YOUTH FOOTBALL: Mayor thanks Ilminster Youth FC for doing the town proud

ILMINSTER Town Youth Football Club has been praised for helping to teach young people important life skills.

The new Mayor of Ilminster, Cllr Val Keitch, was the special guest at the club’s annual celebration of achievement which was held earlier today (Sunday, May 22, 2016) at Swanmead School.

“I am so pleased to see so many youngsters from the Ilminster area involved in football,” she said. “I want to pay tribute to everyone involved in the running of the club as they do the town proud.”

The Mayor, who is an avid football fan herself, said she was always pleased to support youth “team sports” as being part of a team provided young people with life skills.

Outgoing club chairman Jamie Lee said: “As the popularity of the club increases the pressure on managers, coaches and the committee increase so we are always on the lookout for more volunteers.

“Sadly and with a heavy heart I will be stepping down as chairman of the youth football club this year purely due to increased work commitments, but I will be staying on as a coach and a committee member.”

PHOTO - TOP: Young referees Liam Timson, Danielle Bristow and Dane Allen.

PHOTO - RIGHT: The Mayor, Cllr Val Keitch, presents Under-12 Girls team manager Steven Paul with the Mark Faulkner Award.

There was standing room only in the main school hall for the awards where players from the Minis, Under-7s, Under-8s, Under-9s, Under-11s, Under-12s Girls, Under-12s Giants, Under-12s Gladiators, Under-14s Tigers, Under-14s Girls, Under-15s, Under-16s and Under-16s Girls were presented with certificates and a number of individual accolades.

The annual Mark Faulkner Award – made in memory of a former Under-10s team manager who died in June 2007 just 11 months after being diagnosed with skin cancer – was presented to Steven Paul, manager of the Ilminster Youth’s Under-12 Girls team.

The award is picked each year by Mel Faulkner and presented to a team who has shown an outstanding achievement in football for attitude, ability and determination.

The annual Chairman’s Award was presented to Julie Key and Kelly James.

During the awards ceremony there were also some presentations made to three players – Danielle Bristow, Dane Allen and Liam Timson – who have started out on learning to become referees.

More photos can be found on this link in our gallery: http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/blog/2016/05/22/ilminster-town-youth-fc-may-2016/ .

Anyone wanting to buy copies of any of the photos – please email ilminsterpress@gmail.com or look at http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/order-photos/ .

PHOTO - ABOVE: Outgoing Ilminster Town Youth FC chairman Jamie Lee (standing, far left) is pictured with his Under-15s team during the annual celebration of achievement at Swanmead School earlier today (Sunday, May 22, 2016).

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