Wire volunteer wins national reward

Former Warrington Town player Stuart Waldron is thanking the club after his work with the Wire's ongoing community programme helped him earn a nationally recognised coaching qualification.

Waldron has been volunteering as a community coach at a number of local primary schools and helping out during the half term multi-sport camps at the Evo-Stik NPL First Division North outfit's Abacus Solicitors Community Stadium.

Working alongside the club’s development officer James Standing, the 37-year-old reaped the rewards this week when he completed his FA accredited coaching qualifications at Orford Jubilee Park.

A smiling Waldron, pictured right alongside Standing, said: "The club has shown faith in me over the past few months by giving me the opportunity to work with them and putting me forward for this qualification which is going to help me as a coach in the long term.

The former Wire and Northwich Victoria star said promoting the club and changing children’s lives were at the forefront of his mind when he asked to get on board at his local club.

He added: "Warrington Town are my local team and I was born within yards of the ground. When I saw what the club was doing in the community it seemed a good thing to get involved in.

"Myself and James currently coach around 150 kids per week and have 40 kids every half term on the multi-sport camps. This town has a lot of footballing talent which we are discovering and hopefully many will progress to play at a high level, maybe even with Warrington Town."

Warrington Town FC’s community programme has been up and running since January and has been backed by water giants United Utilities who are the club’s community partner.

Former Leigh RMI footballer Standing has been heading up the project and said: "Our community work just keeps on growing and it is something that is going to benefit the town as a whole. Football is massive in Warrington and the number of children registered on our databases show that. Since January we have worked with over 3,000 children from across the borough. It’s a huge achievement.

"Stuart was a good coach before he joined us and we have just helped him realise his potential. Now he wants to progress and do further badges, not just in football but in other sports too. He is great to work with and the children enjoy the sessions he puts on for them which are fun but educational."

Warrington are currently working with a number of local primary schools to deliver after school provisions and also host multi-sport camps during half term as well as children’s birthday parties and a 'Saturday Soccer' development centre for children aged 4-12 years.