Drainage specialist steps in to back junior soccer team

Lanes Group plc is backing youngsters who love to play football by sponsoring a junior football team.

The drainage and wastewater specialist has agreed to sponsor Parkwyddn Junior FC’s Under 12s Predator team for the next two years.

Like the Lanes Manchester depot, Parkwyddn Junior Football Club is based in Eccles, Salford, where it runs teams for youngsters aged four to 15.

Two of Lanes CCTV drainage survey technician Matty Stark’s children play for the club.

He said: “Our Under 12s Predator team sponsor dropped out, so I asked at work if Lanes could step in and help. I’m very pleased we have.

“The funding helps pay for kit and other expenses and allow as many young people as possible to join the club and benefit from playing a sport.”

Parkwyddn JFC Club Secretary, Colin Farn, who also coaches the Under 12s Predators, said: “We’re grateful to Lanes Group for its support. Backing from local businesses like Lanes is really important.

“We have more than 250 young players registered with our club. They benefit hugely from playing football in terms of physical health, wellbeing, confidence and many other vital life skills.”

Lanes Bid Team Manager Haylie Orton said: “We could see Parkwyddn has helped thousands of young people play football over decades, and we’re glad to help that success continue.”

Despite having a distinctly Welsh name, Parkwyddn JFC was founded in the heart of Greater Manchester in 1987, as part of Parkwyddn FC, a senior club founded in 1962.

Since then, the junior club has gone from strength to strength, allowing thousands of children to participate in sport over the last 36 years, supported by scores of volunteer helpers.

The club takes pride in giving girls and boys of all abilities the opportunity to play football and be active, and is one of the biggest junior football clubs in the borough of Salford.

It has a soccer school for children aged four to seven and 22 full teams for children aged up to 15. There are mixed girls and boys teams up to the age of 12. An girls’ under 12s team was formed in 2021.

The players are supported by 30 coaches and assistant coaches while the club is run by a voluntary committee which includes two club welfare and safeguarding officers.