Quarrydale United aim to build community foundations

If wall-to-wall coverage of football’s unscrupulous nature has soured the beautiful game for you, look no further than Quarrydale FC to be the sport’s redeeming factor.

After securing the lease for the facilities at Bentinck Miner’s Welfare, in Kirkby, last summer, the club have been able to plan for a long term future . . . and it includes everyone.

The manager of the girl’s U9’s team, Andy Arnott, is eager to create a ‘community football club.’

“We pride ourselves on having a strong club togetherness across all teams and we now have a facility that we can all use, rather than being spread across the area”, says Andy.

“We develop and create a fun environment for the kids. We want to build on this, and give as many local kids we can the chance to play football.”

Inclusivity is certainly a high priority for Quarrydale, and they are currently planning to establish their first ever disability team, such is the commitment to equal opportunities.

Andy’s ambition is strikingly obvious, and it is no surprise that the side have come on leaps and bounds in little over six months.

Assembled earlier this season, the girls’ team he coaches is actually the club’s first, and you wouldn’t bet against any more of his long-term goals coming to fruition.

Already in place are initiatives to increase the number of teams they have, in both the boy’s and girl’s leagues. To have a side at every age level is a paramount to Quarrydale’s future.

As well as wanting to establish a soccer school for the U7’s, they are also looking to gain ‘development’ and ‘community’ status.

Andy remains concerned however, about the limited opportunities in the region.

Despite integrating his U9 side into the Nottinghamshire Girls League last year, he feels “there are no real opportunities” for girls at the moment.

Quarrydale are not just playing the long game either. They are looking for immediate funding to develop their site, and even want to ‘have the best pitches in Ashfield’.

However, of all the goals and objectives, and all the designs on success and improvement, Andy’s main target is a more humble, and heart-warming one.

“We wanted to build a real club atmosphere, because of the sense of pride that comes with it.”

Quarrydale FC are looking for new coaches and players to get involved in grassroots football. For more information, visit their website, at www.quarrydaleunitedfc.co.uk

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