UKSE FUND SUPPORTS GIRLS FOOTBALL TEAM

An enthusiastic team of young female footballers from Teesside has said a big thank you to UKSE for a grant of £500 to buy special robes that will keep them warm and dry on training and match days.

The Dormanstown Rovers team of 10- to 12-year-old girls came together relatively recently but are already thriving and winning matches. The number of teams, catering for tots up to under 16s, at the club is growing fast and demand was so high from girls in this age group that two teams are now up-and-running.

UKSE, the Tata Steel business support subsidiary that has just celebrated 50 years of helping growing businesses with finance and workspace, also provides grants for a wide range of local projects from its Community Support Fund. A total of £1.2m has now been given to communities in the Northern region.

Luke Gilmore, the team’s coach said: “Everyone is so grateful to UKSE for helping us purchase these robes and a fold-down subs bench as well. They have made life much easier for the team on both training and match days as there is often quite a bit of time spent waiting around.

“The robes are waterproof and windproof and roomy enough to allow for changing too. I think the girls would keep them on during training as well if they could!  The cost of sports kit can mount up quickly so it has been a big help to families.

“Every member of the team works so hard, they come from a 45-mile radius including Staithes, Easington, Loftus, Redcar and Middlesbrough and turn up for training in all weathers.  They respond so well to coaching and have made a good start with a number of wins already. The families are so supportive too.

“We began with around six girls in this age group interested then it grew so quickly to 30 that we had to establish two teams and are now looking to start more girls’ teams.”   

Diane Parker of UKSE said: “We are really pleased that we could support this team’s efforts as we know it isn’t always easy for parents to find the money needed for sports kit. Women’s football has a high profile at th moment and it is good to see so many girls in the area keen to take up the sport.

“Dormanstown Rovers is doing a great job catering for all ages and we’re proud to have our UKSE logo on this team’s new robes.”

PICTURE CAPTION:   Staying warm and dry –   the Dormanstown Rovers team say thank you for their new robes to Diane Parker (centre) from sponsor UKSE with (from left) assistant coach Rafael Petros Kaldani and coach Luke Gilmore.