

This year (2018) has seen the start of the first Sole Sisters league. Twelve local runs have been put on the calendar with Sisters collecting points for taking part, being one of the first three Sisters back or placing in their age category. We have had six league runs so far and over 35 Sole Sisters have taken part – it’s been a great way to take part in some different races and challenge ourselves whilst being part of Team Sole Sisters.

We always welcome new members and would love you to come along and run with us on a Monday evening. You never know, you might catch the running bug and meet a new running ‘bestie’ along the way.

More: Next beginners course starts Monday 10th September »

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Bristol Pickleball Club is celebrating the first anniversary of its weekly ‘open to all’ informal sessions held on Monday mornings at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre.

Pickleball is a relatively new racquet sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis and is said to be a great way to get fit, have fun and make new friends.

Players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a perforated polymer ball over a net. All the necessary equipment can be provided by the club and those attending need only wear trainers and comfortable clothing.

Most of the people who attend the Bradley Stoke sessions are in their fifties or older, but the organisers emphasise that pickleball can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities, including those with limited mobility.

One regular attendee, Bethan, said she considered herself “very sedentary” before going along to one of the sessions. Now, she can’t believe how much her fitness has improved through attending regularly.

Another, Monty, who lives locally in Bradley Stoke, said he had heard about the sessions through word of mouth. He used to play table tennis and enjoys the mixture of skills that can be applied in the sport of pickleball. “You really can play at any age and any level”, he added.

“I hadn’t played any racquet sports since leaving school,” said Sue, another regular. “You can pick up the game within half-an-hour and be able to take part in a game.”

“We don’t take it too seriously and just laugh off any mistakes,” she added.

Local resident Paul Coakley, one of the joint organisers, explained that the game is more accessible than tennis for most people, due to its use of underarm serves and lightweight paddles.

More: Each two-hour session costs £7 but your first session is FREE! »

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Members of a Bradley Stoke bowling club have received a boost at the start of their season thanks to a donation by three local opticians.

Bradley Stoke Bowls Club (BSBC) is set to benefit from the support of Specsavers stores in Bradley Stoke, Filton and Cribbs Causeway. The money will mainly help pay for the continued development of different bowling opportunities for both new and experienced bowlers. The stores are also donating Specsavers umbrellas to help keep spectators dry during tournaments.

“We’re delighted to again be supporting the Bradley Stoke Bowls Club for the season,” says store director, Ed Stanleigh.

“We’ve been supporting the club since it started back in 2010. Thanks to the strong relationship we’ve established and maintained with this club that’s so important to the local community, we’ve been able to continue the sponsorship each year.”

More: BSBC chairman thanks sponsors »

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