COMMUNITY Ambassador Jeremy Goss' update for June 2009:
The Canaries link-up with Duncan Goodhew
I was delighted to join up with former Olympic swimmer, Duncan Goodhew, at Banham Primary School to highlight the benefits of youngsters participating in sport. Many schools in the surrounding area came along to join in a fun-filled day of sporting activities and it was a great opportunity for me to highlight the Football Club and speak about our player's high level training regimes. It was a great day to be involved in and Duncan thrilled all the children by showing off the gold medal he won during the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.
Norwich City and the 2012 Olympic Games
You may well be thinking that there is no link at all between Norwich City Football Club and the Olympics but in three years time we could be in a position of hosting a country participating in 2012. I represented Norwich City recently in a meeting to discuss the London 2012 Pre-Games training camps on offer in Norfolk and North Suffolk. Colney Training Centre has always been regarded as Premiership standard and would be ideal for any footballing nation to prepare for competition. Needless to say I will keep you informed of the progress.
Canaries for the Community at West Earlham Junior School
Norwich City fans joined with volunteers from Aviva and school staff to make a real difference at West Earlham Junior School in the latest Canaries for the Community project. By the end of the day the school dining hall had been completely repainted and a garden and allotment created for the pupils. Jenny Elliott, Acting Head of the School said: "I can't thank the volunteers enough for all they have done."
Site Manager Tony Crichton added: "I am amazed at how much has been achieved in just one day." Well done to all who took part on the day and a special thank you to CFTC founder, Duncan MacInnes. It's his drive and enthusiasm that make the summer CFTC projects so successful.
NCFC join the Presidents Sporting Club
Once again this year Thetford was the venue for a very special event, which saw hundreds of disabled people come together to participate in many sporting activities. The day is organised on an annual basis by the Presedents Sporting Club who are an organisation that raises money to stage three sports experience days at Chelmsford, Luton and Thetford. More than 2,000 children from special schools throughout East Anglia were expected to take part this year in activities ranging from abseiling, aerobics, archery, athletics, skiing, tennis, trampolining and windsurfing. I felt very proud to represent NCFC on the day along with Football In The Community (FITC) who staged small sided football matches. I was also delighted to have met up with former Norwich City and England World Cup hero, Martin Peters, who was also supporting this unique event.
New Buckenham opens new play area
A fantastic summers' day was had by all the residents in New Buckenham recently when everyone joined together to celebrate the opening of a brand new play area in the middle of this tranquil village. I was delighted to be asked to represent the Club and officially open this state-of-the-art facility where local children will be able to spend many hours having fun within a very safe environment. Nearly all the money needed to build the play area was raised by the people living within the local community and I would like to congratulate them all for dedicating so much of their time in joining together to make a real difference to their village and to their children's lives.
Ability Counts Summer Event
A very special sporting event took place at the UEA in Norwich at the end of June for many disabled children. It was one of five summer disability multi-sports camps held within our region organised by the Club's FITC Ability Counts team in partnership with Norfolk Short Breaks Pathfinder. Children with all ranges of disabilities had a wide variety of sporting activities to try, learn and enjoy including football, basketball, tennis, hockey and more. It truly was a great day for all involved and I would like to say well done to Darran Lovell and his team from FITC for highlighting once again that no person should miss out on the chance of participating in sport.
