This Saturday the Kicks Cup is back in Doncaster, with teams up and down the Country coming together to take part at the Keepmoat.
Kicks sides from Newcastle United, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Hull City, Sheffield United will all be in attendance at the Keepmoat Stadium, with the tournament taking place at the soccer centre astro-turf pitches.Run by the Club Doncaster Foundation, Doncaster’s successful Kicks programme offers free football sessions to young people around the local area.
The Doncaster programme is heavily supported by local funding partners including DMBC, St Leger Homes, Mayor Ros Jones, Parish & Town Councils and brings communities together through sport and activities, improving relationships with the police and rescue services to make local areas a better place.
The Kicks Cup now gives young people from Doncaster and across the Country to represent their local football team.
Fifteen year-old Daniel Brown who attends Kicks in Balby said: “Kicks has helped me develop my football and without these sessions I would probably be out on the streets playing with my friends and messing around.
“It’s all fun, it helps that it is free too, it’s great that the club can provide these sessions to areas around Doncaster.
“I now get to play against teams from all over the UK which is great, it will test our football skills against and a good experience.”
Coach Mark Cooper who heads the Kicks session in Balby added: “The aim of these sessions is to get young people away from the streets to reduce anti-social behaviour and working closely with the police.
“When they come down to these sessions they are developing their football skills, but they also develop as people and young adults.
“With the sessions being free it gives everyone an opportunity to come down and enjoy themselves.”
The tournament will be played on the soccer cages with the winner being presented with the trophy at half time.
For more information about Kicks in your local area visit http://www.drfc-community.co.uk/