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![Link to Alan Milburn's [Secretary of State for Health] Speech to the House of Commons [UK Government] on the 30th of January 2001](../images/report2.gif) |
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One can imagine, therefore, how pleased the group of PITY II youngsters were to discover that this is where their training session would take place! To say that the cat had got the cream is an understatement! Boys and girls from around the North-West of England and North Wales, met together for a one and a half hour training session with highly qualified soccer coaches who have worked with top international players such as Michael Owen and Stephen Gerrard - and did they enjoy it!?!
The children experienced a number of different ball control skills including 'turning with the ball' and 'stop and swap'. Parents looked on with varying degrees of jealousy (because they wanted to be coached by coaches associated with such a high profile premier league team - tough!), nostalgia (as they recalled their footballing days - ALL those years ago!), pride (as they watched their children's skills physically develop and evolve before their own eyes) and relief (as they watched beaming smiles breaking out on their children's faces).
The children were divided into two teams for the impending game of football. The coaches deliberately left one young girl, dressed in Everton blue, until last. She was placed into a team and was promptly told she was playing for Liverpool - which brought a smile to everyone's face ... including hers. The team talks included brief instructions on what to look out for, how to position and how to read the game. Above all, the children were reminded to use their newly found skills and, most of all, to ENJOY THEMSELVES.
During the game, parents cheered and shouted for the children and, despite expert coaching, made comments such as "I hope he/she remembers what I'VE taught him/her!" Although the game was only a 'friendly', the competition and determination was there for all to see. Each child was a potential Owen, Ferguson or Beckham. Each child played his/her heart out and had given his/her all.
Final whistle and it was time to warm down. Great emphasis was placed on the importance of warming down after exercise - whether playing football, rugby or partaking in an athletic discipline. At this point the children began to realise that the session was nearly over and glum looks started to appear, along with knowing looks of sympathy on their parents faces. The final score? The children won.
The children had come together as strangers, although bonded by a central theme, and worked as a team. They had acquired new skills, had had a good day out, had played football in a place that most of us can only dream of and made new friends. Perhaps an overwhelming lesson that we can all learn is how the children put their rivalries aside. The children supported numerous different football teams yet were able to put aside their team loyalties and be part of the event and PITY II, as well as helping each other escape into the fun of sport and away from the anguish and torment of the organ retention issues - if only for 90 minutes. Did they really make new friends? Well, quite a few were looking forward to meeting up again at the Camelot trip in September (2nd). PITY II - Children for Children would like to thank, on behalf of itself and the children, Liverpool Football Club for their time, support, sensitivity and understanding with this event - which they enabled, free of charge. Special thanks go to the two coaches and all the backroom staff at the Academy. Thank you.
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top of the page Home | Latest News | FAQ | Kidz for Kidz | Calendar | Poets Corner | Contacts/Links | email PITY II PITY
II (Parents who have Interred Their Young Twice) is the parents' support
group set up in the wake of the organ retention scandal
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Clad
in a variety of football kits including Liverpool, Everton and Manchester
United, the children, aged 7 to 11, were soon warming-up after watching
a video presentation by footballing legend Stevie Heighway - ask your
parents about him, kids - which explained the important skills they
were about to learn.
It
was now time to sit and relax and go over what had happened during
the session and reflect upon what had been achieved.