First Team

FOOTBALL IN THE COMMUNITY KICKS OFF AT DAWLISH

Dawlish town’s new Football in the Community programme kicks-off this week, beginning a new chapter in the Sandy Lane club’s history.

The Seasiders were awarded Charter Standard Development Club status by the Football Association in June, and the Football in the Community set-up is part of a new era for the club as it looks to develop not only as a successful football side but also as a pillar within the local community.The new programme will involve first team manager Chris Myers, the former Torquay United midfielder, and assistant coach Adam Shearer visiting primary and senior schools in the Teignbridge area to hold football coaching days, while promoting Dawlish Town.

These are exciting times for the Sandy Lane side, and boss Myers is keen to make football fans across South Devon aware of the work being done by his club.

Myers said: “Me and Adam have been employed as Football in the Community officers and we’ll be working in football development in the Dawlish and Teignbridge area.

“We’ve been working with Teignbridge District Council and have been forging links with schools, the community and the public to try and get people interested in the club.

“We have our own Football in the Community programme and we’ll be going into schools and putting on sessions for people. It’s a positive move by the club, and is a big step for us at Dawlish.

“We’re making appointments with schools for coaching sessions. There are lots of schools in Dawlish and the surrounding area, and we’ll be looking at Newton Abbot and the Teignbridge area as well. It’s a wide area.”

The Football in the Community programme has a list of aims that will hopefully be fulfilled as Myers and Shearer get out and about in the local community. The pair are both UEFA B licensed coaches, and are keen to promote soccer across the district.

Myers added: “Our aims are to encourage children to participate in physical activity and to deliver health, fitness and nutritional programmes to schools.

“We aim to deliver in-school and after-school coaching and holiday coaching programmes. We will specifically be targeting children from deprived areas, and will be working with social services.

“There will be sponsored events and charity days and we’ll be staging tournaments at Sandy Lane. We’ll also be distributing free match-day tickets and trying to develop our fan base.”