Banks Homes on the ball with youth footballers

A North East housebuilder is backing grassroots sport by supporting a youth football team drawn from communities across Northumberland.

Banks Homes has become the new kit sponsor of the South and West Northumberland District Under 13s team, funding matchday kits and three-quarter-length training tops now bearing the company’s branding. 

The squad brings together young players from across the Tyne Valley and south Northumberland, from Ponteland to Seaton Sluice, and competes against district teams from across the region.

Players are selected through an annual trials process involving schools in the qualifying area, with training sessions and home fixtures held at Lemington Football Centre in Westerhope.

Michael Woods, senior community coach at the Newcastle United Foundation, who coaches the South/West Northumberland District U13s, said: “We try to provide the most supportive possible environment in which our squad members can develop new skills, try new things and make mistakes, all in the name of helping them grow as players and, just as importantly, as people.

“We have proper training structures in place and with the quality we’ve seen so far, we’re very optimistic about what the squad can achieve this season.

“Having this new sponsored kit has been a real boost for the team’s self-confidence – everyone looks really sharp and together, which is in turn a real factor in helping their performance levels, and we’re very grateful to Banks Homes for funding this much-needed new strip, which our district teams will be able to wear for many years to come.”

Part of the County Durham-headquartered, family-owned Banks Group, Banks Homes is growing its residential portfolio across the North East and Yorkshire, with sites including West Rainton, Durham City and Yarm. 

The housebuilder has also recently announced plans for a new residential development at the Kingston Village site near Newcastle Great Park.

Russ Hall, managing director at Banks Homes, added: “Our Development With Care approach makes delivering tangible benefits into the communities in which we’re investing a central part of our way of working.

“The South/West Northumberland District U13s gives local young footballers a brilliant platform to develop their game, both as individuals and together as a team, and it’s great to be able to contribute to this development through this very smart new strip.” 

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