Whitton are to host Grassroots Festival
THIS year’s KBB Suffolk FA Grassroots Festival will be staged at a new venue.
The festival, which has been held annually since 2011, is to be held for the first time at Whitton United FC on the outskirts of Ipswich.
The event, which was first run at Ipswich Town’s Portman Road ground in 2011, before moving to Trinity Park on the outskirts of town, has taken place at Gainsborough Sports Centre in recent years.
The two-day event is moving to Whitton United’s King George V ground off old Norwich Road and will have a World Cup theme to celebrate this summer’s tournament in Russia.
Suffolk FA Football Development Manager Jodie Allard said: “We are very much looking forward to delivering this year’s Grassroots Festival, in partnership with KBB and Whitton United Football Club.
“This year’s event will hope to build on the successes of the festival in the past, and we are really pleased to be offering mini-soccer, Youth football, female football and disability football within our programme this season.
“As our annual showcase event, we are pleased to be able to offer Suffolk’s teams the opportunity to take part in our free festival, to celebrate local grassroots football and provide everyone involved with the best possible football experience.”
Whitton United Secretary Phil Pemberton said: “As a club that actively supports Youth football, we are delighted to host this year’s Grassroots Festival on behalf of Suffolk FA and KBB.
“We are looking forward to staging the event at our King George V ground in May, and hope that the local community will come out in large numbers to support the two-day event.”
KBB Director Roger Peck said: “This will be our fifth year sponsoring the KBB Grassroots Festival. The main aim five years ago as partners with Suffolk FA was to put on a festival for all ages under 16, boys and girls, to attend-play football at a festival that was, fun, safe, well organised and free.
“I am very pleased to say that this has been achieved to a very high standard thanks to the great work by the staff at Suffolk FA and the help from Gainsborough Sports Centre.
“It is with great delight that this year not only will we be celebrating England’s participation in the World Cup in Russia, but we have moved the event.
Whitton United FC have agreed to partner with us to put on this year’s event; they have great facilities at the club with a number of pitches. They also have a large family-feel run clubhouse and function hall, available for food and drinks.
“This event has now become a firm fixture that so many look forward to, so with KBBs commitment to partnering Suffolk football through Suffolk FA and their clubs, I am confident that this year’s event we be as good as any we have put on before.
“All those teams wishing to attend should get their entries in early so as not to be disappointed.”
Pictured above at the launch at Whitton United FC are (left to right) Suffolk FA Chief Executive Richard Neal, KBB Director Roger Peck, Suffolk FA Youth & Mini Soccer Football Development Officer James Morley, Whitton United Youth Secretary Maxine Barnes and Suffolk FA Football Development Officer Jodie Allard.
Teams can book their place in the festival - all boys' categories can be mixed teams - by clicking on the appropriate link below:
