APPROXIMATELY 400 children in nearly 40 teams at age groups of under 5’s, 6’s, 7’s and 8’s took part in Cadoxton Imps AFC’s annual Mini Football Festival held Saturday, May 30, in the grounds of Barry Comprehensive School, Port Road, Barry.

The weather was thankfully warm and sunny and the event proved to be a great success for all involved.

As well as the Imps teams, the other Vale of Glamorgan clubs taking part in the different age groups were FC Barry, Island Marine, Rhoose Athletic, Sully Sports and Cowbridge. There were also visiting teams from Cascade FC (Caerphilly), Pontyclun, Cardiff Crusaders, Lisvane Panthers, Rhymney Juniors and Butetown FC.

The Imps’ May football festival had become an established annual fixture in the Barry footballing calendar since 1997. Unfortunately it had not been possible to run the festival for the last two years so it was with great delight for the club that the event was again up and running.

The festival was again kindly sponsored by McDonald’s Restaurant (Barry) who have a longstanding commitment to this annual festival, and which enables every child taking part to receive both a certificate and a medal.

Martin Pursall, chairman of Cadoxton Imps AFC, said: “There is a tremendous amount of hard work by a lot of people involved with the club to organise and run an event like this but it is worth it to see so many children, parents and grandparents enjoying a great day of football and fun in the sun. I would like to thank all the relevant Imps managers and committee and everyone else who has contributed to making the day such a great success, including Barry Comprehensive School and caretaker Peter Roderick, St John’s Ambulance, Baddeley’s, AJM Embroidery, Mobile Zorbing Wales, LDS Motor Factors and in particular David Balcombe of McDonald’s Restaurant (Barry) for McDonald’s continued support of this annual event.”

David Balcombe, franchisee of McDonald’s Restaurant (Barry) said: “With so many children taking part in the various football clubs from the Vale and beyond, I am pleased to be able to continue the support that my predecessor, Huw Thomas, proudly provided for so many years to the Imps’ Mini Football Festival and for McDonald’s to continue to be involved with children’s football in the local community.”