School's helping hand for young footballers

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
A youth football tournament has been declared a big success by organisers – thanks to a little help from a local school.

The annual six-a-side competition run by Liphook United Football Club was held over two days at the end of August and attracted more than 100 teams of boys and girls from across the region.

But organisers were initially left facing a logistical headache on the run up to the festival of football when they discovered their usual tournament venue was unavailable, before Highfield and Brookham School answered a plea for an alternative setting.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The independent day and boarding school on the borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex, which has strong links with the community in and around Liphook, didn’t charge the football club for use of its 175-acre site, instead asking for a small percentage of the tournament takings to be donated to its Highreach Holidays charity which provides week-long summer breaks for children with disabilities.

Highfield and Brookham School hosted Liphook United’s annual youth football tournament in AugustHighfield and Brookham School hosted Liphook United’s annual youth football tournament in August
Highfield and Brookham School hosted Liphook United’s annual youth football tournament in August

As a result, the football club swelled the Highreach coffers to the tune of £516.

Jenni Weston, vice-chairman of Liphook United Football Club, for whom the annual youth tournament represents a real lifeline in terms of fundraising and the financial security of the club attracts clubs from Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex, said: “We wanted to say a huge thank you to Highfield and Brookham School for allowing us to host the tournament on their stunning facilities. They really have the local community at heart and we were pleased to be able to raise £516.62 which has been donated to Highfield Highreach Holidays.”

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham School, said: “We are proud to be a part of the thriving community of Liphook and we have a healthy relationship with the football club, so we were delighted to be able to help out when it came to providing a venue for the club’s annual youth football tournament.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“As a school, we naturally have a strong affinity with children and children’s activities, so to know that the club’s wonderful youth tournament will keep the football club flourishing and give those children more sporting opportunities for years to come is very satisfying.”

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice