Hundreds of young footballers will be able to shout ‘back of the net’ on matchday thanks to a generous pledge from a local accountancy firm.
JF Hornby & Co has donated £5,000 via its charitable arm, The Hornby Foundation, to Swarthmoor Juniors FC.
The money topped up funds the club had already saved, allowing them to make a significant investment in four sets of goals.
The new equipment will now be used when multiple games and training sessions are delivered on the sports fields at Ulverston Victoria High School (UVHS).
Club chairperson Keith Skinner said: “The donation from the Hornby Foundation was a fantastic gesture.
“Their generous contribution will have a significant and positive impact on our young players, contributing to top-grade equipment to help them enjoy and excel in the sport they all love.
“We’re a local team with the community at our heart – but we couldn’t do what we do without the support of fantastic volunteers and businesses like JF Hornby.”
Swarthmoor Juniors has 200 players across 13 teams, ranging from under-sevens through to under-16s. Additionally, each year they run a ‘Future Stars’ programme to get nursery aged children engaged in the benefits a team sport such as football has to offer.
The club fields boy, girls’ and mixed teams in various leagues.
Until recently, home games were played across four different locations. But after reaching an agreement with UVHS, through Community Sports Arenas, all home fixtures are now held on the school’s sports fields.
The club purchased goals for each of its five-a-side, seven-a-side, nine-a-side and 11-a-side pitches. That means up to seven games will now be played on a Saturday across four pitches and all age groups.
Paula Boyd, a trustee for the Hornby Foundation, handed the cheque over to Keith.
She said: “It’s always a pleasure to meet people like Keith who do such a wonderful job for the young people of our town.
“Sport is positive in so many ways – it promotes good physical and mental health, teamwork, relationship building and fosters a sense of belonging.
“The team at Swarthmoor Juniors do a fantastic job and I was delighted to hand the money over on behalf of the Hornby Foundation.”
If your charitable or non-profit organisation could benefit from a Hornby Foundation grant, visit https://thehornbyfoundation.org.uk for more details.
