Kickz News

On a wet and thoroughly miserable day in Lancashire. Middlesbrough FC Kickz took on Blackburn Rovers Kickz at the Blackburn Rovers Indoor training centre, for what was the first meeting of the two teams.

Boro kicked off and were immediately put under pressure by a much older Blackburn side which led to Middlesbrough being busy early on. Both centre halves battled well and Peter Downing in goal was forced into making several good saves. However despite this Blackburn took an early 2-0 lead.

Despite this set back Middlesbrough battled well and were close themselves to getting on the score sheet, and this pressure and hardwork led to Middlesbrough’s first goal which was scored by Richard Maxwell from a well delivered corner.

From this Blackburn again stepped up the pressure in response and scored again before half time taking the score to 3-1.

Middlesbrough made changes at half time to bring on fresh legs but disastrously conceded another two goals taking it to 5-1 this however this did not dampen the Middlesbrough spirits and the away team rallied and started to produce their best football of the game, pressing forward though they were caught with a fast counter attack which led to the 6th for the home side.

Before the final whistle Middlesbrough had one last chance to put there mark on the game, and to cap off a great team performance, Scott Armstrong’s effort from the half way line caught the Blackburn keeper unaware and sailed into the top corner resulting in a final score of 6-2.

The game was played in a great spirit and all the lads who played agreed that it had been a worthwhile experience for both teams, even if the result didn’t favour the Boro.

After this they then travelled to Ewood Park where they watched the real team’s battle it out in even more miserable weather.

Paul Smith from Middlesbrough Kickz said;

“It was a great opportunity for the lads to go to another premier league club and see how it works, the lads who travelled down to Blackburn were a credit to the club and themselves, and although the result didn’t go our way a great link was made with Blackburn FC, one which we hope will grow and see more games in the future.”

If you want more information on Kickz and how to get involved, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Chris Hooker (Kickz Co-ordinator) at Middlesbrough Football Club in the Community on 01642 757674 or Chris.hooker@mfcp.co.uk

With the New Year upon us, Middlesbrough Football Club in the Community, in partnership with Middlesbrough College, and Coatham memorial boxing club have come together to start a pioneering event aimed at young girls age 14-18 in the Pallister park area.

The Kickz project is a nationally funded youth inclusion program funded by the football foundation which aims to decrease the anti social behaviour in the area, with the funding provided, kickz manages to engage up to 120 young people with 40 young people attending the sessions every week, which include football coaching, and games, as well as other activities with health and educational support within the Pallister park complex. However sessions have primarily been attended by boys rather than the young girls of the area.

With the young girls still hanging around in the area the event is set to engage these girls in other activities other than football and physical activity.

On Tuesday the 13th January from 6-8pm at Pallister park community centre Middlesbrough college staff and trained college students will be heading down to the centre to provide free hand and arm massages, and facials for the young girls who attend. A long with this there will be self defence classes and boxercise provided by trained professionals in the sport. As well as an opportunity to be entered into a prize draw for a whole load of goodies provided by Middlesbrough College including a day at the spa in the college and a free cut and blow dry at the in house salon.

To add to the event Middlesbrough’s star defender David Wheater will be heading to the centre to meet the young people and the staff and to see how the programs runs on a day to day basis.

All this will be an opportunity for the young girls of the area to see the career and education pathways available to them, first hand through those who have followed these routes.

Lynne Alderson Director of Programme (Hairdressing, Beauty and Complementary Therapies) Middlesbrough College said;

“I love the idea of the KICKZ programme for local youngsters as I have always believed that football is a great medium through which we can communicate with and inspire those difficult to reach learners. Middlesbrough College are really excited about being involved in the project and will offer beauty therapy treatments to the young girls who follow their friends on the KICKZ programme, a ’something for everyone’ approach means that not just the boys can be involved. If we can help these youngsters to feel good about themselves then the project will have been worthwhile.”

Chris Hooker Kickz Co-ordinator added

“This is a great opportunity for the girls who live around the pallister park area to see the different activities that they can engage in other than sport. Having the Middlesbrough college staff and students at the event is giving them a first hand opportunity to see the career pathways which they can go down, which could even lead to them enrolling at the college itself”

For more information on the event and the Kikcz project held at Paliister park please contact Chris Hooker at Chris.Hooker@mfcp.co.uk or 01642 757674

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