Wakefield Council and Barnsley Football club create future stars
Published on: 20th January 2012
Wakefield Council has joined forces with Barnsley football club to create the new football stars of the future.
The council’s sport and active lifestyle service is working with Barnsley Football Club’s Development Academy to create the new ‘Future Stars’ junior football sessions, across the district.
Players who sign up to the twelve week training sessions will have at least one session at Barnsley FC’s development centre, with the most gifted and talented children taken on for trials, with the possibility of joining Barnsley FC academy.
The football club already works with Wakefield Schools Football Association to provide opportunities to widen and increase access to professional football.
From January 28, sessions for 5-7 years and 8-13 years will be running at Thornes Park Stadium and Lightwaves Leisure centre on Saturday mornings. Knottingley and Hemsworth sports centre will be running mid week sessions.
The partnership will be launched at a free event on January 21 at Thornes Park Stadium, 10am-12 noon and will include FREE football taster sessions for young people aged 5-13 years old.
Parents will be able to sign up to a 12 week programme of sessions during the free launch event. They can also register after the event at any of the centres mentioned above. Prices will be £2.10 for 1hr sessions and / £3 for 1.5hr sessions.
Cllr David Dagger, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Sport, said: “This partnership with Barnsley football club is a great chance for young footballers in Wakefield to reach their full potential. The partnership will provide exciting opportunities for players and we hope lots of young people will come along and attend the sessions.”
Ronnie Branson, Barnsley FC Academy Manager said: “There is a vast wealth of footballing talent within Wakefield, which can sometimes be over looked. If Wakefield Council and Barnsley Football Club can help profile, increase and support activity in addition to nurturing talent, then children and young people within the District will benefit from this partnership.”
Visit www.wakefield.gov.uk/futurestars for information on prices, how to register and session times.
