Norwich church and league youth football project
The Norfolk Christian Football League has teamed up with a Norwich church to provide support and resources to help other local churches launch youth football teams for the coming season.
The Norfolk Christian Football League currently has three main aims, one of which is to expand its work with youth players and see a growth in the number of teams in the youth divisions. The league currently offers competitive but friendly football at U12, U14 and U16 levels.
League secretary, Paul Nice, said: “It has been exciting for the league to hear that earlier in this summer, children from Soul Church in Norwich produced the idea of holding a fundraising football charity match to raise funds for the new Soul building currently being constructed on Heartsease Lane, Norwich.”
A spinoff of the match has been that a new youth football team has been formed at Soul called the Soul Strikers. The team sponsors, Hollinger Print and Norwich Accountancy Services, have helped the young players secure football kits, new footballs, and other equipment to get their football team up and running. Soul are now in the process of setting up U14, U12 and U9 teams and are working to partner with the Norfolk Christian Football League (NCFL) which has run youth football leagues for many years.
“The NCFL vision is to link church and community through football and Soul Church has also recognized the power of football in building community amongst both Christian and non-Christian boys and girls who play the game, “ said Paul.
Steadman Noble, who co-ordinates the youth football programme at Soul, said: “Football is a real tool for outreach, fellowship and building lasting Christian friendships among children and among their families. Soul Church is keen to partner with and support churches in and around Norwich and the county which would like to extend this kind of ministry in their church. This a great opportunity to create a positive and nurturing environment of faith and community for children and young people around our county and great city.”
As a result of this initiative, both the NCFL and Soul Church are inviting other churches and wider Christian organisations to consider putting together a youth team and join the NCFL for the 23/24 season. There is still time as matches would not start until late September/early October.
Soul Church, as part of working alongside the NCFL, would be able to come alongside churches, especially those with only a few possible players, and host taster training sessions for interested boys and girls in their community.
Soul has several coaches with experience to help train and organise teams. They will also work with churches and Christian organisations to find local sponsors who can support their teams.
If a church or Christian organisation is interested in getting involved, please email either the NCFL secretary, Paul Nice, at secretary@norfolkcfl.co.uk or Steadman Noble from Soul Church at steadman@steadmannoble.com
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