Football on the Green is a fun six-week programme of soccer skills, drills and games generally held on the green space area of a housing estate, local community green or public park. The “soccer on the green” programme was delivered in Navan with the FAI & Parkvilla FC coaches, community coaches and the support of the Meath Local Sports Partnership (LSP).

FAI Football Development Officer Richie Smith and Meath LSP ran two 6-week programmes with a dedicated group of 15 children from the Oaklawns/ Ashbrook area of Clogherboy.

Children attending were either new to football or had lost interest in playing with the local club. With the help of Parkvilla FC who generously provided coaching time, the children`s skills, enthusiasm and confidence levels steadily improved over the 12 weeks.

Over the duration of the programme, the children not only benefitted from the excellent coaching delivered by Parkvilla FC but also participated in training sessions with Parkvilla players on their main pitch in Claremont Stadium.

15 children participated over the 12 weeks, ranging in ages from 6 to 12. Some of these children had never played football before and others had dropped out due to different reasons.

The wrap round service provided by Meath LSP, FAI & Parkvilla FC ensured that the children`s experience of playing football, of learning new skills, of being accommodated at training session in Claremont Stadium were always positive and child centred.

Development Officer Richie Smith also developed a FAI “Futsal in the Yard” schools program in the children’s local primary school in St Anne’s Loretto, Navan, Co. Meath. This provided the children double the enjoyment of football/futsal, improve their new skills and build their confidence in their school environment.

The fact that all participants committed to playing over the 12 weeks, with a number expressing an interest in joining Parkvilla FC is evidence that this approach works and does make a huge difference in the lives of the children who attend.

All three agencies have already committed to running this programme in this format again in Clogherboy.

Each programme participant received full playing kit from the FAI, with Parkvilla presenting each with a medal on completion of the 12 weeks.

FAI Football Development Officer Richie Smith, extended his thanks to Parkvilla FC for the excellent coaching contribution they gave to ensure the programme was a success, the community coaches, Una Pearson (Community Sports Development Officer with Meath LSP) thanked the residents of local estates and the children for participating in and completing the programme.