News

People's Postcode Lottery support Thirsk Falcons Fledglings

Thanks to the People’s Postcode Trust, a grant-giving charity funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, who've given two thousand pounds to the Falcons Fledglings. The cash will pay for some more hoodies and other training equipment, as well as making sure that we have plenty of FA Level 1 qualified coaches to keep the project moving on.

Keep an eye on the website and local press for photos of the children making full use of these new resources.

Happy Birthday Carl!

Former Falcs treasurer and coach Carl Peart has just celebrated his 50th birthday. His family organised a surprise party for him, and instead of asking guests for presents they suggested they make a donation to a good cause of Carl's choice. Carl was kind enough to choose Thirsk Falcons Juniors to be the recipients of his friends and relatives' generosity and has sent us a cheque for ninety five pounds to help replace equipment during the season.

We're delighted that Carl thought of us as he celebrated his big day, and it's lovely to hear again from someone who had such a close involvement with the club.

Grant from Hambleton and Richmondshire Strategic Forum

They say that good things come in threes, and our fund-raising team have just announced that the Hambleton and Richmondshire Strategic Forum have awarded the club a grant of £295.25

The money will go towards the cost of new flags, fence banners and an outdoor information board for the training ground. Thanks very much to the Forum.

Thanks to the Co-operative Community Fund and Taylors of Harrogate for their generous support

It's been one of those weeks where the good news has just kept rolling on in. On Tuesday we heard from the Co-operative Community Fund that our bid for a grant of £1,980 has been successful. Then on Thursday Taylors of Harrogate approved a donation of £250 from their charity fund. It's great that local and not-so local business are willing to help us like this, especially in such straightened times and everyone at Thirsk Falcons Juniors is really grateful to both organisations for their support. It's going to make a big difference to all the children who come to the Falcs every week to enjoy their football.

Over £250 raised for club funds by "Rocking a fat one"

More than 80 tie-dyed party-goers donned their 'loons and rolled back the years to the 1970s last Saturday night when Glamtastic took to the stage at TAC. The night of Glam rock classics included covers of songs by Bowie, T-Rex, the Sweet and the Bay City Rollers as the appreciative audience danced the night away.

More than £250 was raised for club funds, which is really important for the Falcons as Deputy Chairman and most glamourous guitarist Vaughan Lonsdale explains: "We want to make local junior football as accessible as possible and elected not to increase players' subscriptions this season. However, general running costs have increased so we need to be more creative in looking for other ways to meet the costs of running the club. We have fantastic parents and carers who support these and other fundraising events that are essential to keep the club going."

Co-op sponsor new kits for Falcons Under 11s

Thanks to Co-op Insurance for sponsoring a new kit for the Under 11s. The team look great and have made a strong start to the season in their new look, with a 6-0 away win over Tollesby Athletic in their first league match of the season and a great 5-1 win in the first round of the cup against Cumby Rovers.

Falcs go Glamtastic

If you remember watching Hughes, Shilton, Clemence and Brooking on the pitch you probably remember listening to T-Rex, Bowie, Slade, the Rollers and Roxy Music. Relive the glam sounds of the seventies at Thirsk Athletics Club on Saturday 24 September, when Glamtastic will take to the stage to play you the best of the decade that gave football - and rock - the mullet. 

The fun starts at 7:30, and tickets are available in advance from your Falcons coach, the bar at TAC or White Rose Books in the market place. Tickets bought in advance cost £6 or you can pay on the door for £7.50

Dressing up is optional, but who doesn't look great in flares and a kipper tie?

Falcs hat trick of wins at Wigginton tournament

Thirsk Falcons teams have had a busy - and successful - Bank Holiday weekend at the Wigginton Grasshoppers tournament.

The Under 13s won their competition with a fantastic performance which saw them score twenty goals and only concede two. This side won the tournament in 2009, got to the final in 2010 and of course won this year, which is a remarkable record.

The Under 12s had two sides in action at Wigginton, and they met in the quarter-final. The B team came out on top of that game thanks to an overhead kick from Cameron Scott. 

The semi-final was decided by a penalty shoot-out, and the Falcs went through thanks to some accurate shooting and two excellent saves from Tom Spencer.

In the final Falcons went 1 - 0 up after Joe Hannan turned and chased his own header before slotting home after just 20 seconds. This was followed up by a Cameron Scott volley which nearly lifted the goal out of the ground for a 2 - 0 score line before half time. The Falcons then kept control to see out a very accomplished victory.

The Under 9s also fielded two teams, and both made it through to the knock-out stages. The Blues lost their quarter final 2-0, but the Clarets won theirs on penalties and went on to win the semi-final too.

The final against Stockton was a bit of a thriller and the Falcons won it 1-0 thanks to a Matt McGuckin goal deep in the second half.

The Under 7s had their first run-out against other teams and did really well to win one of their matches. More importantly they all enjoyed playing together.

The Under 8s also had a good day, winning three of their six matches, and drawing another.

 

 

Falcons kit flies from Thirsk to Uganda

As reported in the local press, second hand kit and sportswear donated by Thirsk Falcons is finding a new lease of life in Uganda.

It might seem like a few secondhand shirts, but to the young people in the Mpigi district of Uganda who end up wearing the kit it makes a huge difference. Kayiwa Sande of the Ballista Football Association of Mpigi explains:

"It's quiet great because it saved the players from playing half naked, and it makes the players look smart. Even the type of football they play becomes good and admirable."

Football can be a life changing experience for the young players who join BFAM, many of whom are orphans and live with the coaches. 

We're collecting more used kit to send out at the end of this season. If you've got some gear that's still in good condition but has been out-grown or is no longer wanted then please pass it on to your coach.

Refs at Falcons matches

What does it take to ref our seven and eleven a-side matches? George Pugh has joined our roster of referees this season, and was visited at a recent home match by David Tucker from the Thirsk Weekly News. The full article is worth a read, but if you're short of time here's a brief extract:

I asked George what she got from being a referee. “The satisfaction: if you see the kids’ faces when we’ve finished the game, win or lose, they are so happy. Without the likes of referees that wouldn’t happen. There is the pleasure of the game. I enjoy the decision making as well, that in itself is a sort of a buzz, but ultimately it’s the smile on the kids’ faces, when one of them scores a goal, the sheer enjoyment. It’s so fulfilling to be involved in that.”

We're always on the look out to bolster our pool of refs, so if you think you might look good in black click the Contact Us button above and get in touch.

Under 11s keep warm thanks to Dales of Thirsk

Dales of Thirsk have sponsored the Under 11s, to make sure the children all have smart new training tops to help keep warm during winter training sessions. Neil Collinson who owns the firm told us: "As a local business owner I'm delighted to sponsor the training tops for Thirsk Falcons Under 11's which is a team full of local lads and run by local coaches. I would like to wish the team well for the rest of the season and hope for some great results."

Under 12s sponsored by Euro Design Glazing Systems

Thirsk company Euro Design Glazing Systems have generously sponsored new kits for the Under 12s. Coach Les Williams says: "I am over the moon that we have received this new kit which will keep all of our children active and hopefully all smiling too."

Under 8s new kit sponsored by Chatsworth Windows

Our latest sponsor is Northallerton based Chatsworth Windows, who've kindly paid for the Under 8 team's new kit. Jamie Smith, a director of Chatsworth Windows, said: “We are delighted to be supporting young footballers in our local community.”

Behind the scenes when the telly came to TAC

You've probably already seen the video made by ITV Tyne Tees when they came to Thirsk Falcons to find out how junior football helps build communities.

We've got exclusive behind the scenes photos of the day

 

Every little helps the Under 9s get new kit

Tesco in Thirsk kindly donated the cash to buy new kit and training tops for the Under 9s.

David Cooper who runs the Thirsk store says "We're pleased to be able to support a local team and hope that the new kit brings even more success to the Falcons Under 9s this season." 

Falcons support kick4change!