Deputy Mayor presents Trophies at the Mid-Sussex Under 8s Pre-Season Football Tournament

The Colwell Road Ground, home of the St Francis Rangers Junior F.C., was beaming with excitement and energy on Sunday 31^st August, with 80 children eager to take part in the Mid-Sussex Under 8s Pre-Season Football Tournament.

Cllr Abdul Bashar, the Deputy Mayor of Haywards Heath, alongside Alison Bennett, MP for Mid Sussex, attended the big day and spent their morning meeting volunteers, touring the ground and watching the final match. As the tournament came to a close, they presented participation medals to all those involved, and trophies for the winners.

From left to right: Alison Bennett, MP for Mid Sussex; Jasper Roberts, member of the St Francis Rangers Junior F.C.; and Cllr Abdul Bashar, Deputy Mayor of Haywards Heath

For the event, the St Francis Rangers Junior F.C. team proudly wore shirts bearing the message “A Child’s Mind is the Future”. David Marshall, Club Welfare Officer, shared with us: “Our club is deeply committed to promoting football as a force for good in supporting young people’s mental wellbeing. Several of our players have found strength and connection through football in response to Adverse Childhood Experiences.” 

The Deputy Mayor was kindly presented with an official FA ‘Play Safe’ lapel badge as a thank you, ahead of the FA’s ‘Play Safe Weekend’ on 27-28 September.