Courtesy: Swindon Advertiser


Coaching boost for budding Di Canios

Thursday 20th September 2012

by Scott D'Arcy

SWINDON TOWN have teamed up with Futsal to offer youngsters in the town the chance to be the next generation of coaches.

The Robins’ Football in the Community Trust has got behind the Football League Trust initiative to run sports coaching courses at Futsal venues following a successful pilot last year.

Swindon’s Futsal arena, based in Kembrey Park, already runs a scholarship programme in partnership with Swindon Academy and Reading FC, but have said they are excited to have signed up with the local team.

The scholarship programme will see 16 to 18 year-olds get a chance to earn a BTEC Level Three qualification in sports education and teams from many Football League clubs across the country will take part in a National League starting next month.

Last week players with clubs including Swindon, Exeter City and Cardiff City participated in tournament at the arena to mark the launch of this year’s National Football League Trust Futsal Scholarship programme.

Lee Rowlands, Swindon Futsal general manager, said: “The feedback has been fantastic with all team managers and coaches speaking highly of the arena and the facilities and the standard of Futsal on show.

“The managers will now go away to work with their teams as they prepare to meet in the National League during the 2012/13 season.

“We are delighted to have Swindon Town on board as they are our local team.”

Jon Holloway, manager of Swindon Town Football in the Community Trust, said: “We got involved under the Football League Trust programme and our course is both football and Futsal.

“It is a great opportunity firstly for the girls and boys to get a good education and also for them to earn level one and two coaching badges while they are with us.

“We now have a fantastic set-up at Croft and have to thank Intel for their help in getting the systems up and running too.”