Supporting Grassroots Football
Garforth Villa U12’s Whites
EDSB Compliance Solutions is proud to support another grassroots football team, Garforth Villa U12’s FC. The club started off as an under 8’s boys and girls team training as Mini-Villa, and now, 5 seasons later, they are stronger than ever. When EDSB’s very own SHEQ Manager, Neil Anstee, enthusiastically approached us with a sponsorship request, we could not show our support quickly enough. We were thrilled to sponsor the team with new kits for the next two years.
Neil volunteered as a coach to help set up a more structured team and has been managing that side ever since. Last season, they started in a higher league and often struggled for results, but he believed the team really held their own against some good footballing sides before dropping down a league. They had some disappointing losses, but at the same time, they had some amazing hard-fought wins, culminating in winning their very first Cup Competition on the last day of the season.
We asked Neil, “Why was EDSB’s sponsorship so important?”, and this is what he had to say:
“Sport can offer a great outlet for kids to keep active, learn new skills and to work with others, but nothing comes for free. In this period of a cost-for-living crisis, sports clubs try to balance their membership fees with inclusivity; however, club membership fees can only go so far. The routine cost of updating kits for growing kids, equipment, referee payments, and the lack of suitable, affordable playing pitches means that any additional income is always greatly appreciated. EDSB’s sponsorship means that Garforth Villa U12’s Whites have a playing kit for the next two years while the club can continue to provide opportunities for the kids to enjoy their football.”
Neil continues by mentioning his expectations for the upcoming season. Until recently, all the games have been non-publicised with no league tables. However, this season is proving to be more competitive, but with all the hard work done over the last few seasons, it has stood them in good stead. A real positive has been a change in the support the players have been giving each other, on and off the pitch, and it would be great to see this continue as the players start to settle into set roles and positions.
As a coach, Neil wants to provide fun sessions for the kids to learn from and transfer these skills into a matchday situation. The club has its own philosophy which influences how they train and play, while the FA’s structured learning programmes allow for a fun but organised learning environment. His expectations for the future are to see visible improvements in all players, but ultimately, it is about them enjoying themselves and making memories.
EDSB wishes Neil and the team every success for the future!