Follifoot
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Follifoot
CRICKET CLUB
F
ollifoot Cricket Club Juniors is a fantastic example
of a club that plays an important role in their local
community, providing youngsters with an opportunity
to enjoy the game in a safe and enjoyable environment
whilst helping them to reach their full potential. We were keen to
find out more about the good work they’ve been doing in recent
times and Junior Co-ordinator Paul Townsend took the time to
tell us more.
He said, “I have been going to the club since I was very small,
my Father played and we were taken along with him from babies.
I am one of three brothers that all played, I started playing in the
under 11’s and started seniors at 14 (my Family has the honour of
being associated with the club since its inception 170 years ago).”
“Cricket is one of the most difficult spots to learn, you don’t
really realise this till you try to coach it and my challenge is to pass
my knowledge on so my charges improve.
“We aim to offer Cricket to all Juniors who are the lifeblood of
any club and our aim is to get as many first team players through
our ranks as we can. Our first team is in the first division of the
Airedale Wharfedale Senior Cricket League and our aim is to finish
in the top quarter of the league. Our Second Team is in the second
division, we are aiming for promotion and our Thirds is for the
development of our Juniors into senior cricket
“The mood at the club is very buoyant at present. We invest a
lot of time and effort in our Junior development, we are all inclusive
which may hinder the progress that some make but see our role as
offering Cricket for all.
“There are no issues with integration into senior cricket here.
We all train Fridays from under 7’s through to under 17’s. There is a
senior training night where players will overlap and our third team
is there for the ease of introduction into senior cricket.
“We are very much a community club. We have had the odd
Girl play in our Juniors but we don’t run a girls only side. We are
very excited by the young talent we have here and will look to help
them progress. Our aim is to play the best cricket we can across the
club.”
There is much to admire about the superb set up that Follifoot
currently has in place and their youth section is a terrific example
of what can be achieved with hard work and good organisation.
Hopefully they will be able to continue in the same manner for
many years to come.
46 Issue 41
Follifoot Club Info - www.follifootcc.co.uk - Twitter : @follifoot_