Local News
Issue 1122
Call 0114 283 1100
16th July 2020
www.looklocal.org.uk
13
Sports Academy to increase girls’ grassroots football BARNSLEY Sports Academy has formed a partnership with Barnsley and District Schools Football Association (FA), the Barnsley Schoolgirls Football Partnership and Barnsley Women’s FC to launch a Wildcats Football Centre. Wildcats is a FA initiative to increase girls’ participation in football. The partnership will offer girls aged five to 11 a chance to try football for the first time and provide regular opportunities to play. Playing football can help girls make friends, have fun and be active. The new agreement could open doors for female College students who are looking to get a foothold in football coaching or refereeing. Barnsley Women’s Football Club will be providing financial support for students to gain
their coaching or refereeing qualifications. Steve Gates, Director of Barnsley Women’s FC, Strategic Lead of Barnsley Schoolgirls FA Partnership and Chairperson of Barnsley and District Schools FA, said: “This is a perfect opportunity for girls who wish to try football for the first time and those wanting to play regularly will be signposted into Barnsley Women’s FC. “The sessions will take place weekly, when the College re-opens, focusing on making friends, having fun and being active through football. The sessions will be led by female College students who are aspiring to become top FA coaches and football officials. College students will be given direct access to the Barnsley Women’s Under 18 and reserves teams.”
Luke Forgione, Sports Performance and Athlete Development Coordinator at Barnsley College, added: “These opportunities do not come along often, we are very fortunate that Steve has given us the opportunity to be an official partner and we look forward to a long and mutually-beneficial partnership. “Our students now have their foot in the door with the Wildcats Centre, they just have to show they are capable of performing at the level required.” Please note the Wildcats Football Centre will remain closed until the College re-opens because of COVID-19. To register your interest or for general enquires please contact Luke Forgione by email l.forgione@barnsley. ac.uk or Steve Gates by phone 07841 511532.
O’ Sullivan wins Strathdene Trophy and Finney brothers in fine form Figures in brackets denote the players’ handicaps BROTHERS Andrew and Peter Finney are certainly enjoying their post lockdown golf. Saturday July 11 saw the first pairs competition of the season with players competing in a four ball batter ball format for the Stableford Shield, and the weather for a change was relatively calm. The course was in superb condition with fairways like carpets and the greens were fast and true. Heavy overnight rain had left the greens very receptive and the ideal conditions certainly provided for an exciting competition. This was only the second time this trophy has been awarded. Last year it was won by the Finney brothers and they were not going to relinquish the trophy without a fight. In the event they put together an amazing round of golf to amass a total of 49 points. Peter (05) started the round with an incredible six birdies on the front nine with
Andrew (04) happy to provide support as needed. A further two birdies for Peter and one for Andrew on the back nine ensured they successful defended the trophy they held from last year. Neil Elliott (13) and Richard Moore (24) must have walked off the 18th green with high hopes having scored 48 points, a score usually good enough to win this format of competition but had to settle for second place, with third place going to Jack Davies (30) and Karl Harris (20) with an excellent score of 46 points. The midweek stableford held on July 9 was won by Paul Blake (08) with 39 points beating Ian Sedgwick (13) who also scored 39 points courtesy of a better back nine. Having to settle for third place on this occasion with 38 points was the familiar name of Andrew Finney (04). For readers unfamiliar with golf 36 points is achieved by a player playing to his handicap so all these players achieved scores better than their handicap.
The Sunday cup on July 12, a stableford competition was a victory for Eddie Steele (13) with 40 points, just ahead of Karl Harris (20) with 39 points who was enjoying a good weekend after finishing third the previous day. In third place was Ian Sedgwick (12) with 37 points. The ladies competition on Sunday July 12 was a medal competition for the Strathdene Trophy. Liana O’Sullivan (07) enjoyed the sunshine and played some excellent golf to win the competition with a net 64, five shots better than her handicap with birdies at the seventh and 12th holes and five shots clear of second place Charlotte Colley (06) who scored a net 69 and also had two birdies at holes 12 and 18. Lady Captain Helen Moffett was third with a net 71. The win will see Liana’s handicap reduce to 06, just two shots above her brother Liam (04) who captains the club’s league team. A bit of family rivalry may well be evident in the next few weeks...
