Since 1992 the All Star Junior Football Club has provided football training
and coaching for children and young people aged between 7 and 18 years old.
The project provides an opportunity for young people to meet in a safe and
stimulating environment whilst promoting a healthy lifestyle by encouraging
regular physical exercise. They also encourage team participation, discipline,
respect for fellow players and social interaction in a deprived area of Haughton
East.
The
football club is run solely with the help of over 30 volunteers all of whom
are interested in helping these young people reach their full potential. As
such they regularly encourage their older members to become qualified coaches.
This is a very popular club that has approximately 250 members who attend
on a regular basis. They have a number of teams for the varying age groups
who train at Longfield School in Darlington. Members usually pay a small fee
per session however as many of their members are from low income or one parent
families this charge is often waived to ensure the project is open and accessible
to all.
With the help of this grant even more members became qualified coaches and the other improvements meant that the team could apply to achieve a prestigious FA Charter mark.