Member Article

Boys club on the rise thanks to new kit

A club that has provided football coaching to youngsters in the west end of Newcastle for over 80 years is hoping a new kit donation will help them to ‘Rise’ up the league table.

Grainger Park Boys Club has received the kits and tracksuits from The New Tyne West Development Company (NTWDC) - the public/private partnership that is building The Rise on Scotswood.

Said under eight’s manager Jimmy Anderson: “The kids love the new kit and take real pride in wearing the shirt. Support like this enables us to continue to work with young people in the area and to help them develop as footballers and individuals.

“The social interaction gives our youngsters a real confidence boost and helps them to make new friends. It has worked for the parents too who are getting on brilliantly on the sidelines. They tell me that the children are eating more healthily and it is great to see fitness levels improving.”

NTWDC is a joint venture between Newcastle City Council, Barratt Homes North East and Keepmoat Homes. Development Director, Duncan Bowman, said: “This project is all about holistic regeneration. Whilst our main activities are house building, to be successful, there has to be a focus on integrating the existing with the new. It is therefore vital that we work with the people and organisations which have been part of the community for many years.

“The Grainger Park Boys Club is an excellent example. It has been here for 86 years and is still making a valuable contribution. We wish the lads all the very best in their new kit.”

Grainger Park Boys Club has seen many interesting times over the years.

Mohammed Ali visited the club in 1977 and it is a day that one former Grainger Park Boy turned Newcastle United stalwart, Ken Wharton will never forget.

Said Ken: “I was 16 at the time and it was a fantastic experience to meet a true sporting legend. The club was a big part of my young life, helping me develop as a young player and get the opportunity to play for my home town club. It is fantastic to see that it is still going strong and I hope that continues for many more years to come.”

Ken represented the Magpies on 290 occasions between 1978 and 1989 and was part of the academy set from 1999 until 2010, before moving to Canada to become Director of Coaching at Halifax City S.C. in Nova Scotia.

The Rise, as the development is known, is the first phase of a regeneration project which will create in total 1,800 sustainable new homes, all built on an area sweeping down to the River Tyne and offering views along the Derwent and Tyne Valley. The initial phase comprises 377 homes which are built in and around managed open green spaces and feature tiered gardens across the sloping 66 hectare site.

As well as high quality, eco-friendly family homes, being supplied with hot water and heating from a neighbourhood energy centre - the project will include community and commercial facilities, parks and public open spaces.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Dobbie .