*BS*Dover Athletic is excited to announce the launch of Happy Feet Soccer School, the first initiative as part of the new Dover Athletic in the Community Scheme.*BF*
Happy Feet Sessions are run every Saturday and last for 1 hour. Qualified coaches will teach children between 5 and 16 years of age and of all levels and abilities.
Happy Feet will initially take place at *BS*Dover Christchurch Academy*BF*, before relocating to new facilities at Crabble Stadium, currently being developed by the club.
Sessions are split by age group as follow:
*BS*JUNIORS:*BF* 5-10 years old from 9am until 10am
*BS*SENIORS:*BF* 11-16 years old from 10.15am until 11.15am
The cost for all age groups is £3 per child, per session.
*BS*Sessions continue Saturday 22nd February.*BF*
Football in the community officer, Matt Harris said “We are really pleased to be launching Happy Feet; this represents an important milestone for everyone at the club. We have been working on bringing our community project to fruition for some time now and it will be nice to see local young people benefiting from the scheme.”
The Happy Feet project is funded by Dover Athletic Football Club and The Football Conference Trust and will run for an initial 10 months.
Harris said “The Soccer School is just part of the first phase of the project, as we get closer to the summer we will roll-out an inter-schools football tournament, to be held at Crabble before every first team home game, the competition will run over 10 weeks.”
Phase two of the project extends the clubs offering further by providing sport sessions aimed at developing the gross motor, literacy and mathematical development of children between the ages of 2.5 to 5 years. Running alongside this the scheme will create sporting
opportunities for children with a disability where they can develop, not only their interest in sport, but also their personal and social skills in a warm, calm and friendly environment.
Once fully rolled out the Happy Feet project is set to benefit over 300 children from within the local community. The club will be rolling out further initiatives as part of its ‘in the Community’ scheme, over the next 12 months.
Dover Athletic Chairman, Jim Parmenter commented “We have been developing our Community Scheme for several years, but have now reached a stage where we have the personnel and resources to make things really happen. We believe that this Football Club should play a pivitol role in the community; this is just the start of our plans. We hope to have a really positive impact here in Dover and the surrounding area.”
*BS*DOWNLOAD THE FLYER:*BF* *Link1*
*BS*Social media links:*BF*
*Link2*
*Link3*