Kesgrave Kestrels to fly high after sports grant
A brand-new Sunday youth football team has had its spirits sent soaring following a £300 Team Sport Award from UK Power Networks.
Kesgrave Kestrels Sunday is a new Under 14s outfit training on Tuesday evenings at Eaton Place and playing their games at Suffolk Police headquarters in Martlesham.
The team’s manager Paul Pretlove is a lead commissioning engineer for UK Power Networks, based at the company’s Colchester office. It also has its call centre in Ipswich.
The Team Sport Award scheme is run by UK Power Networks to support staff volunteering in the community and is aimed at promoting healthy living, teamwork and developing grassroots sports opportunities.
The grants donate money to sports causes around London, the East and the South East of the United Kingdom and have proved particularly helpful during the ‘cost of living’ crisis.
Kesgrave Kestrels has 45 youth teams and over 650 players within the club for the 2023/24 season.
With Kesgrave Kestrels Sunday taking flight this season, the money will be put towards training equipment including balls, bibs, and cones.
Paul, whose son plays for the team, said: “The kids absolutely love playing football. The team was started by a 13-year-old who wanted the opportunity to play with his school mates on a Sunday as most were already in different teams on a Saturday.
“Our team is self-sufficient, so weekly subs are needed to cover everything including from the kit and balls to the hire of the training and playing facilities. Any opportunity to relieve some of this burden is great. It is great that UK Power Networks offers the Team Sport Award and just another demonstration of the company’s community values.”
Jacob Butler-Wilce, coach for the team, said: “It is great that UK Power Networks offers the Team Sport Award and we’re grateful that we were successful with our application!
“The funding will be used towards training equipment, which will help us enhance our training sessions.”
Published: 30/10/23
Kesgrave Kestrels Sunday is a new Under 14s outfit training on Tuesday evenings at Eaton Place and playing their games at Suffolk Police headquarters in Martlesham.
The team’s manager Paul Pretlove is a lead commissioning engineer for UK Power Networks, based at the company’s Colchester office. It also has its call centre in Ipswich.
The Team Sport Award scheme is run by UK Power Networks to support staff volunteering in the community and is aimed at promoting healthy living, teamwork and developing grassroots sports opportunities.
The grants donate money to sports causes around London, the East and the South East of the United Kingdom and have proved particularly helpful during the ‘cost of living’ crisis.
Kesgrave Kestrels has 45 youth teams and over 650 players within the club for the 2023/24 season.
With Kesgrave Kestrels Sunday taking flight this season, the money will be put towards training equipment including balls, bibs, and cones.
Paul, whose son plays for the team, said: “The kids absolutely love playing football. The team was started by a 13-year-old who wanted the opportunity to play with his school mates on a Sunday as most were already in different teams on a Saturday.
“Our team is self-sufficient, so weekly subs are needed to cover everything including from the kit and balls to the hire of the training and playing facilities. Any opportunity to relieve some of this burden is great. It is great that UK Power Networks offers the Team Sport Award and just another demonstration of the company’s community values.”
Jacob Butler-Wilce, coach for the team, said: “It is great that UK Power Networks offers the Team Sport Award and we’re grateful that we were successful with our application!
“The funding will be used towards training equipment, which will help us enhance our training sessions.”
Published: 30/10/23