Astley and Buckshaw Junior Football Club
9th of February, 2024
At the last meeting of the Parish Council, Mr Darren Marsden, Chairman of Astley and Buckshaw Junior Football Club attended the meeting to discuss the Clubs future activities.
The club has grown in recent years significantly and now had 29 teams from Under 7s to Under 18s and development sessions for 5- and 6-year-olds. In the past 18 months there has been an increase the number of girls teams 5-fold, and a similar increase in the number of female qualified coaches. The popular Wildcats sessions on Mondays provided a pathway for girls of primary school age into the sport and had been a significant factor in their success to grow the female game. The recent partnership with Chorley Women FC and Astley FC to provide pathways into the adult game for their players and allow the club to work together and share best practice ideas. In 2024, the Club will be celebrating its 20th anniversary since being formed and it is hoped to hold a number of events to mark the club’s anniversary.
The club supports over 400 local children in playing football each week with the help of over 60 volunteer coaches who provided over 150 hours of their time each and every week. It is their aim to start four new teams each year which cost around £750.
It was reported that Astley & Buckshaw United FC based at the Brookfields site were not associated with Astley and Buckshaw Junior Football Club and the club had no links to the Brookfields site. The Club now played at a number of bases around Chorley including sites at St Michaels High School, in Buckshaw Village and the main base for activities was at the West way Sports Hub. The club has a five-year initial agreement with Chorley leisure who managed the West Way Sports Hub which would be reviewed in September 2025 and the club was concerned at a potential significant increase in the current charges.
Unfortunately, the club has suffered vandalism at the West Way Sports Hub including by horse riders and motorbike riders who had damaged the playing surfaces. The open access points for the West Way site made it easy for motorbikes and horses to gain access and the club would welcome the introduction of picket fences around the pitches.
The Club has the ability to support aspiring coaches with free training and experience through both The FA and the Coerver program. There is a need to recruit more coaches to enable the club to deliver more sessions through local schools to develop their football programs. The club is keen to recruit local people who may be interested gaining football coaching qualifications.
Through the Coerver Partnership, Real Madrid FC will be providing the opportunity for young players to train at the West Way Sports Hub with Real Madrid coaches from the Spanish club. 58 places would be available.
The club is keen to work with local volunteers who may be able to help with pitch setups on match day and post pitch maintenance on Sunday afternoons during the playing season.