CHIPPING NORTON FOOTBALL CLUB GETS WELL-EQUIPPED

Young football players in Chipping Norton will be able to train more professionally thanks to The Midcounties Co-operative.  The Chipping Norton Swifts FC has been given a £200 Co-operative Community Dividend grant to buy new equipment including training footballs, training bibs, a medical bag and match-day footballs.

The team plays in the Witney and District League and is currently eighth.  The 23 young men, aged between 17 and 21 years, train every Tuesday evening at the leisure centre in Burford Road.  With the new equipment the club can run a more effective training programme and improve players’ fitness.

“The club is run on a shoestring and players pay for everything,” says manager Tym Soper, pictured left with flags. “Some of our equipment is three years old and badly needs replacing so we are very grateful to the Co-op. We are also hoping to take part in an FA coaching course so that we can train younger players.”

Four members of the club work at Chipping Norton Co-operative.  They are:  Craig Dunn, Shaun Green, Darren Bridge and Darryl Soper who is pictured right with Co-op Assistant Manager Adam Quinton.

Sarah Buy of The Midcounties Co-operative, said: “The club is a great way for young people to keep fit and enjoy playing sport as a team.  We have lots of connections with the local community in Chipping Norton and are pleased to support a local club with its expansion plans.”