Young and Active
Access to Sports
Homes for Islington & Islington Borough Football Club, in Partnership
Islington Borough FC was created four seasons ago to enable young people who had been engaged through Access to Sports and Islington Football Development Partnership via a number of different projects, to progress from youth football to adult football. Projects that players had progressed from included those that had been held on, or targeted at, Homes for Islington estates or residents. The club has grown in stature and reputation and has provided football and training opportunities. The club provides an important bridge for young people into affiliated football, many of whom are more used to playing football on the smaller estate pitches.
The team has competed in the Camden and Islington League over the past four seasons. Last season the team had two teams playing in the league; one in the first division and one in the premier; matches generally take place on a weekly basis. The team also trained weekly at Whittington (taken by Level 3 and Level 2 qualified coaches). The training sessions attracted regular groups of young people from across Islington.
As well as playing for Islington Borough FC young people gained coaching qualifications and then helped deliver coaching sessions for HFI residents (linked to the projects delivered by Access to Sports and Islington Football Development).
In addition the club has developed links through former club member and ex-professional player Noel Gifton-Williams with a semi professional team in the United States. This led to one of the Islington Borough FC players going to play for the Arizona Aztecs in 2009.
For the 2009-10 season, a second team was set up, to increase capacity and Homes for Islington cemented the relationship between HFI and IBFC by sponsoring the club.
During 2009-10:
• 25 young people from Homes for Islington joined the club and played for the teams
• Weekly training sessions were held at Whittington Park.
• Two teams competed in the Camden and Islington Midweek league
• Islington Borough FC worked with The Access to Sports Project to provide coach training for seven young people from Homes for Islington for Islington Borough FC
To get involved in Islington Borough FC call: 020 7686 8812
