Aycliffe Monthly #1 | Page 25

@AycliffeToday SPORT Newton Aycliffe Youth FC CASH BOOST FOR AYCLIFFE YOUTH FC Newton Aycliffe’s biggest youth football organisation says a cash boost will enable them to keep subs down. Newton Aycliffe Youth FC (NAYFC) were one of 12 local groups to win a share of Great Aycliffe and Middridge Partnership’s (GAMP) grant giveaway. In our special Video Feature, the club’s secretary Berni Borsberry told us the money will go towards expensive running costs. But, more importantly, it will ensure they can keep their weekly subs down to just £2 a week. NAYFC came out top in the public vote, getting £2,320. “We’ve allocated this money to reward the children at the end of the season, when we’ll buy trophies and memento’s of their season and will help to pay for football pitches,” said Berni. “They key to grant funding is keeping our subs as low as possible. We could probably pull in the same sort of money annually if we charged every child a lot more, but how many youngsters can afford that? “We charge our children £2 a week, and the main aim of our football club is to keep the subs low by chasing grants.” Earlier this year, NAYFC announced a season of celebrations to acknowledge the fact that they have achieved 25 years of providing football for young boys and girls from the town. The football club was founded in 1989 by a group of enthusiastic parents after realising there no opportunities for young children to play football in Newton Aycliffe at that time. The first ever Youthy team was an Under-13s team (pictured) that played in the Bishop Auckland Northern Echo League. NAYFC, which is the only youth football club that trains and plays all their matches in Aycliffe, was awarded the Teesside Junior Alliance League “Club of the Year” for a third time in 2012. “The club is proud to have reached this landmark and continue to be one of the top junior football clubs in the County,” added Berni. “NAYFC...was awarded the Teesside Junior Alliance League “Club of the Year” for a third time in 2012” A short Video Interview with Berni is on our website: www.aycliffetoday.co.uk AYCLIFFE CRICKET Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club Secretary LEE WELDON gives an overview of the town’s official cricket club… Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club is based at Newton Aycliffe Sports Club and was reformed in 1986 with just one team in the Darlington and District league. The club have made significant progress since them early days, both on and off the field and now have two senior teams and four junior teams playing local league cricket. The senior teams now play in the highly ranked NY&SD Premier League and the club’s first team gained promotion in their first season in the league in 2013. Newton Aycliffe CC were also delighted to win the prestigious Gold Award as Club of the Year, during which all teams in the league were assessed in five areas, Administration, Facilities/ Match Day Experience, Fair Play, Discipline and Match Play with Aycliffe coming out a clear top. The award brought a fine end to the 2013 season that also saw Newton Aycliffe CC awarded Clubmark by the ECB and being selected as a ‘Chance to Shine’ club, recognising the progress being made both on and off the field and the systems in place that highlight the club as a trusted provider of cricket for all ages. For more info about us, to get involved or to support us, call me on 07759 754959.