Investec scores with new goal posts for a Jersey under 10s football team

ST JOHN FOOTBALL CLUB under 10s now has new goals and nets, thanks to a donation from a Jersey private bank.

Prior to the donation, of more than £500 by Investec Specialist Bank, the team had to play all of its matches away as it did not have the correct sized goals for mini-soccer, in line with the Football Association guidelines.

The new goals are made of steel and therefore durable enough to last for many seasons to come, and have a folding mechanism so they can be kept in storage in the newly redeveloped St John’s Recreation Centre.

‘Having played every match away from home for two seasons, the boys from the St John Football Club Years 3, 4 and 5 teams are really excited at the prospect of finally being able to play home matches in the coming weeks thanks to the exceptionally kind donation that the club received from Investec to enable us to purchase a set of mini-soccer goals,’ said St John Football Club under 10s coach and manager, Paul Young.

‘Investec’s generosity means that the club has been able to purchase top quality, long lasting equipment which will benefit not just the current crop of players but many more young children for some years,’ he said.

The principles and rules of mini-soccer are similar to those in Association football, however the pitches are smaller and there are fewer players on each team. First introduced in the 1990s, the popularity of mini-soccer has grown year-on-year. Depending on the age group, the number of players and the size of pitch, the game can vary from four-a-side for the youngest players to seven-a-side for the under 10s.

There are a number of benefits to mini-soccer over Association football. Youngsters get more touches of the ball, which not only increases participation but also enjoyment. Fewer players on the pitch mean simpler decisions and greater concentration among participants. Greater individual success leads to more children playing. In the long term, this leads to sustained participation levels beyond this age group.

‘We are delighted to have been able to support St John Football Cub’s under 10s team in the purchase of new goals and nets, designed specifically for mini-soccer. At Investec we believe it is important to support the communities in which we operate and we hope that this donation will make a difference to many youngsters now and in the future,’ said Kevin Allen, Head of Investec Specialist Bank, Jersey.

Tags: Investec Specialist Bank, Jersey under 10s football team, pictures, St John Football Club

Category: Community, Sport