STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM GFC PARTNERSHIP

Gills Community Trust offer football based activities over summer holidays

Gillingham FC’s Community Trust partnered up with Capita Education Resourcing over the summer holidays, organising groups of enthusiastic young students to attend selected GFC Summer Soccer Schools.

The programmes primary focus was aimed to include a mix of both sporting and classroom activities, with a strong emphasis on providing a fun and enjoyable experience.

The summer holidays programme followed a set regime with football based warm-ups kicking off proceedings in the morning before moving into SAQ (speed, agility and quickness) training.

Various football skills, drills and game sessions followed prior to a lunch break.

The students then had the chance to put their teachers’ knowledge to the test as they faced off in a football quiz.

The afternoon’s football activities kicked back off with sets of small sided games, and then concluded with a round robin tournament which the teachers couldn’t resist getting involved in, with each being assigned a separate team’s goalie duty.

“It was an all-round great day, but I think the highlight for me was the fact the teachers weren’t shy to get involved and that ultimately brought the best out of everyone involved,” said Nick Powell, one of the coaches involved in the programme.

After a full day of Football the student headed to MEMS Priestfield Stadium where they were granted an all access tour. They were lucky enough to find themselves parked up in the Boardroom re-enacting a GFC boardroom meeting.

After that they made their way to the players changing rooms before getting the opportunity to run out through the tunnel.

Peter Flannery, Managing Director of Capita Education Recovering, said:

“Students taking part in this year’s programme acquired new skills as well as enjoying the activities and experiences that the programme had to offer.

“It also gave students the opportunity to make friends, meet their teachers and familiarise themselves with their new surroundings prior to starting the new school year.

“Capita Education Resourcing was proud to be working with Gillingham Football Club’s Community Trust to deliver this initiative and we hope that this was the highlight of the students’ summer.”