Member Article

Leeds football firm welcomes multiple Guinness World Record holder

A Leeds-based children’s football school has partnered with a world-famous football freestyler to host its February half term holiday camp.

Established in 2014, Foot-Tech Academy will welcome Guinness World Record holder and children’s TV personality, John Farnworth to the John Smeaton Leisure Centre on 19th, 20th and 21st February 2019.

Farnworth will support Foot-Tech Academy in delivering a creative and technical football coaching session for 60 children, aged between four and fourteen years. Farnworth will also provide the children with an insight into freestyle football through an entertaining and engaging workshop.

This year, Farnworth will complete his tenth world record attempt by crossing the Sahara Desert and juggling a football with every step.

Previously, Farnworth has kept a football in the air for the entire route of the London Marathon and in 2018, he battled blizzard conditions on Mount Everest whilst performing keepy-ups on the side of the world’s highest mountain.

The news follows a record year of growth for Foot-Tech Academy, having expanded into East Leeds and recently signed up more than 280 members. Co-founders, Luke Towning and Nick Bishop started the business after having recognised a demand for creative football training sessions for children in the region.

The firm, which operates out of two Leeds venues, including John Smeaton Leisure Centre and Soldier’s Field at Roundhay Park, works with young people to improve their football skills, confidence, speed and agility.

Co-founder of Foot-Tech, Luke Towning said:

“We’re delighted to be able to welcome John to the Foot-Tech Academy team for our February camp. His footballing career is impressive and we’re really excited to see how his skills and methods of teaching will really engage the children.”

John Farnworth added:

“A big part of what I do is working with youngsters to improve their skills in a live environment. So, when Foot-Tech approached me to join them at their holiday camp, I was incredibly excited to take part.

“Sharing my knowledge and experience is really important to me and showing young people how to develop and progress, not just through football, but also how they can apply what they learn to their every-day life is integral to the work I do.

“I think this fits really well with Foot-Tech’s ethos which is to support children in staying healthy, both mentally and physically.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jennifer Ogden .