Argyle Community Trust
ARGYLE Community Trust is pleased to announce we have launched the new Kicks Academy, bringing together the projects most promising players from across the city.
The new Academy, which is made up of 12 budding young players, started training on Monday and they are preparing to tackle some of the biggest Premier Leagues clubs’ projects early next year.
Kicks is a social inclusion project delivered across Plymouth, targeting areas of high rates of social deprivation, crime and anti-social behaviour. Kicks was first delivered in 2008 and is now into its seventh year of successful delivery and has engaged with over 1000 young people to date.
Kicks is currently delivered in Honicknowle, North Prospect and Whitleigh, working in partnership with Neighbourhood Police Teams and Plymouth Youth Service.
The Academy has been set up to reward participants who regularly attend and make positive contributions towards their individual projects. Delivered at Manadon Astro-turf, the players are put through their paces with a number of physical, technical and tactical practices. All training sessions are geared towards making the players better, more confident footballers, as well as preparing for some big matches in the New Year.
Argyle Community Trust Social Inclusion Manager Dwain Morgan stated: “The players on the Kicks project have shown an unbelievable work rate and I’m confident we will have another strong team for this season.
“This project is a great way to reward those for their effort and achievements at each session, giving them a chance to enjoy the benefits of representing their local professional club. The squad is made up of players from all different communities, who do not normally come together and socialise. This squad is about breaking down boundaries socially, as much as it is progressing as a player.”
Each player has earned a 12-week placement within the squad and has been rewarded with Argyle training kit. Each player has now been challenged to retain their Academy status by continuing to work hard at sessions, make volunteering contributions, as well as stay out of trouble in their local community.
For more information about Kicks and how to become involved, please contact Dwain Morgan at dwain.morgan@pafc.co.uk or 01752 562561 ext.4
