United’s academy has once again received fantastic support from Carlisle United Supporters’ Club London Branch with a donation of £2,000 to help with the acquisition of footballs and training goals, and for sponsorship of entry into the Manchester Cup, which was held over the Easter weekend.
The club’s academy and the London Branch have forged a strong bond in recent years, with this latest purchase of portable goals and balls preceded by, amongst other things, sponsorship of corner flags, notice boards and vital camera equipment (utilised by all age groups for training, development and match day coverage).
As a thank you from the academy staff, branch members Howard Atkinson and Dave Croxford were invited along to watch a training session, with Brennan Dickenson and Omari Patrick also in attendance to answer questions from the young crop of players.
“It was a pleasure to be invited along to watch the training session and to see the difference the new equipment has made,” Howard told us. “If it helps to enhance the quality of the coaching and makes the sessions more enjoyable for all involved, then it's a great use of our funds.
“We have an excellent relationship with the academy staff and look forward to helping out our future generation of players in other ways going forward.”
Academy manager Simon Friel said: “The sponsorship the academy has had from the London Branch in recent years has made a significant difference, and I know I speak for all of our staff, coaches and players when I thank them for that support.
“They actively engage with us to see how and when they can step in, and it’s magnificent to know that they want to be involved with helping the club to develop the next crop of players who go all the way through.
“It was good to see Howard and Dave, and for them to be able to see the equipment in action, and I know the boys enjoyed having the first-team players there as well.
“Omari and Brennan were superb, we had to pull the lads away from them in the end because there were so many questions for them to answer.”
