Pembury team’s delight – smart new shirts are the tops!
Young footballers in Pembury are celebrating a power firm’s grant for new team tops.
Players at Pembury Athletic Football Club under-10s were outgrowing their kit when UK Power Networks stepped in with a £250 Team Sport Award, to buy smart new shirts.
Team coach, Simon Plant, nominated his team for the grant and his son Harry, nine, is one of the players delighted to be sporting new team kit. Simon works in the groundworks team at UK Power Networks and volunteers at the club in his free time.
UK Power Networks runs the grant scheme to encourage staff to volunteer in the community, support grassroots sport, promote healthy living, teamwork and develop sports opportunities. Such donations are becoming increasingly helpful to local sports clubs during the current ‘cost of living crisis’.
Simon said: “The funding from UK Power Networks really helps and we appreciate the support. The kids are wearing training shirts we bought with the last award from the company.
“Some of them were outgrowing their kit, so now we can refresh it they are delighted we can buy smart new training shirts.
“It is so fulfilling seeing the kids grow, gain new skills and make new friends. They are good buddies so it’s great seeing them get together for football. When it’s cold and rainy outside, I give my free time as team coach for them – while they enjoy it, that’s what I do.”
The team play home matches at Pembury Recreation Ground on Saturdays and training takes place every other Saturday at Mascalls Academy, Paddock Wood.
Mike Tankard, head coach, said: “A massive thank you to UK Power Networks and Simon Plant for their generous grant allowing the Pembury Athletic Youth Football Club to provide new shirts for our under-10 teams.
“Without their support, clubs at grassroots level struggle even more in this current climate. We can now focus on providing football to the community without having to increase the financial pressure on already stretched parents.”
