I have been lucky enough to be involved in Priory Park Football Club (PPFC) for a few years now in a number of different ways. Mainly as a dad, always as a fan, and for a short while even as a coach. It is a community football club that started as a couple of dads in the park that has grown to become F. A affiliated with over 185 kids registered training each week and 5 teams in the Regents Park and Camden League. Leagues that the kids have been known to win on a few occasions.

As a voluntary run community club there has always been a focus on inclusivity; ‘subs’ are kept low, you only pay when you play, and less well off kids can get assistance with anything from kits through to subs as required. The focus remains on getting ALL kids out and playing. Given the non-profit nature of the club any surplus on income is regularly donated to ‘Action for Kids’, https://www.actionforkids.org/

One of the coaches is from Ziguinchor in Senegal and PPFC have teamed up to help develop a football academy in the village. Collectively the club have already succeeded in providing all the kit required to get the academy off the ground. Training is a regular activity and the kids were thrilled with the kit and opportunities provided. The next phase of the project is to build proper changing facilities and a pitch on the club’s land with a longer term view of tying into school and education for their local community.

I am going to be cycling from Vancouver to Calgary to raise funds for the academy. To be clear my ‘holiday’ is fully self funded, every penny raised goes to PPFC Senegal. At 850 miles even 1p per mile could make a difference…..

http://prioryparkfc.uk/ppfc-in-senegal/
http://www.amateur-fa.com/news/2017/jan/priory-park-fundraising-for-village-in-senegal
http://prioryparkfc.uk/
http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/sport/football/priory-park-pitch-in-to-help-their-coach-fulfil-his-dream-of-developing-an-academy-in-senegal-1-4779433