Electricity firm spark excitement among young Nutley footballers

Junior players at Nutley Football Club will have new training equipment waiting for them when they return to their club following the coronavirus suspension.
Nutley FC juniors, before the lockdownNutley FC juniors, before the lockdown
Nutley FC juniors, before the lockdown

Valerie Williams nominated her son’s club for her employer UK Power Networks’ Team Sport Award and gained £250 towards new training goalposts, nets, footballs, cones and bibs.

The electricity firm has now donated £500 to the club, having awarded a first grant when the squad formed five years ago.

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Planning accountant Valerie, who lives in Nutley, said: “We’ve struggled for cash this year because the village green was waterlogged and we needed to hire an all-weather pitch to keep playing. The club relies on volunteering and donations so we have minimal funds to work with.

“We organised a fundraising quiz in early March, which went ahead, and that coupled with UK Power Networks’ Team Sport Award has really boosted our funds.”

Valerie’s son, Joseph, 14, is a goalkeeper for the U14s Nutley Rams juniors. The club usually meet for training from 5pm to 6.30pm on Thursdays at Nutley Village Green or at a local all-weather pitch.

Matches are played on Sundays in the Crowborough and District Junior Football League, Division B. Play is obviously currently suspended.

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Valerie said: “When we set up the club in 2015 it was the first junior club in the village. It’s great because it gets the kids out of the house for exercise and is run by volunteers. There is really good support in the village for the team.”

The Team Sport Award scheme is run by UK Power Networks to encourage staff to volunteer in the community and is aimed at promoting healthy living, teamwork and developing sports opportunities. So far this year, more than 70 local sports teams connected to UK Power Networks’ staff have benefitted.

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