May 2019
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19
Sport
Co-op store steps in with kit to keep Lions warm
T
raining sessions are about to get a bit warmer for the Stoke Lane Lions Under-10s football teams, thanks to a donation from a local Cooperative store. The community-based youth football team has bought new training hoodies for all 22 players thanks to a £500 donation from Southern Co-op’s store in North Road, Stoke Gifford. The hoodies will help keep them warm as they train in all weathers. Alex Whitton, Store Manager at Southern Co-op’s Stoke Gifford store, said: “All the children have at the moment is their main kit provided by the club. They were in need of something to help them keep warm when it gets cold or they are waiting around on the pitch.” “They love playing football, so hopefully this will help them play in all weathers. The club is very local and it gives children of all ages the opportunity to participate in organised football.” “My own son has played in the team since he was five or six years old, so it is great to watch him and the other players growing.” The U10 Lions team, which is run exclusively by parents and volunteers, is now playing in its third season. It forms part of Stoke Lane AFC, which prides itself on being family-orientated, with players of every age group at
the heart of the club. The club’s vision is to help players realise their full footballing potential, grow in confidence and build team spirit in a safe and positive environment. Stephen Powell, team manager of the U10 Lions, said: “We have grown from having just seven players to now having 22,
and they do work very hard on a Saturday morning. We have seen a massive development in all the kids – the way they have progressed and the way they have come up the rankings. They really enjoy themselves.” The Co-op store in Stoke Gifford supported the youth football club as part of Southern Co-op’s community engagement
programme ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’. This initiative addresses four key social themes for promoting: ‘Greener’, ‘Healthier’, ‘Safer’, and ‘More Inclusive’ neighbourhoods. To find out more about Southern Co-op’s commitment to the local community, visit www. thesouthernco-operative.co.uk/ makingadifference
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