Local youth football club Bradley Stoke United (BSUFC), which runs teams for under-5s (reception school year) through to under-18s, has ambitious plans for expansion and is looking to recruit more players and sponsors.
Following the appointment of new committee members in June, the club has launched a new website on the popular Pitchero platform and recently recruited around 20 new players at an open skills and training session for players in the U6 to U11 age range.
Established in April 1998, the club stages an annual tournament in June, which this year attracted around 100 teams and 800 people from the local area and further afield, e.g. South Wales.
Phil Townsend, vice chair, says while the club currently has 134 registered players, the new committee is aiming to have 200 youngsters playing regularly and enjoying football with BSUFC.
The club’s U5 and U6 (school year 1) teams, which were officially launched on 5th October, are called Bradley Stoke Tigers (reflecting the club colours of red and black stripes). Several local schools are promoting the initiative and there has already been a lot of interest.
The club is especially keen to recruit players into its U7, U8 and U9 squads, which all have willing coaches but sometimes lack the numbers to arrange and play friendlies.
The U10 to U18 squads all have experienced coaches and the teams play league and cup football to a good standard.
The Tigers through to U11s train every Wednesday on AstroTurf at Goals North Bristol, Wise Campus, New Road, Stoke Gifford BS34 8LP.
Apart from its annual tournament, the club stages an annual awards party and a Christmas party, and has several other events in the planning, such as trips to England matches, trips to St George’s Park (the English Football Association’s national football centre) and an annual tour.
Phil adds: “At BSUFC, our objective is regular football for all, i.e. everyone gets a game!”
• For more information, visit www.bsufc.co.uk
This article originally appeared in the October 2016 edition of the Bradley Stoke Journal news magazine, 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.
