Holiday football sessions for Bedlington youngsters

Aug 3 2010 By Evening Chronicle

POLICE officers in a Northumberland town are supporting a summer street football competition for kids.

The Northumbria Police neighbourhood team in Bedlington will be talking to youngsters and taking part in the initiative, which is being held every Friday between 6pm and 9pm during the school holidays.

A portable football ‘cage’ will be put up in the Tesco car park, opposite the town’s police station, and children can come and play for free.

The action will be supervised by experienced youth football coaches and sports workers, and every week there will be tournaments held with awards for the winning teams.

Bedlington Neighbourhood Sergeant, John Heaton, said: “These football sessions are a brilliant way for local kids to learn some new skills, keep active and enjoy themselves.

“Initiatives like this are excellent ways for us to engage with young people and we will always support such schemes. It gives youngsters something positive to do with their Friday evenings.”

The Bedlington street soccer event is part of the force’s Respect campaign to tackle anti-social behaviour by highlighting activities available for young people over the summer months.