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Welcome to the Kirton Kestrels Football Club Website |
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Kirton Kestrels Football Club was formed in 1986 with just 14 players and ages ranging from 8 to 14.
Now, in our 24th year, the club has about 140 players signed up, with teams running from under-8 to under-16. The club is affiliated to the Suffolk County F.A. and our affiliation number for this season is GYI00097.
In October 2003, Kirton Kestrels became one of the first six junior teams in Suffolk to attain the much coveted F.A. Charter Standard Club status. To achieve this, we had to demonstrate best practice for management, safeguarding children, qualified coaches and codes of conduct. All the club's coaches, managers and often their assistants, have been trained to the Level 1 standard, which involves 3 days of courses as well as evening sessions on safeguarding children and emergency first aid. We have our own Club Welfare Officer and are now following the FA RESPECT 'code of conduct' for players, spectators and officials. The club hosts 'soccer/parent' workshops to help parents appreciate some of the issues involved with their children and playing football.
Our club HQ is the magnificent sports pavilion on Kirton Recreation Ground, which was built in 2003 and received massive funding by the Football Foundation. Although owned by the Parish Council, Kirton Kestrels are the main user of the facility, and contributed significantly to the fundraising for the building. It was opened amidst a blaze of publicity by Joe Royle, manager of Ipswich Town, in April 2004.
Under-8's to under-11's play 7 a-side football (mini-soccer). Our under-8 and under-9 teams play their home games on Saturday mornings at the Recreation Ground. Due to lack of space, the under-10 team will play at Coronation Sportsfield in Felixstowe, while the under-11's have their home matches at the Trimley St Martin Primary school.
The club's under-12, under-13, under-14 and under-15 sides play 11 a-side football, all their home matches being on Kirton Recreation Ground on a Saturday morning. The under-16 team will play their home matches this season at the Nacton Stadium, which is a new venue for the club.
All of our teams play in the South Suffolk Youth League.
Each age group has 1 hour of training under the floodlights at the Recreation Ground one week, and then a session at the Orwell School All Weather venue the next week. Goalkeeping coaching is also available every other week.
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