Macclesfield: Grassroots football in Bollington thriving thanks to support from Co-op
Bollington United is a community grassroots football club with teams for boys, girls and adults.
By Alex Greensmith
Posted: Thursday, 29th June 2023 2:38 pm
Macclesfield: Community football is thriving on your doorstep, in part thanks to the Co-op.
For most of the 2022-23 season, Bollington United FC has had funds for them raised by the Co-op Food, who have a store in Bollington.
While the final total will be revealed in a few month's time, the grassroots football club already know what they will be spending the money on.
Macclesfield Nub News met with Bollington FC Chairman David Spruce to find out what they will use the funding for.
"We've applied for lots of grants from companies this year", said David.
"But for me the Co-op are probably the best when it comes to backing community projects.
"They are there every year, they give you the most support.
"I now go to the Co-op all the time and scan my card to raise funds for the club [and other local causes].
"The money will be spent on improving the Capelli Sports Ground [formerly known as the ATAX] and the Leisure Centre pitch.
"We have two pitches, one for adults and one for the juniors. As well as improvements to the pitch itself, we'd like to use the money to add boards around the pitch, which in turn will allow us to attract new sponsors and sustain the long-term future of the club.
"It aligns with our vision over the next decade. We want to be self-sufficient in the next ten years.
"I came from a background where my first manager didn't know whether he was going to get any money from me because we were poor.
"The more money we create commercially, the cheaper it can be for kids to play football.
"We have 20 teams and 350 players. So the changes will impact a lot of people."
Of those teams, three are adult teams and the rest are for children.
As well as off the pitch thanks to the Co-op, it has been a successful season on the pitch for Bollington United.
For example, their Sunday adult male first team saw off local competition like AFC Pack Horse Macclesfield and AFC Prestbury to win their title. And two Bollington teams met each other in the Crewe District AJ Cooke Trophy cup final. Their under 9s and under 10s won four pieces of silverware between them.
The Sunday Bollington United first team won the East Cheshire Sunday Football League Division 1," explained David.
"It was the first time a team from the Macclesfield area has won that league, 50 teams compete in that pyramid so it is a massive achievement for us."
"We are actively looking for new coaches, with the aim of building more teams.
"We give parents support if they want to be coaches. We pay for their coaching qualifications required, all the way up to UEFA B Licence, and other clubs in the area may not be doing that. Also, we're always looking for volunteers to help with future bid writing and fundraising applications."
This season has seen them launch a new girls team, with help from an FA-backed incentive called Wildcats. The new Bollington United 5-10 girls team is currently being coached by Goal Coaching Bollington.
A new overflow team has also been launched for mixed age groups, called the Bollington United Soccer School, hosted by Macclesfield coaching firm Soca. Saturday morning sessions see ex-Macclesfield FC coach Steve Hodgson manage the 4-7 years old boys age group. (Click the three red links above to book a session.)
Bollington have recently renamed their sports ground The Capelli Sports Ground after securing a lucrative sponsorship. The American sports kit maker will by supplying their kit, which features local landmark White Nancy, in return for their ground being named after the US sponsor.
"We're also looking for new sponsors. Individual teams [e.g. under 7s, under 21s] can get individual sponsorships, or you can sponsor the whole club," revealed David.
"Come and see what we are all about at our Football Festival on Saturday July 22."
As well as the Co-op and Capelli, other financial backers to this volunteer-run club include Bollington Town Council, British Gas and Barclays.
The club house also has a goal to add a tuck shop in the long term.
"We're in the process of building a 3G pitch," teased David.
"Which will mean we can play in more competitions and different sports.
"No team can currently play on a 3G pitch in Bollington. But we have 20 teams, so there could be hundreds of players and members of the community that can get this opportunity.
"We could use it for sports beyond football. It would be great for lacrosse and rugby.
"That aligns with our future vision too. We want Bollington United to be a one stop shop for most sports.
"With the space we've got, we could support basketball and netball too.
"We've already applied for support from next year's Co-op Local Community Fund", added David.
"With that, our aim is to fund improved drainage works for one of our pitches which floods at the bottom.
"We have lost three months of the season due to it. If we sort that, we can offer what we believe is an elite pitch."
The Co-op is also supporting other causes in Bollington this year like The ALEX Project. In total, the Co-op and their members raise funds for 12 causes from the Macclesfield area each year.
Bollington charities and community causes can join Bollington United FC in applying for funding from the Co-op Macclesfield.
Co-op membership helps support your local community, with great rewards for you too.
When you buy selected Co-op branded products and services, 2p for every pound spent goes to you and the Co-op gives the same to local communities.
Join the Co-op today online at this webpage or in-store.
Macclesfield: To find out more about the Local Community Fund or Co-op Membership, please click on the red links in this sentence.
See Also: Eight jobs to apply for in Macclesfield RIGHT NOW
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