THE first KBB Suffolk FA Pre-Season Grassroots Festival has been hailed as a great success.

More than boys’ and girls’ 70 teams from all over the county, aged from under-7 to under-14, took part in the festival staged at Kirkley & Pakefield FC on Sunday.

The mini-soccer pitches and 3G surface at the club’s Walmer Road ground were a hive of activity throughout the day as teams competed in ten different festivals.

 Teams line-up for the presentation of certificates as parents look on at Kirkley & Pakefield FC on Sunday

Suffolk FA Mini-Soccer & Youth Football Development Officer James Morley, who co-organised the event, said: “We’ve had a great day at Kirkley & Pakefield for our first KBB Pre-Season Grassroots Festival.

“A massive thank you goes out to all the volunteers at the club for all the work, time and effort they have put in today to make it a great success.

“Also, a thank you to all the teams who attended – we hope you had a great day!

“We are looking forward to building on this festival and making our Grassroots Festivals even bigger events.”

Kirkley & Pakefield FC Chairman Paul Underdown said: “It has been a great day. For so many members of Suffolk FA staff and for our own club members to give up their Sunday to put this on is fantastic.

“The weather has been good and everyone who came along has left with a smile on their faces and there has been a lot of positive feedback about the format.

“We want the local community to come along and use this facility and the festival has enabled them to do that.”

Teams playing in the festival on the 3G facility at Kirkley & Pakefield FC on Sunday

Roger Peck, a director of sponsors The KBB Centre, said: “My thanks go to Kirkley & Pakefield who overcame the car parking issues on the day which is what team work is all about.

“There was a really good turn out for our first festival in north Suffolk and from a sponsor’s point of view I could not be happier.

“It proved we can hold the festival in any area and for it to be just as successful which is a testament to the staff of Suffolk FA and Kirkley & Pakefield FC, and all things being equal we will be back next year!”