On Friday 2nd September, South Leicestershire MP, Alberto Costa, visited the Leicestershire & Rutland Football Association headquarters - based at Holmes Park, Whetstone - in order to meet with senior staff and to discuss how the local FA is working to ensure that as many people as possible can be involved in football.
Working with the charity Football For All, the County FA offer a diverse number of opportunities to people of all ages and abilities with teams taking part in blind football, walking football and also mini soccer for young children alongside other courses for those who may be interested in coaching or refereeing.
Alberto said, “I was delighted to visit the local FA’s headquarters earlier today in order to meet with staff and to tour their excellent facilities at Holmes Park. The Leicestershire and Rutland FA does an excellent job of overseeing grassroots football across the county, however I was most pleased to hear of the work they have been doing to ensure that any person in Leicestershire & Rutland, irrespective of age or ability, has the opportunity to play football and rightly so”.
Mr Keith Murdoch, Chief Executive of the Leicestershire & Rutland FA, added, “We were pleased to welcome our local MP, Alberto Costa, at Holmes Park on Friday afternoon. It has provided us with the opportunity to show him not only what we do in governing and developing the game but also the contribution made by the wider football family to the health and wellbeing of local communities”.
Alberto concluded, “The excellent work the County FA have been doing fits in perfectly with the government’s strategy in encouraging everyone to take up more sport. By ensuring that inclusivity is strongly promoted and most importantly, offered, the local FA are striving to raise the profile and awareness of footballing opportunities for those who may not have been aware they could play therefore ensuring that football is a fairer and more inclusive sport for all”.
Alberto is pictured above with Leicestershire & Rutland FA, Chief Executive, Keith Murdoch and County FA staff.