Latest news with #youthfootball
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
DJ Moore & Rome Odunze like 'perfection' Bears coach Ben Johnson demands
DJ Moore and Rome Odunze are spending a lot of time together, lately. The Bears dynamic duo spent Sunday working with kids at Moore's annual youth football camp in Deerfield. Kaitlin Sharkey caught up with the star wideouts ahead of this week's mandatory minicamp to see their first impressions of new Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson and what to expect in Year 2 with Caleb Williams.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Football club attended by Barcelona legend says pitch costs have 'easily doubled'
An amateur football club says pitch increases are forcing them to scale back on helping youngsters. David O'Neil, who runs Fernhill Soccer School, has said that the cost of using Fernhill Community Centre – owned by South Lanarkshire Council – has completely shot up in recent years. (Image: Davy O'Neil, founder of Fernhill Soccer School pictured at the pitches at Fernhill Community Centre,) The 64-year-old, who is also the chairman of the club, added: 'The facility and staff at the community centre are incredible, but the cost of kids' football has gone up and up. It has easily doubled over the last few years. 'We're now in a position where we have to use all our money just to rent the pitch." It means the club is no longer able to split their money between rent and providing players with things they need for free. The club make sure that every player gets a free strip when they join and provides shin guards, Astroturf boots, waterproofs and gloves so that no kid or parent is out of pocket. They also provide the kids with a roll, fruit and a biscuit, host free Halloween and Christmas parties every year and purchase medals and trophies which are handed out to the hardest workers each month. David said: 'The basic thing for us when setting up the club was to give children a place to play football for free. 'I just want to keep doing what we do to help the kids. We don't want to cut back on helping them, we want to keep boosting morale. 'If a boy turns up and we can tell he has no money, we get him a new pair of boots and say he's won a prize, that's how we go about it.' (Image: Picture credit: Colin Mearns, Newsquest.) The club was set up around 14 years ago after a high volume of gang activity in Fernhill. David explained: 'In the 70s and 80s when I was younger, Fernhill was a bad place. 'There was a lot of rivalry between Castlemilk and Fernhill. Years ago, people from Fernhill wouldn't be able to walk into Castlemilk. There would be a lot of trouble if people mixed with one another.' (Image: Picture credit: Colin Mearns, Newsquest.) Having gotten involved in gang culture himself when he was younger, David decided to set up the club to get boys and girls mixing from different areas, with the hopes of reducing crime and anti-social behaviour, as well as getting kids off the street. He continued: 'I wanted to mix kids at a young age and in my opinion, it has worked. 'We've kept kids from different areas mixed and the rivalry that once was so strong feels a lot better nowadays.' The club has proudly integrated youngsters from areas including Castlemilk, Cathkin, Rutherglen, Blantyre and Calton, and has produced popular ballers like Callan McKenna (AFC Bournemouth) and Steve Archibald (Barcelona, Tottenham). (Image: Callan McKenna. Image: SNS.) (Image: Image of Steve Archibald)The club have survived over the last decade by relying on funding and the kindness of people and businesses in the local community. 'We rely on funding and anyone that can help us out,' David said. He added: 'Locals give us money sometimes which is really helpful.' (Image: Picture credit: Colin Mearns, Newsquest) Companies like Warburtons have provided the club with free rolls in the past and trusts have previously donated thousands of pounds. 'Without that, we would have struggled a lot last year, I think,' Davey said. The club have set up a Crowdfunder to help with running costs. If you wish to donate, click HERE (Image: Picture credit: Colin Mearns, Newsquest.) A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture said: 'Due to funding pressures, it was previously agreed that concessions applied to Under 16s Clubs for our pitch bookings should drop from 75% to a 50% discount of the adult rate, phased over a three-year period, moving prices to around the average around Scotland. "That means the concession now enjoyed by Under 16s clubs from April 2025 is a 50% discount from the adult rate.' Fernhill Soccer School is for kids aged between three and 16. For more information, visit
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Chiefs running back helps kick off Ozarks youth football camp
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco spent the evening of Friday, May 30, with hundreds of young athletes from all over the Ozarks at Springfield Catholic. Pacheco and local coaches in the Ozarks kicked off the youth football camp, teaching kids of all ages football knowledge, character development, and fundamental skills. Kids were honored to get a hands-on experience with one of their favorite Chiefs players. Pacheco says that it's an honor to be a part of a team that hosts camps like this to inspire young athletes who are looking for positive role models 'You got guys who are sacrificing it and doing it for the kids,' Pacheco said. 'And not only that, we love doing it, and we love hosting camps like this for kids that never had anybody to look up to. Well, now they have somebody to look up to.' Pacheco says seeing all the kids in action gets him excited for the upcoming season. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Raheem Sterling's son, 8, joins Arsenal's academy - while winger faces uncertain future after disappointing loan spell at the Emirates
Raheem Sterling 's son has been signed by Arsenal 's academy to play for the club at under-9 level. After finding himself frozen out under Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca last summer, Sterling arrived at the Emirates on deadline day in a season-long loan deal. Expected to provide competition for Gabriel Martinelli on Mikel Arteta 's left flank, Sterling ultimately failed to find his form for the Gunners, making just seven Premier League starts as the club were unable to keep pace with Liverpool. Managing just a single goal in all competitions during his time in north London, Sterling is set to return to Chelsea this summer where he faces an uncertain future. With Maresca still at the helm, it appears unlikely that the former Man City star will remain at Stamford Bridge, with reports linking him with a move abroad. But while the elder Sterling is preparing for a move away from Arsenal, his son Thiago is just getting started. In a post on social media, Sterling's partner Paige Milian revealed the couple's first-born son had joined the famous Hale End academy. 'Beyond proud of my first born son Thiago for signing with the Arsenal academy,' she wrote on Instagram. 'The growth, dedication, and hard work you've shown over the past year has been incredible to watch, you've earned this. 'This is just the beginning so keep your feet on the ground, stay humble, and keep grinding, the journey doesn't stop here. Let's go TT.' While his own journey at the club is just beginning, Thiago Sterling has already had the chance to rub shoulders with some of the academy's most famous alumni. In October he served as Bukayo Saka's mascot at the Emirates as Arsenal defeated PSG in a Champions League clash.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Forward Glatzel signs new two-year Swindon deal
Forward Paul Glatzel has signed a new two-year contract with Swindon Liverpool youth product, who has represented both England and Germany at youth level, joined the Robins in January 2024 after spending two seasons on loan at Tranmere 24-year-old has scored 12 goals in 65 appearances for Swindon since arriving at the County Liverpool-born player captained the under-18s at Anfield but was released without making a first-team appearance. "I'm looking forward to building on the second half of the season and hopefully we start next season like we finished [2024-25] and we can keep going," Glatzel told BBC Radio Wiltshire."He knows I can play a few different positions, the last few games I played on that out wide right position and I was enjoying myself there, I was getting the minutes in, I was creating chances, getting assists and scoring a few goals. "I think he just wants to see more of that, he wants to see me express myself and get on the ball and show everyone what I'm capable of. That's what I need to do and that's what I'm looking forward to doing."
