Cambridge United played host last night at The Belfry in Cambourne to launch the new Cambridge United Youth & Community Trust.
Many of the main Club sponsors were invited along for the evening to hear a presentation, enjoy the hospitality and to learn about the new vision for the future of youth football and other initiatives covering a radius of 60 miles from Cambridge.
This new Trust will be geared to touch the lives of many children in the community through football, other sports, education and health and wellbeing and the invitees heard the plans for the scheme.
Cambridge United staff in their new dress code welcomed and entertained everyone prior to a meal before listening to Graham Daniels interview Jez George, Director of Football, about his time so far since joining Cambridge United in 2006.
Starting with his feelings on his first day here at the Club and the challenges he faced in rebuilding a youth programme following the demise of the previous scheme during administration. Jez recounted those first few months of his players losing every game playing under the name CRC in the Ridgeons League, the recruiting of players for the Centre of Excellence and the limited resources available to him.
Graham then took him through the progress he has made over the very few years the scheme has been running, from the Youth side coming second in the Ridgeons League last season to their current top of the table place this season, the increase in Development Centres from 5 when he arrived to the current 21 and the introduction of a middle tier to increase the opportunities for gifted and talented players.
Graham brought up some of the players to speak who have been in the Scheme, starting with Rory McAuley who explained his disappointment of being turned down by the then manager Jimmy Quinn, his relief at being able to stay with the Youth scheme for a further year and his absolute delight to being selected four months later and now being a regular in the side.
Sam Ives then stepped up to explain his journey to the first team, starting with his attendance of a Cambridge United course at his local rec in Shelford, being selected to play at a Centre and his rise to a scholarship and now a professional contract. Jez was then able to announce that two more youth team products have been offered professional contacts at Cambridge United and introduced Blaine Hudson & Luke Berry.
Jez then went on to explain his vision for the new Youth and Community Trust and his aim to bring the successful Youth Development programme and reach out to the wider community to offer more opportunities.
The Trust aims to encourage participation in sport, improve health and provide excellence pathways by increasing our presence in schools in Cambridge, broaden the base of the community scheme to a 60 radius and work with local authorities to initiate projects advancing social inclusion, reduce delinquency and through Jez Daniel and the Learning Centre improve education and employment outcomes.
Following the presentation one of our young Centre of Excellence players, Joe Hood, then asked the audience for help and Graham went on to explain the different ways that people can contribute and support this new venture. Jez detailed his plan to highlight the unfair funding process for youth football by extending the previous walk from Torquay to Cambridge by a further 50% and this year walk from Wrexham to Wembley via York, Mansfield, Rushden, Luton and Oxford - a total of 400 miles - to raise £75,000. This money will then help expand the scheme and positively affect thousands more youngsters.
The 18 day hike will then culminate in a meeting with the Football Association & Premier League, the two funders of youth football for professional clubs. We need help to force change to benefit youngsters throughout the country and in the meantime continue to change the lives of thousands of youngsters throughout our own community.
Below are details of the various packages available that you can purchase to support us in this aim:
Headline Sponsors £5000
• Sponsor logo to appear in premiere position on all walk clothing
• Sponsor logo to appear on doors and bonnet of walk support vehicle
• Web link and logo on web articles for duration of walk
• Main shirt sponsor for one of two teams for the all star game
• 10 hospitality packages for the all star game
• On field presentation at one first team home game and the all star
match to introduce sponsor
• Full page programme advertisement for the all star game
Gold Sponsors £2500
• Sponsor logo to appear on sleeves of all walk clothing
• Sponsor logo to appear on one wing and back panel of walk support
vehicle
• Web link and logo on web articles for duration of walk
• Short and shirt sleeve sponsor for one of two teams for the all star
game
• 4hospitality packages for the all star game
• On field presentation at one first team home game and the all star
match to introduce sponsor
• Half page programme advertisement for the all star game
Silver Sponsors £1000
• Sponsor logo on shirt sleeve for Walk to Wembley
• Sponsor logo to appear on rear window of walk support vehicle
• Logo on web articles for duration of walk
• 2 hospitality packages and 4 Executive Box match tickets for the all
star game
• On field presentation at the all star match to introduce sponsor
• Quarter page programme advertisement for the all star game
Bronze Sponsors £500
• Commemorative walk shirt signed by celebrities
• Sponsor logo to appear on roof rail of walk support vehicle
• Logo on web articles for duration of walk
• 2 passes for VIP lounge and 6 Executive Box match tickets for the
all star game
• On field presentation at the all star match to introduce sponsor
• Sponsor acknowledgement in programme for the all star game
If you are interested in taking one of these packages please contact Claire Osbourn on 01223 729207 or email address info@cambridge-united.co.uk.
