Young footballers in Bury St Edmunds are making the most of new sporting equipment after securing funding from a local housebuilder.

 

Guildhall Feoffment Football Club received £250 from housing developer Vistry Group, which is building under the Bovis Homes and Linden Homes brands at two new locations in nearby Thurston.

  

The club, which was established in 1987 and is affiliated with Guildhall Feoffment Primary School in Bury St Edmunds, has been able to purchase new football goals, bibs and cones thanks to the contribution.

 

The club is for children in all primary year groups who enjoy fun and inclusive training sessions based at Howard Community Academy’s football pitches in Bury St Edmunds. The Year 4 and Year 6 teams both compete in the Bury St Edmunds & District Primary Schools Football League, while the other year groups regularly play in friendly matches.

 

Jack Collins, head coach and club secretary, said: “This funding is great news for the club. We have children playing across seven different teams so the new equipment is benefitting all age groups.

 

“Although we are affiliated with Guildhall Feoffment Primary School, we run as a separate entity and receive no funding from the school. This is why financial support from local sponsors is so crucial to us.

 

“Vistry’s sponsorship has been hugely helpful in enabling us to purchase much-needed new equipment for our teams, and we can already see the difference it is making to our training sessions.”

 

Jason Colmer, sales and marketing director for Vistry Eastern, said: “Guildhall Feoffment Football Club gives all the pupils the opportunity to play football and socialise with other members of the school community in a fun and inclusive environment.

 

“We are happy to have been able to encourage the children to make the most of their sessions with the equipment our donation has funded.

 

“We wish the footballers all the best for the school year ahead and hope they continue to enjoy using their new gear.”