Non-league club 'delighted' as community work rewarded
The Lancashire side have gone above and beyond in ensuring that there is something for everyone at Victory Park, whether it's the Chorley Community Friendship Group, Blokes United, Walking Football, AndysManClub or Soccer Schools, all provided by the Chorley FC Community Foundation.
Last Christmas saw the club go viral on X after announcing that they would be throwing open their doors for anyone that wanted to join them and one of the foundation's trustees Alistair Leggett, who accepted the award at the NGAs, emphasized Chorley's commitment to serving all members of its community for whatever they might need.
He explained: 'A football club is the heart and hub of the community and it can't just be a place where people go to watch a game on a Saturday.
'The foundation and the club work in association to support and assist the community in any way that we can. We run a number of sessions including walking football each week to bring together people who perhaps have gone past the stage of playing competitive football.
'As part of society, it's imperative that the local football club does its bit. It's vital and it has to give something back, whether it's something tangible or providing support like we did on Christmas.
'There were people who attended on Christmas Day who had no interest in football and never been to a football club before but they were just delighted to be part of something."
The National Game Awards is a celebration of the non-League season - highlighting the community, fans, on-field, and off-field successes of the game outside of the Football League.
The ceremony is held annually by the Non-League Paper, the UK's number one selling football title and the best place for your non-league news, with this year's edition hosted at Plough Lane – home of AFC Wimbledon.
Leggett added: 'It's a real privilege. I speak for all the trustees and everyone associated with the foundation that we don't do it for the awards or recognition.
'When we see the appreciation shown to us and you consider how many clubs there are in the country all doing exceptionally good work, this just gives you a warm feeling to know that you have contributed in some way.
'I'm delighted to have been here and to accept this award.'
The Non-League Paper is the UK's number one selling football title, available every Sunday. For more information please visit www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Powys County Times
12 hours ago
- Powys County Times
England spinner Sophie Ecclestone taking break to ‘prioritise her well-being'
England spinner Sophie Ecclestone is taking a break from domestic cricket with Lancashire to 'prioritise her well-being' and rest a minor quad injury. The left-armer, ranked the number one one-day international bowler in the world, remains available for her country and is earmarked to face India later this month. Ecclestone has yet to feature under new head coach Charlotte Edwards due to a knee injury at the start of the season but has featured eight times for her county in the new tier one structure. The 26-year-old, who found herself criticised for refusing a television interview with former England player Alex Hartley during the Ashes whitewash at the start of the year, is now stepping away for the next three weeks. She hopes to return in time to join England's squad for the first T20 against India at Trent Bridge on June 28. Edwards said: 'Sophie has been managing a quad niggle over the past week but more importantly, she wants to take a step back from cricket for a short period to look after herself. 'We're totally behind that. We want to be able to select Sophie for the India series but the most important thing for her at the moment is that she feels in a better place. 'We all agree that a break now could be beneficial for her to achieve that.' A short statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board said: 'Sophie Ecclestone will take a break from domestic cricket in order to manage a minor quad injury and prioritise her well-being. 'She remains available for selection for England Women's upcoming series against India.'
Telegraph
12 hours ago
- Telegraph
Sophie Ecclestone takes break from cricket to prioritise ‘well-being'
Sophie Ecclestone has decided to take a break from all cricket to prioritise her 'well-being' ahead of England's white-ball series against India. The England and Wales Cricket Board has said she remains available for selection for the five T20s and three ODIs against India in June and July, but she has not played for the national side since the 16-0 whitewash Ashes defeat at the start of the year. Ecclestone was left out of Charlotte Edwards' first England squad against the West Indies with a knee injury sustained over the winter, although she returned to domestic cricket the same day as the squad announcement. Ecclestone, who tops the ICC's T20I and 50-over bowling rankings, has been playing in the domestic white-ball competitions until as recently as June 1, and was part of the Lancashire side that won the T20 County Cup in May. In her eight domestic games this season, she has taken 14 wickets across the two formats at an average of 11. England Women's head coach Charlotte Edwards said: 'Sophie has been managing a quad niggle over the past week but more importantly she wants to take a step back from cricket for a short period to look after herself. 'We're totally behind that. We want to be able to select Sophie for the India series but the most important thing for her at the moment is that she feels in a better place. 'We all agree that a break now could be beneficial for her to achieve that.' Ecclestone made headlines during England's chastening Ashes defeat in Australia when she refused to do an interview with pundit Alex Hartley, a former team-mate. The public spat was over comments made by Hartley during the T20 World Cup in the autumn, questioning the players' fitness levels, although she did not name any individuals specifically. Conversations surrounding fitness became a black cloud hanging over the England side throughout the winter. That was compounded when Edwards announced that there were no 'minimum fitness standards' in place in the set-up, and that she would put some in place to come in at the start of next summer.
The Independent
13 hours ago
- The Independent
England spinner Sophie Ecclestone taking break to ‘prioritise her well-being'
England spinner Sophie Ecclestone is taking a break from domestic cricket with Lancashire to 'prioritise her well-being' and rest a minor quad injury. The left-armer, ranked the number one one-day international bowler in the world, remains available for her country and is earmarked to face India later this month. Ecclestone has yet to feature under new head coach Charlotte Edwards due to a knee injury at the start of the season but has featured eight times for her county in the new tier one structure. The 26-year-old, who found herself criticised for refusing a television interview with former England player Alex Hartley during the Ashes whitewash at the start of the year, is now stepping away for the next three weeks. She hopes to return in time to join England's squad for the first T20 against India at Trent Bridge on June 28. Edwards said: 'Sophie has been managing a quad niggle over the past week but more importantly, she wants to take a step back from cricket for a short period to look after herself. 'We're totally behind that. We want to be able to select Sophie for the India series but the most important thing for her at the moment is that she feels in a better place. 'We all agree that a break now could be beneficial for her to achieve that.' A short statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board said: 'Sophie Ecclestone will take a break from domestic cricket in order to manage a minor quad injury and prioritise her well-being. 'She remains available for selection for England Women's upcoming series against India.'
