The likelihood of young people growing up to become a Premier League pro stands at 0.012% of all young footballers. However, that does not mean to say that these young people as they grow into adulthood need to stop playing to become ‘the best’ player. Instead, learning to play football and have fun whilst you are learning and playing in teams can be a great way of making friends, developing team skills whilst having a lot of fun whilst playing the game for which many people have a never ending passion for.
James Cutting, established the Football Fun Factory back in 2017. “I was a pretty bang average football player. As a kid I wasn’t either big or quick and without one of those as an outstanding attribute I had no chance of making much progress in the game. Despite this, I played for my school and grassroots team, and I really enjoyed it. I made loads of great friends, many of which I am still close to or in touch with today. As an average footballer I knew what it was like to play in a grassroots team with coaches who had extraordinarily little knowledge. I look back at the training sessions we did, and they were pretty poor really. Despite this, I absolutely love them!”
“When I set up the Football Fun Factory, our ethos was to make sure that children’s experiences are better than mine were! There are very few occasions where each child does not have their own ball. Because of this, every child learns and develops at their own rate, making friends and having fun in the process. Our experiences are for every young footballer, everywhere! From a young boy or girl who has never played before, through to a talented young player who is striving to improve. Whatever your talent level, football is a game that can enhance your life in so many ways.”
The Football Fun Factory is proving to be a successful franchise operation and their coaches, such as Jean-Pierre Fourie who heads up the local Football Fun Factory, are trained to deliver a unique football experience to players from the age of 18 months to 12 years old.
Jean-Pierre has loved playing football all his life and got into coaching members of his own family on a Sunday afternoon. This became popular as their friends wanted to join in too and he loved being able to enthuse young players and give them the chance to have fun. Becoming a coach with the Football Fun Factory was the obvious next step and in April of this year, he set up various sessions to get youngsters having fun whilst learning to play ‘the beautiful game.’
Sessions are held in Witney’s Madley Brook Primary School on Thursdays from 5.30pm until 6.30pm for 5 to 12 year olds to participate in the weekly training programme, offering a combination of technical training, fun games and matches for children of any ability level. Parents are encouraged to stay and watch and become part of the shared experience if they would like to.
Other Football Fun & Development sessions are held in Farmor’s School, Fairford on Wednesdays from 5 to 6pm. Carterton ATP on Mondays from 5 to 6pm, and Cirencester Arena on Tuesdays from 4.30pm to 5.30pm. Children do not necessarily have to join a session where they live if it is more convenient for parents to bring them to other locations.
“The sessions are entirely safe, and both the children and parents know this,” says Jean-Pierre. “I love being able to share skills and watch children’s confidence grow as they lose their inhibitions and get involved. Seeing them laugh, smile, and make new friends is really what it is all about. The football techniques they learn along the way come more naturally when they are not being pressurised to excel.”
To enable small children to have fun and gain an introduction to football through fun games and activities, there are sessions held on Saturday mornings in Cirencester. The Tots Football Fun caters for 18 month to 3 year olds from 9.15am to 10 am and 3 to 5 year olds, from 10am-10.45am
The Tots sessions are held inside a fantastic inflatable football pitch, perfect for young people to fall in safety. Each session includes 10 to 15 minutes free play at the start to settle the children into the environment. After this Jean-Pierre will set some fun challenges, activities and games for the children. Parents are encouraged to be part of the sessions as often, in the initial classes, very young children enjoy the support of their parent. As they grow in confidence, and to help your child become more independent, you can take a step back whenever you want to.
For anyone who has a child or children who you feel would love to be part of the Football Fun Factory, the company offers three-week free trial sessions to see if it works for both you and your child/children.
To find out more about joining one of the sessions, please email Jean-Pierre at JP@thefootballfunfactory.co.uk.
Information is also available on his Facebook page Jean-Pierre Fourie. The main website is thefootballfunfactory.co.uk.
