Sponsorship Boost For New Lancashire Youth Football Team Determined to Make Bawling Touchline Parents a Thing of the Past
A new Lancashire youth football team has launched with an innovative club culture that aims to make parental touchline bawling a thing of the past.
Lancashire Attack FC, based in Lytham St Annes, does not permit relatives of players to be coaches. However, every player must have a parental representative on the club committee. And each parent has a clearly-defined role and a direct influence on how the club is run.
Lancashire Attack FC was formed in the summer and has one under 11’s team in the Poulton and District Primary League.
Already local businesses Bowker Motorrad in Preston, Ultra Property in Lytham St Annes and Bite Club UK in Lytham have backed the club’s innovative grassroots football vision with kit sponsorship deals.
The team has been founded and facilitated through a partnership with Orange Soccer.
For Orange Soccer Orrin Benford said: “The idea came about through a discussion with a group of young coaches. We wanted to combine our passion for football with a better way for everyone to enjoy the sport. We wanted to avoid starting yet another club that parents saw as glorified babysitters – before screaming from the touchline on matchday.
“Parents are crucial to the success of the Lancashire Attack team. They are all involved and, in that way, buy in to the unique aims of the club. But we don’t believe it helps if they coach their own children. By distancing them from coaching decisions we think we can minimise the chances of conflict. And we can just let the kids play!”
The club is also piloting other initiatives. Its inclusive culture has a clear focus on player attitude. Players that put the team first – and demonstrate a determination to listen, learn and improve – are rewarded with game time.
Many of the players who have joined so far were not getting as much game time as they had hoped in their previous teams. There are already plans to extend the club’s teams in different age groups for next season after requests from local coaches and players.
For new shirt sponsor Bowker Motorrad, John Nichol, said: “We love the way Lancashire Attack are trying to change things for the better. Sport is a valuable way to teach young people important values. We wish Lancashire Attack every success in their campaign. It would be wonderful to think that, in years to come, the lessons they learn might inspire other teams too.”
