Sylvans mini Sam Oliver-Provost, 7, shows of the community award presented to the club by GFA chairman Mark Le Tissier. Paul Mooney, the island’s football development officer, is on the left. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0865293)
The St Peter’s club received the Community Club award last Saturday and Rovers will collect theirs at a separate presentation this coming weekend.
The two clubs join 350 other recognised community clubs in England including the latest to receive it, League One side Leyton Orient.
Peter Roberts, president of Sylvans, said it was a feather in their cap.
‘It’s very nice to have been recognised for all the hard work that we have put in. We are a place in the community.
‘Awards like these don’t grow on trees and it is the outcome of a lot of hard work and we will continue to look now at how we can take the club forward and make even more progress.’
He said all the coaches showed commitment to the club and had been prepared to give up a lot of their own time to take up coaching and first aid courses.
‘There is so much emphasis at the moment on youngsters becoming couch potatoes, but I don’t believe this is true. There are a lot of minis that come here to get involved in an active sport and football being a team sport also shows them how to get on with people. It sets them up for later life.’
He said although the award was just for football, the club as a whole was keen to develop its involvement with other sports. It already has a netball and cricket team.
Paul Mooney, the GFA’s development officer, said it was a great achievement for a local club to be given a national award.
‘It shows the club is working with the community and it is following a good practice. Meeting the criteria means they are doing everything right.’
He also praised GFA development assistant Garry Cortez for his efforts in supporting the club application process and hoped more local clubs would follow suit and apply for the award.
Culture and Leisure minister Mike O’Hara was at St Peter’s to witness the presentation and see, first hand, the club’s vast minis operation at work.
‘I think it is just brilliant that they have received this very prestigious award, which means they are working at the highest level.
‘How I understand it is that there are more than 200 youngsters coming through and they are working really hard. It’s marvellous for Sylvans and the island.
‘The coaches have put in a considerable amount of time and effort and there has been a great deal of enthusiasm for them to get there.’ Football Association: St Peter’s collect prestigious award – Rovers next in line
Article posted on 3rd November, 2009 - 2.29pm
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