Blues’ Football Friends experience going down a treat
Team Blue at Football Friends run by Waterford FC held at Ozier Park. Photos: Joe Evan
With the Waterford FC first-team having a rare weekend off due to the International football, the young participants in the ASD Football Friends were all smiles for the cameras in the past week.
Since his appointment as Head of Community at the football club, Colin Power has brought the Blues’ relationship with youngsters in the local area to a new level with the weekly “Football Friends” initiative going from strength to strength.
In conjunction with the local Waterford and District Junior League, the Football Friends weekly gathering takes place at the Ozier Park for one hour every Tuesday where children are able to play football in a friendly and safe environment for their needs.
The initiative, which helps children in their personal development, has been fantastically supported by the people of Waterford with many of the young kids getting football coaching.
Football Friends, as part of the Blues’ involvement in the community, has created a comfortable environment for children and their parents to engage and learn football skills for kids on the autism spectrum aged 6 to 16.
Since its inception last year, the amount of young kids that have come through the gates at Ozier Park every week continues to get bigger and bigger, which is a testament to the fun, joy and excitement that every child experiences.
Heading by Colin Power, he is joined by other loyal Blues supporters in bringing a friendly coaching ethos to the weekly session under the watchful eye of Sean O’Neill, who is ever present to act as referee.
A number of weeks ago, the youngsters got to experience what it is like to play on the RSC pitch as they held one of their Tuesday sessions at the home of the first-team where senior players Niall O’Keeffe, Grant Horton, and Calum Costello were in attendance. They were joined by first-team coaches Matt Lawlor and David Breen.
To find out more information about the Waterford FC ASD Football Friends programme, contact our Head of Community Development Colin Power on 087-2822822 or at community@waterfordfc.ie.
