News

Friday Night Football benefits from SPAR Community Cashback initiative funding.

Friday Night Football run by JH Football School and Coaching has been awarded £500 through the scheme. 

Friday Night Football, was launched by JH Football School and Coaching to provide children aged five to 14 in rural Weardale the opportunity to access football coaching.

Jason Howe, its founder, aims to have no young person held back by geography, cost, or confidence and Friday Night Football has grown rapidly with 80 children attending the sessions every week – some travelling more than 20 miles and a one-hour journey to attend.

The sessions focus not only on football skills, but also on teamwork, resilience, physical wellbeing, and social development. 

Jason Howe, Founder and Owner of JH Football School and Coaching, said: “I saw Community Cashback advertised in our local SPAR, a fantastic store we are very lucky to have in such a rural town like Wolsingham. It was amazing to receive the news, and I cannot express how much this will support us and enable to provide for the children.

“Living and working in a rural area, we saw first‑hand how limited opportunities can be for young people especially when it comes to affordable, accessible sports activities.

“The success of Friday Night Football has been incredible. High quality equipment is very costly for us as a grassroots organisation and the SPAR grant will be used to purchase valuable and essential equipment that directly supports the delivery of our coaching sessions.”

Philippa Harrington, Marketing Manager at James Hall & Co. Ltd, said: “We know our Wolsingham SPAR store is cherished by the local community, and from whichever direction you access the town, you take in stunning scenery while at the same time understand just how rural the area of Weardale is.

“It is lovely to be able to recognise JH Football School, through SPAR Community Cashback, which is working to make a rural area feel that bit more connected through football.”