Project is alive and kicking

TONY BUGBY’S weekly look behind the scenes at Boundary Park

ATHLETIC’S Kickz project has scored an important goal in being given £95,000 by the Football Foundation.

Money has been channelled into Athletic’s Community Trust and will fund its Coldhurst initiative for the next three years.

The Kickz project has been running in that area for the last three months, with over 100 youngsters participating.

It is aimed at organising constructive activities for those aged between 12 and 18 years.

Football sessions have taken place and the youngsters have devised a code of conduct, worked on a graffiti art project – which will eventually be displayed at Boundary Park – and also been to watch Athletic play in Coca-Cola League One.

One of the aims is to reduce anti-social behaviour as well as breaking down barriers between young people and the police.

Athletic Community Trust’s Kickz co-ordinator James Mwale said: “Kickz is a great project, one which enables us to engage with many young people from the Coldhurst area three evenings each week.

“Kickz offers young people the opportunity to be involved in football and other activities during times when they could be hanging around on the streets.

“We encourage young people to volunteer and also to achieve coaching qualifications so in the future they will be able to coach within their own community and maybe seek employment through it.”


JOHN Sheridan can hardly be accused of being a Scrooge-type figure.

The Athletic manager has entered into the festive spirit by giving his players Christmas Day off, even though they are in action at Crewe 24 hours later.

“I think it is important that players spend time with their families at this time of year,” declared Sheridan who, as a player, always had to train on Christmas Day.

But Sheridan has warned his players to watch what they eat and observe a strict no-alcohol rule.