Football Fun for Kids from Brum

World Cup Fever hits Birmingham early this week, when more than 120 city school children are treated to a day of football fun, thanks to students from the University of Birmingham.

The boys and girls, aged 10 and 11, from 12 inner city schools, will be honing their teamwork skills on the pitch at the FootBULL tournament on the University’s main Edgbaston campus on Wednesday 7 June.

The focus of the tournament is on participation and teamwork, and all teams will be battling it out for the coveted ‘Fair Play’ Trophy.

The event, which is in its third year, is hosted by Local Leagues, a student volunteer initiative that places Birmingham students in primary schools to provide sports coaching for after school clubs.

Tournament organiser and Birmingham student Andy Murphy says: “The FootBULL day of fun is a great opportunity for children from many of the schools which we all volunteer in to come and play football together, and get the chance to use our fantastic facilities here on campus. This is intended to be an end of school year celebration, and the girls and boys taking part have been chosen as a reward for good behaviour.”

Following action on the pitch, the teams of 10 from each school round off the day with an awards ceremony, where each participant will be presented with a medal, and the winner of the ‘Fair Play’ Award is announced.

The day of fun has been made possible by support from the University’s Active Community project, Enterprise rent-a-car, Local Leagues and Lloyds TSB, who have not only provided funds for T-shirts, medals and prizes, but are also volunteering their help on the day by acting as referees.

The tournament forms part of the Birmingham Cares ‘Fit 4 Fun’ Action Days that are taking place in the region this month, where volunteers from companies across Birmingham offer a range of practical activities aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles from an early age.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

Local Leagues provides inner city young people between the ages of 5 and 16, with interesting physical activities within walking distance from their homes. Students volunteer to act as a coach and mentor for a group of young people, running an after school sports club.

FootBULL – BULL stands for Birmingham University Local Leagues

The 12 Schools taking part in the Tournament are:

• Aston Tower Community Primary School - Aston
• Birchfield Community School - Aston
• Christ Church CE Primary School - Sparkbrook
• Conway Primary School - Sparkbrook
• Heathmount Primary School - Sparkbrook
• Montgomery Primary School - Sparkbrook
• Park Hill Primary School - Moseley
• Prince Albert Junior and Infant School - Aston
• Raddlebarn Primary School – Selly Oak
• Springfield Primary School
• Greet Primary – Sparkhill
• Clifton Junior School – Balsall Heath

The tournament takes place on the Bournbrook Astroturf pitches near the South Gate of the University of Birmingham, on the Bristol Road. Photographers are welcome to attend. Please contact Rachel Robson (below) for details and timings.

Andy Murphy is a second year Sport and Exercise Sciences student at the University of Birmingham who has organised the football tournament and does weekly football coaching sessions at Conway School in Sparkbrook.

Birmingham Cares is an initiative of Business in the Community and Birmingham Voluntary Service Council and has to date provided in excess of 4,500 volunteering opportunities and involved more than 3,500 company volunteers in community projects. Business in the Community is a unique movement of companies committed to continually improving their positive impact on society, with a core membership of 700 companies including 80% of the FTSE 100.

Further information:

Rachel Robson – Head of News Team, University of Birmingham

Tel: 0121 414 6681 / mob: 07789 921165 / email: r.a.robson@bham.ac.uk