Westmorland County FA & Cumberland FA PLAYSAFE FINALS!
This season, Westmorland FA teamed up with Cumberland to create a unique and exciting competition. The goal? To encourage parents and carers to complete their required safeguarding course.
We partnered with Workington AFC, Kendal Town, and Carlisle United to host a competition offering mini soccer players the chance to experience a "pro for a day" adventure, playing at a real stadium!
Entering was easy. All we asked was for parents and carers to complete the free online safeguarding course. This gave them a chance to win this incredible experience for their child's team.
Westmorland FA and Cumberland FA were thrilled with the number of parents who participated – we had some truly deserving winners!
In April, Ibis JFC had a fantastic day out at Carlisle United, facing Gosforth on the stadium pitch! They emerged from the tunnel in true "Blues" style, greeted by the electrifying sounds of AC/DC's Thunderstruck blasting over the loudspeakers. The teams were announced with a formal lineup before launching into an exciting end-to-end match.
A few weeks later, the action shifted to Kendal Town FC for the Westmorland game. Here, Ambleside United's under-10s faced off against Kendal United's under-10s on the stadium pitch. Both local teams showcased their skills in this fantastic footballing opportunity.
Proud parents, carers, and family members watched from the stands as the teams warmed up and prepared for the game. The PA system even announced their names and shirt numbers as they went through drills and stretches. Just before kickoff, the players headed back inside to prepare for their grand entrance.
UEFA Champions League music filled the air as young referee Cameron Field led both teams onto the pitch for this unforgettable event. Once again, the game was a goal-fest, with enthusiastic cheers from both sets of supporters.
Overall, giving these young players the chance to play at a stadium was an amazing experience! But the true victory lies in the number of parents who completed the safeguarding course through this competition.
Thank you to everyone who participated! You've made a real difference.
Programme: Ambleside United vs Kendal United
You can watch highlights of the Ibis vs Gosforth game here: