By Matteo Bianchi, team manager and head coach.

Bradley Stoke Youth FC’s (BSYFC’s) Under-10 Blues team has just started the new season with training sessions and competitive matches as part of the Hanham Minor League Division B group.

In August 2019, the team was lucky enough to be one of eight teams selected to participate in the pre-match on-pitch parade at the FA Community Shield, representing McDonald’s grassroots football sponsorship.

An excited party of boys, parents and siblings met at Baileys Court early in the morning, departing for Wembley Stadium promptly at 7.45am. After an uninterrupted journey, we finally saw the twin towers come into view and arrived in good time, allowing the opportunity for a team photo-shoot in front of the famous statue of the 1966 World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore.

The 17 lucky boys wearing team kit who had been selected to join the parade then met with FA staff, picked up their VIP wristbands and entered the stadium. Once inside, the boys received an official briefing, had photos taken pitch-side and practised walking in formation ready for the parade.

The accompanying parents had time for coffee and window shopping prior to the turnstiles opening at 1pm, whereupon we took our seats ready to see the action. Following the players’ warm-up session, two community choirs from Liverpool and Manchester City sang rousing versions of You’ll Never Walk Alone and Blue Moon respectively, and as these songs rang out the boys paraded into the stadium waving their flags, our boys and coaches leading the parade out at the Manchester City end of the pitch.

Pre-match ceremonies complete, the boys paraded off and then made the journey up into the upper tier of the stadium to join their families and enjoy the game.

An excellent and tightly fought match followed which finished 1-1 at full time. The game went straight to a penalty shoot-out which was a tense affair at the Liverpool end of the pitch, Manchester City winning 5-4 after Liverpool’s third penalty was saved. Liverpool fans streamed out of the stadium leaving the Manchester City fans to enjoy the trophy ceremony.

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The U12 girls at Bradley Stoke Youth FC are now dressed for success thanks to sponsorship from local building firm LNJ Construction Services Ltd.

Lewis Colling, director at LNJ, whose youngest step-daughter plays for the team, contacted manager/coach Lee Lawson when he heard the team were looking for a kit sponsor.

A conversation about the team and how LNJ could help led to the firm agreeing to sponsor 24 new full match kits, 1 full goalkeeper’s kit and a spare goalkeeper’s shirt.

Lee says he had been in the process of drafting out emails to local businesses prior to Lewis getting in touch and he is pleased that word of mouth brought a quick offer of support.

Once the order was delivered, the girls were presented with their new kit at a photoshoot alongside Lewis and his partners at LNJ, Colin Broomsgrove and John Iles.

Lee Lawson, BSYFC U12 manager/coach, said:

“The girls look fantastic in their new kit and are looking forward to the season. The coaches, girls and parents would like to extend their thanks to Lewis and LNJ for their generosity in sponsoring the team.”

“It’s excellent to see companies like this supporting the local community in which they do business.”

LNJ Construction boasts a combined 76 years of experience covering all building and construction works ranging from basic renovation to new builds.

More: BSYFC is an FA Charter Standard Community Club »

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On Saturday 8th June, Bradley Stoke Youth FC continued the success of their Schools’ Football Festival at the Jubilee Centre, which attracted 130 Year 1 children representing 13 different local primary schools. The Festival is the finale of the club’s School Link Program where BSYFC’s FA Qualified coaches go into the 13 schools and provide football coaching to all Year 1 children over a three-week period. The program starts in February and finishes in May ready for the festival in June.

The Football Festival has been running since 2006 and over the years has developed into a major part of the town’s annual Community Festival, with over 1,900 children having now taken part. The School Link Programme started in 2007 and has grown over the years to become a major community activity with over 8,000 children having received football skills coaching in their school.

Each school receives a cup, which can be kept for a year, and is awarded on a points-scoring system based on things such as; attitude and approach of players and teachers, preparation and organisation, adhering to the guidelines and ensuring both boys and girls of all abilities are selected. The whole day is about participation and enjoyment to allow each child the opportunity to play football in a friendly environment.

Every child receives a medal and a gift bag full of football-related essentials like shin pads, football socks, water bottle, baseball cap, activity play pack and sweets. As well as the cup, each school receives a bag of size 3 footballs to continue the football coaching at their school. The winning school also receives a new kit for their team.

The Teacher Awards this year went to Baileys Court and St Peter’s.

More: Festival award winners and team photos »

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September 2018 saw a number of local community groups send in applications to the Aviva Community Fund in the hopes of receiving funding for their projects. After voting was opened to the public in October 2018, the finalists were announced on 27th November. From across the Stokes, there were four finalists: St Michael’s Primary School PTFA, 1st Bradley Stoke Scouts, Wheatfield Primary School and Bradley Stoke Youth FC.

On 24th January 2019, the winners from the ‘environment’ category were announced followed by the ‘health and wellbeing’ category on 31st January and on 7th February it was the final category, ‘skills for life’. Out of these three categories, two of the four finalists from the Stokes were successful and will be receiving the funding that they applied for.

Bradley Stoke Youth Football Club (BSYFC)

BSYFC’s U7 team received funding of £500 to purchase some winter training clothing as well as new training equipment such as mini-hurdles, training ladders and slalom poles to ensure training sessions remain engaging and interactive for the children.

James McTiernan, manager of the U7 team, said:

“We are delighted with the news that the club were able to secure a significant sum of money through the Aviva Community Fund. Coaches and parents worked really hard to ensure that we had enough votes to be considered. The under-7 squad are undergoing and really enjoying their first season in league football this year. The money will go towards kit and equipment, and will go a very long way in helping the children to grow and develop as both footballers and people.”

More: £5,000 for play equipment at St Michael’s School »

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