Local grassroots football team, Bradley Stoke Youth FC U7s, has received a brand new free kit, courtesy of local McDonald’s franchisee Mike Guerin and the McDonald’s and FA Accredited Club Kit Scheme.

Now in its fourth year, the McDonald’s Accredited Kit Scheme has reached a new milestone, by providing over 250,000 free kits to grassroots football clubs across the UK, with a further 70,000 to be delivered this season alone. Last year saw a record number of applications from clubs across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with over 6,300 accredited clubs eligible to order a brand new kit, which come in a range of styles and colours.

As a long-standing partner of the FA, McDonald’s is this year celebrating its 15th anniversary of championing those who enable children and young adults of all genders, ages and abilities to play and enjoy football.

Local McDonald’s franchisee Mike Guerin, who is a keen supporter of grassroots football, said:

“Bradley Stoke Youth FC is a fantastic example of a grassroots club with a real community spirit and is a club that’s close to my heart – it’s great to meet with the team for a second year in a row and see how they’re getting on. It’s important that we support local teams to help them create the best possible experience for young aspiring players. It’s great to see that the McDonald’s Accredited Kit Scheme is thriving again this year, as it’s a great reward for grassroots clubs up and down the country.”

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The U10 and U12 girls’ teams at Bradley Stoke Youth FC (BSYFC) have received sponsored match kit for their first season together in the Bristol Girls’ League (BGL), thanks to the generosity of local car dealership Drive Vauxhall Bristol North.

The girls were presented with their new kit at a photoshoot where they posed alongside a badged-up BSYFC-branded Vauxhall Crossland X which had been brought along by Drive Vauxhall Bristol North.

In return, the visitors were presented with a shirt badged with the sponsor and BSYFC logos, which will take pride of place in the office of Drive Vauxhall Bristol North’s general manager Michael Leatherbarrow.

Lee Lawson, BSYFC U10 Girls coach, commented:

“The girls all looked fantastic and were very excited to take part in the photoshoot. They have now started playing BGL league games wearing their new kit.”

He added:

“The girls, parents and coaches would like to thank Drive Vauxhall Bristol North for their sponsorship and support. It’s excellent to see companies supporting the local community.”

Michael Lammas of Drive Vauxhall Bristol North said:

“It was great to be invited along to present the girls with their new kit, which looks great. I wish them all the best for the remainder of the season.”

Bradley Stoke Youth FC was established in 1998. It is an FA Charter Standard Community Club covering all age ranges from Reception age upwards. It also runs football sessions for children with disabilities.

Parents of any children wanting to give club football a try can find further details on the club website www.bsyfc.co.uk

BSYFC runs girls’ teams across the U8 to U16 age range and new players are always welcome.

The BSYFC contact for girls’ football development (U8) and the U10 and U12 age level is Lee Lawson, who can be contacted on 07973 143586.

This article originally appeared in the December 2017 issue of the Bradley Stoke Journal news magazine (on page 18). The magazine is delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to 9,500 homes in Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke and Stoke Lodge. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.

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By Martin Lee of Bradley Stoke Youth FC (BSYFC).

Girls’ football started in BSYFC back in 2009, to increase the opportunities for girls to play football within the local area. At that time, there was a lack of girls-only teams and most girls were having to play in mixed teams to allow them to develop their football skills and participate in matches. So, in the summer of 2009, the first girls-only football sessions were started at the club in preparation for entering a team into the Bristol Girls’ League and hence starting the girls’ section of the club. The attendance was really good and highlighted the need for girls’ football sessions and teams.

Fast forward to September 2017 and BSYFC now has U10, U12, U14, U15 and U16 girls’ teams playing in the Bristol Girls’ League and also a development squad of U8 players. Friday night is girls-only training night at the club, where over 100 girls participate in football coaching sessions within their various age groups. The club has come a long way since it started. The FA has just released its strategy for women’s and girls’ football 2017-2020 with one of the key areas being the aim to double female participation in the game. Perhaps we should invite the FA to pop along and see what BSYFC is doing to achieve our growth!

This does raise the interesting question of how do you attract female players to the game and retain them? Of course there is word of mouth. where current players invite friends to come along and try out football. Also, parents often chat in the playground, so again, that will get the word around about the club and what we are doing. However, this will only increase growth in a small way.

In practice, the growth at BSYFC has been achieved through a range of community programs that the club runs…

The School Link Programme

This programme started in 2007  and sees FA-qualified coaches go into 14 local schools and coach every Year 1 class at each school. This means many girls then have the opportunity to experience football, maybe for the first time. They become interested in the sport and then want to join a club to continue the activity outside of school. Then, through getting to know the coaches, attending BSYFC is an easy first step for them.

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Young footballers from Bradley Stoke Youth FC (BSYFC) were given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take part as one of the seven teams in the team parade at The FA Community Shield 2017 supported by McDonald’s, on Sunday 6th August.

The BSYFC players formed a guard of honour around the pitch at Wembley Stadium before Emirates FA Cup Winners Arsenal won 4-1 on penalties against Premier League champions Chelsea, in front of over 83,000 fans.

A local “grassroots” team, BSYFC secured their place on the pitch via local McDonald’s franchisee Mike Guerin, who has supported the club for eleven years as part of the McDonald’s Club Twinning Programme.

The programme began in 2008 and has already seen over 1,000 grassroots clubs across the country twinned with McDonald’s restaurants. This is just one of the many ways in which McDonald’s supports accredited grassroots clubs through their Community Partnership with The FA, helping to raise the standards of the grassroots game for all.

Grassroots clubs across the country who are twinned with their local McDonald’s restaurants receive support through the provision of kit and equipment, business advice and assistance with hosting community football events.

Emma Brown, Team Manager at Bradley Stoke Youth FC, said:

“We were extremely grateful to receive the chance to walk out at a sold-out Wembley Stadium. This opportunity comes around once-in-a-lifetime and the kids haven’t stopped talking about it since – they’re all still star struck from seeing their heroes up close! We want to extend our thanks to Mike Guerin as without him and his relationship with McDonald’s, we wouldn’t have opportunities like this. Mike truly has been a fantastic help to the club and we look forward to working with him for years to come.”

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