Release Date: 16/02/2009

THE Castlereagh Co-operative Insurance Football Games Development Centre received a much needed equipment boost from The Co-operative Insurance as they took delivery of brand new sets of football goals to celebrate the re-opening of the hugely successful programme.

Kicking off on Saturday 21 February The Castlereagh Co-operative Insurance Football Games Development Centre will provide 60 local junior teams and over 600 children (7-11 years old) from the Castlereagh, North Down, Belfast and Ards council areas with the opportunity to compete against other teams in a competitive, fun and friendly environment.

The Castlereagh Co-operative Insurance Football Games Development Centre will provide children with the opportunity to put into practice the skills they have acquired at their local Co-operative Insurance Football Skills Development Centres in a competitive game situation with the emphasis on player development rather than match results.

Speaking about the Castlereagh Co-operative Insurance Football Games Development Centre, Philip Melville, Castlereagh Grassroots Development Officer, said: “Many of the children involved in the programme haven’t had the opportunity to play football matches outside of their own Co-operative Insurance Football Skills Development Centre.

“Through the Castlereagh Co-operative Insurance Football Games Development Centre we aim to provide a platform that will allow children to gain valuable experience within a team environment. This experience allows young players to learn and develop important qualities such as respect, discipline and teamwork, and helps them further develop their football skills, have fun and make new friends. We have also replaced the emphasis on the result by creating a playing environment that allows players to express themselves and be inventive.”

The Co-operative Insurance Football Development Centres are a key component of the IFA’s Grassroots Development Strategy and provide boys and girls, aged between 6 and 12, with the opportunity to play football and develop their skills regardless of ability.

The new look Co-operative Insurance Football Development Centres supersede the hugely successful CIS Insurance Mini Soccer Centres with separate centres across Northern Ireland focussing on either the skills or games element of a young players football development.

The Co-operative Insurance Skills Development Centres provide children with fun and informal coaching to learn new football skills and the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. The Co-operative Insurance Games Development Centres then give children the opportunity to put into practice the skills they have acquired in a team based playing environment. 

Aileen Walters, Sponsorship Manager for The Co-operative Insurance, said: “The Co-operative Insurance Football Development Centres take the idea of the previous CIS Mini Soccer Centres to a new level and this represents an exciting new partnership for The Co-operative Insurance, underlining our continued commitment to the game at all levels in Northern Ireland.”

“The Co-operative Insurance Football Development Centres, through their focus on skills and games development, continue to represent many children’s first serious introduction to football in a fun, enjoyable, safe, and rewarding environment.”

For further information on The Co-operative Insurance Football Development Centres, please contact the Conor Maxwell in the Irish FA’s Grassroots Department on 028 90 669 458.

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