Kids Get Into The Euro 2016 Spirit

Over 700 girls and boys from across the county borough have been getting in the spirit of Euro 2016 at two football festivals organised by Sport Caerphilly to coincide with the popular football tournament. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

460 boys and girls from 46 schools took part in their own Euro 2016 tournament which coincided with the start of the real thing. This was a competitive event in which each of the schools adopted and represented one of the countries taking part in the real Euro 2016 tournament for the day. Teams competed during the morning to find out which group they would play in during the afternoon with 8 matches taking place at any one time. The overall winners of the day were Ysgol Bro Allta whose country for the day was France. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On Wednesday 15th June, over 250 girls took part in a festival aimed at encouraging as many as possible girls to take part in football. Many of the girls who attended on the day had never played football before. The day was structured with skill and technical sessions in the morning and a festival of round robin games in the afternoon. The coaches worked hard to ensure that participants had a fun day. Following this event, it is hoped that many of the girls will be inspired to take their journey further and become members of their local football club. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Both events were held at the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach and supported by Coleg Y Cymoedd, Ystrad Mynach Campus. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr. Nigel George, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services said: “It’s fantastic to see these kinds of events taking place with our young people. We’re very keen indeed to encourage and support our young people and help them to fulfil their potential as footballing stars of the future”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​