The idea
St Annes FC are a large grassroots football club that has a deep rooted history in the communities surrounding St Annes and Blackpool. We aim to provide a safe environment for all players to enjoy football; make new friendships, improve their skills and techniques, improve their fitness and support positive wellbeing by being active. We do not limit numbers or players due to ability or any other reason. We are a strong family club, with links to the local community and projects. We provide football activities for all ages, we are fully inclusive with junior boys, girls, mixed, open age women and men teams. The Club is made up of over 600 players and 45 teams; 32 boys and mixed teams, 10 girls teams, 2 women’s and a men's teams. We would like to focus on delivering more coaching for the girls and women's teams, and supporting the women's and girls teams with better resources, particularly for those where costs may be an issue for access and retention, if this project is successful.
What we'll deliver
- Train 3 new coaches (with an emphasis on training women coaches)
- Subsidise training costs for women and girls where access is otherwise a challenge
- Purchase winter training equipment
- Freshen up women's changing facilities and toilets
- Advertise new women's and girls teams
- Cover travel and match day expenses for women and girls where access is otherwise a challenge
- Hold additional goalkeeper training sessions
- Purchase women's and girls kits, including goalkeeper kits
- Childcare costs or childcare provisions for women to enable them to continue to play/coach/referee
- Train 3 new referees (with an emphasis on training women referees)
Why it's a great idea
As a volunteer Club, we don’t have a dedicated funding source. We are self funded through annual player subscriptions. The Club is run, managed and supported wholly by volunteers. Over the last few years, the Club has grown significantly, particularly in the early years and girls teams. With this crowdfunding, we will be able to successfully grow the women's and girls teams further, with support at every level, from the individual girls who want to play but haven't started yet, to supporting women to coach, train and referee. We don't want any reason, from costs to childcare, to be a barrier to these teams, and we want to ensure the longevity of the Club family by welcoming not just the men and boys but the women and girls as well! The benefits aren't just for those who play, but for the Club, and for the local communities, because, if everyone feels that they belong at St Annes FC, we will be able to give back to the town and surrounding areas too.
Steps to get it done
- Three new coaches trained
- One new referee trainer
- One new women's or girls team created
