Monday night under the lights! Congratulations to Jay and Milli being awarded Trainer of the Week for their teams. Jay was outstanding in goal, focused and ready ahead of Barton Athletic FC’s final league games of the season in the
@SYorksACL on Sunday.
Well done Milli, who always trains hard. Coach James was impressed with how she listened well and then put her learning into practice showing a fantastic attitude to developing herself as a footballer. A great night.
The volunteer team at BIFC-Hull
The volunteer team at BIFC-Hull were excited on the 3rd of April 2022 when Heather responded to a shout-out on social media for an assistant coach. She wrote a heart-warming application detailing why she would be the perfect candidate to support coach Chris and his new U12 squad.
Heather is passionate about football, playing since she was 6 years old and now is a key player as CDM of Tickton Harriers U18 Ladies. At school she studied sport to GCSE level, where she coached children with additional needs to help and encourage them to safely take part in new physical activities. She is currently in her final year studying BTEC Sport level 3 at a local college and is planning to start her sports teaching degree at university this September.
After attending a couple of training evenings in April to meet the volunteer team and all the players we threw Heather in at the deep end. Her first training session as assistant coach of the U12’s was on May 13th Heather immediately got the ethos of our inclusive practice. She was a hit with the new players and the evening was a great success. Heather was hooked ! and offered to step in the next day to attend a tournament in Harrogate with our U16 team. This was the beginning of a great working relationship between Heather and Chris and when he began to coach the U16’s she soon followed and remains their biggest fan, especially on match days.
Heather’s empathic understanding, patience and brilliant personality means she is now a very loved, respected and valuable cog in the BIFC-Hull wheel. She is determined to be the best coach she can and has shown amazing commitment to her training and personal development pathway. Completing the BT Playmaker, FA Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Concussion Guidelines, Introduction to Disability Football, Equality and Diversity training and Safeguarding for All in her first few months then this year alone she has aced the Introduction to Coaching, Safeguarding Children and FA’s First Aid Courses.
Since joining us almost a year ago, Heather has shown how hugely dedicated to her role she is, she has barely missed a training session or match. But her volunteering at BIFC doesn’t stop there, she even steps in to help the adult team if needed. Heather was instrumental in player Sam developing his confidence to progress from the young man who only managed 10 minutes of training, with 1-2-1 support from Heather, Sam is now comfortable enough to stay the full session independently. She helps to facilitate social events and team celebrations. Giving up Sundays to attend team bowling trips, Heather is always up for a bit of fun with these players and was keen to make our festive session special by dressing up as Santa’s helper. This enthusiasm is what makes Heather a brilliant role model for our younger volunteers and a fabulous ambassador for our club.
Heather is definitely one of Barton Inclusive Football Club’s shining stars. Her college has recognised and rewarded that star quality in her too. Heather was recently chosen from a shortlist of 64 applicants to be one of the few students taking an all expenses paid work experience trip to Australia. She will spend two weeks, exploring, enjoying the culture and teaching sport related activities to young people in Sydney including football and all things surf school!!!
“We are thrilled she has won this once in a lifetime trip and hope she has a magical time although she will be sorely missed at training,” says fellow volunteers Jo and Chris
Whilst we are extremely grateful for everything Heather does for us, she is thankful for what she gets personally from her volunteering role and had this to say, “Best thing I ever did was join BIFC, I love being part of a team that makes football available to everybody.”
South Yorkshire Ability Counts League 