Friendly soccer clash aids Latch (From Barry And District News)

Friendly soccer clash aids Latch

LLANDOUGH Hospital based charity Latch is to benefit from the efforts of a group of Vale of Glamorgan youngsters who are furthering their Duke of Edinburgh Award ambitions on the football field.

Known as "The Steelers," the youngsters from the Barry based Youth Offending Team met a Vale Police Squad - "The Liberty Takers" - in a charity friendly at the town's Jenner Park Stadium.

The game was played in a great spirit, with the Police team, organised by Nick Miller, running out worthy winners, and project development officer Allison Pesticcio said: "The lads really enjoyed themselves and were delighted to be raising money for charity.

"There was no nonsense from either side although the police put up with plenty of friendly heckling from the stands."

A two year partnership between YOT and the DoE aims to reduce and/or prevent offending behaviour by offering youngsters the wide ranging activities of the award scheme, and football is being enjoyed as part of the physical recreation section.

Funding for the soccer programme, through which the youngsters are improving their skills and have set up their own team, has come from the Police Challenge Fund and Allison added: "We are particularly grateful to the Police for their support which has enabled us to make this programme work.

"The programme is extremely popular with local youngsters who have become interested in both football and the award scheme as a whole."

Coaching support at the Amelia Trust Farm sports hall has come from "Hotshots Sports Enterprise" via manager Neil Giles, while a Sportlot grant, through the Community Chest scheme, has helped with the purchase of equipment and kit.