The Importance of ‘Funding the Fence’

Pictured above are members of one of Guisborough Town’s thriving junior teams – capturing perfectly exactly why the Priorymen are so focussed and determined about raising around £40,000 to purchase equipment and build a fence to enclose new outdoor grass pitches planned on land next to the club’s KGV Stadium.

The team pictured here is the Guisborough Town Girls’ Under-11 team, whose Coach Scott Allison – a former first team goalkeeper for the club – is excited by the prospect of his young players returning home to the KGV to play on the proposed new pitches in a safe, clean and protected area.

Scott reflected on his involvement with Guisborough Town, which stretches as far back as season 2008/09 when former Club Manager Chris Hardy no less asked him to play in goal on a short term basis to cover for the regular goalkeeper who was injured at the time.

He commented: “I always enjoyed my time at the club then – I loved the feel and atmosphere of the club even then. Being asked to come back in 2021 and get involved coaching the girls gave me a great opportunity to get involved with the club again which is just a great feeling.

“At that time my daughter Evie had expressed an interest in starting to play organised football and we found out that the club ran a ‘Wildcats’ session so we took her to that and she loved it.

“In November of that year Chris Wood, the Head of Junior football at the time, asked me if I would like to take over the new U-9 Girls team with Evie a part of that so I was more than happy to agree – albeit with some trepidation at the time!

HARD-WORKING AND DEDICATED!

“Soon my wife Sammy joined the team to help me and it’s just grown into a family affair for us ever since. I have become part of the Club’s Junior Committee working alongside some very hard-working, dedicated and enthusiastic coaches alongside Chris Wood, as we try to improve literally everything we can with our juniors section to help make everyone’s experience better than ever.

Guisborough Town Under 11 Girls feel it is important to have a fence around pitches — *Members of the Guisborough Town U-11 Girls’ team take a break in training, with coaches Scott and Sammie Allison in the background*

“As far as the team Sammy and I coach, both the parents and the girls themselves have stuck with us and embraced the aims we are seeking to achieve and now we are seeing the fantastic potential they all have. Their achievements in such a short space of time are nothing short of exceptional.

“Sammy’s role is to be my assistant coach and she is so modest and doesn’t take credit for what she does for the girls. She’s their friend, their biggest supporter on the sidelines (other than individual parents!) and has become such an integral part of our team.

“The girls love having her around and I feel that she is more relatable to them and I don’t think me or the girls could do what we do without Sammy support.

“I’m sure the bonds and friendships these girls have created in the last few years will last right into adulthood. That’s what being part of a team is all about – and the story I have outlined is typical throughout the club’s junior teams, not just ours,” added Scott.

Read more about the King George V Football Pitch Fence Project and our fundraising Race Night on 27 April 2024.