FOOTBALL: GetIntoFootball Thurrock Officer Faye Lambert is keen to expand two new football ventures in Thurrock every Wednesday and Thursday at the Culver Centre in South Ockendon after they kicked-off with a range of sessions to attract new players into The Beautiful Game or entice others to return to sporting activity.

‘Get Fit Through Football’ and ‘35+ Football’ are two of the regular weekly arrangements Faye has put in place as she starts her mission to increase participation and the opportunities for people to play in the Thurrock area. The first of each got underway recently and the former C&K Basildon and Thurrock & Tilbury player is confident she can encourage people out of their armchairs to keep fit and work off all the excess Christmas indulgences!

‘Get Fit Through Football’ began on Tuesday 25th January and targets ladies aged 16 or over who may be complete beginners or who might have previously played and seek opportunities to return. Faye recognises the difficulties of time restrictions or family commitments so these sessions enable ladies to ‘turn up and play’ in a friendly, informal environment with an all-female coaching staff supported by Essex County FA Development Officer Carla Dickinson.

The ‘GetBackInto Football’ sessions for males aged 35 and over also began the next day and aim to reintroduce men who may have let the game slide away through their own commitments or because they now feel ready to make the transition into veterans football. Nick Emery, also from the Essex County FA, is supporting Faye to offer his knowledge in developing eleven-a-side and small-sided participation through his previous support of projects within this target group.

The FA has a vision for developing grassroots football and is working with County Football Associations such as Essex, local authorities and other key partners to get more people aged 16 and over into football. Both of these sessions will initially run for eight weeks and link-up to potential exit routes and increased opportunities to play the nation’s favourite sport.

Towards the end of last year, Development Manager Brendan Walshe joined the Thurrock Association Sunday League, with support from Thurrock Council, to look for an individual to “make a difference” to participation levels in the area, leading to Faye’s appointment just before Christmas. Thurrock was selected to benefit for various reasons, including the network of clubs situated in the area and strong partnership support from the Council and the League.

If you live in the Thurrock area and wish to discover or rediscover football, phone (01245) 393099 or E-Mail faye.lambert@essexfa.com. You can also keep up-to-date with all GetIntoFootball Thurrock events and news via Facebook or by following @GIFOESSEX on Twitter. You can find links to both at www.essexfa.com/GetIntoFootball/Thurrock.