MOBILE floodlights are already paying dividends at Barnard Castle Junior Football Club.
The investment of 14 mobile, LED floodlights, paid for through a Football Foundation grant, has enabled the club to host all of their winter training sessions for juniors at their Green Lane School base.
Club secretary Chris Vasey said: “Normally at this time of year we would still be training at the sports centre on the five-a-side pitch until the end of April, which limits the number of kids that can play.
“With the floodlights, we have been able to use the pitches and do more training, so they’re already paying off.
“It’s brilliant for the kids as it gives them more space to run about and they are not knocking into each other.”
The floodlights, which cost £12,000, are light-weight and use re-chargeable batteries, meaning there are no wires to worry about.
Coaches are able to assemble them quickly and use as few or as many as they need for training sessions.
Mr Vasey added: “It was a bit of a gamble getting them, but we’re really chuffed at how they are working and the coaches love them.
“The only issue we have now is when the ball goes out of play, we can’t see where it is.”
The junior section of the club has 155 children on the books with squads for U8s through to U18s.
He said: “We’ve got room for another for two teams but the thing we are looking for are more volunteer coaches that could help out.
“We’re happy to pay for training and would welcome young dads and mums to become part of the football club.
“It’s the only thing that holds us back is finding enough parents like us to come forward and be part of the team.”
Anyone who is interested in becoming a volunteer coach with Barnard Castle Football Club should contact Mr Vasey on 07577 791831.
