Kids urged to enjoy football fun in West sussex - while it lasts

For three years, South Coast Sports have offered partially-subsidised sessions for children in the Bognor and Chichester areas thanks to a Football Foundation grant. The non-profit organisation has run football, basketball, cricket, badminton and street dance sessions plus the popular Active Tots programme teaching two to five-year-olds football skills while enhancing balance, co-ordination and confidence.

They have also run girls’ football initiatives which have seen several girls taken on by top clubs.

But the grant runs out in June and a number of sessions may no longer run.

South Coast Sports are working on funding solutions but to celebrate the success of the past three years, they are running a number of programmes over the next few months.

Project co-ordinator Ali O’Boyle said: “We’re running Active Tots for ten weeks at Bourne Leisure Centre and Pagham Village Hall.

“This programme’s been extremely popular – parents are amazed how quickly their children develop, socially and in skill level. I’m desperate to keep it going.

“Two other programmes will run next term – girls’ football and Brazilian-style futsal.”

Girls’ football sessions are on Tuesday evenings on the Prebendal field in Chichester, for starters and developing players and for development-level players.

These start on April 26. Futsal sessions are at Bourne Leisure Centre in Southbourne on Thursday evenings from May 5, for children in school Years 4 to 6.

For more, email [email protected] or call 07908 848802.