Headed by Micky Engwell, Boreham Wood’s Community Department is currently running strongly, with regular activities going on in the community of Borehamwood.
Increased participation, new tournaments and more sports were all on the agenda in the previous Community Update. Here, we take a look at what has been achieved so far, this season, and what else is planned for the future.
FA CUP TOURS
During the club’s successful FA Cup run this season, we went on two FA Cup whistle-stop tours around the community.
The first tour took place following our 3-1 victory over local rivals St Albans City in the First Round, and we took the FA Cup around local businesses and Hertswood Secondary School.
The cup attracted huge interest around the town, especially in Tesco, where locals crammed into the store to get a snap with the trophy.
The second tour followed the 2-1 comeback win over Blackpool, and we took the trophy around our local schools, and Barnet Hospital.
The tour was a huge success, with the schools and the hospital full of enthusiasm and joy, as they got the chance to have a photograph with the famous trophy.
At every school that we entered, the children’s faces dropped at the sight of the FA Cup, and we believe that it brought the community together.
Autographs with their Boreham Wood heroes were also on the agenda, as the children met their favourite players.
TESCO BAG PACK
Boreham Wood Football Club were recently in Borehamwood Tesco, bag packing for the local community.
The charity bag pack took place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, December 20th-22nd.
While there, we were raising funds for local charities, including the Elstree and Borehamwood Dementia Club and the Mencap and Borehamwood Day Centre.
The Boreham Wood first team and staff, as well as the Club’s PASE Academy, were all down at Tesco to help the community get prepared for the busy Christmas period.
We believe that our annual charity bag pack is a fantastic opportunity to engage the whole of Borehamwood, with players and staff from first team to academy, all involved.
MENCAP AND BOREHAMWOOD DAY CENTRE
As well as raising money for Mencap and the Borehamwood Day Centre, through charity bag packing at Tesco, the two groups were also Flagbearers for our FA Cup First Round Proper tie against Blackpool.
The two groups were integrated together to welcome the teams to the field, for the high-profile fixture.
Following this, they were then able to enjoy the Wood’s famous 2-1 comeback victory over the Tangerines.
The two groups continue to enjoy coaching sessions on the 5G astro turf at Meadow Park, with numbers increasing regularly.
The sessions are run by Mark McManus and Boreham Wood first team coach Cameron Mawer.
MATCHDAY MASCOTS
The club have seen an increase in mascots since the previous Community Update, with numerous young Wood supporters enjoying their chance to walk out with the team.
Against Blackpool, prior to our famous FA Cup First Round victory, we had an outstanding 14 mascots, who got to lead the team out for the fixture and enjoy a fun-filled day, as well as getting the chance to sit in our Premier League Style Dugout.
Children who are mascots for home matches, all receive a signed match day programme, autographed by all of the players and coaching staff.
They also get to lead a player out of their choice, and their parent, or guardian, receives a free ticket to the match.
WALKING FOOTBALL
There has once again been a large increase of numbers in the Walking Footbal sessions, ran at the club.
Due to the increase in numbers, the club are now looking to add a second Walking Football Team.
The walking football teams train every Tuesday, from 7-8pm and they now have over 35 players.
INTER-SCHOOLS FOOTBALL
In the previous Community Update, the club announced that they were looking to host football matches, featuring the local schools.
This has now been achieved, with Woodlands, Kenilworth, Parkside and Shenley school, all playing fixtures on the club’s 5G astro turf. We will also be coaching the Clore Shalom football team in the New Year.
The club believe that this scheme will enhance the quality of local football, as the school teams are all coached by the club’s UEFA B coaches.
The children also get to play on what we believe, is one of the best, and most advanced artificial surfaces currently on the market
SCHOOLS MULTI-SPORTS COACHING
Again, in the previous community update, the club explained that we were exploring the idea of adding multi-sports into the schools coaching curriculum.
This has also been achieved and the club’s professional coaches will begin by going into both Parkside and Kenilworth school to teach Tennis.
As top sports coaches, they are planning to deliver high-quality sessions that teach the children the basic, and more advanced techniques of different sports.
As well as multi-sports, the Wood are continuing to coach football in local schools from the area, and have recently taken on lunchtime football coaching at Clore Shalom, to great success.
AFTER SCHOOLS COACHING
The Wednesday after school’s football coaching programme is on-going and the numbers are continuing to increase every week, with between 40 and 50 children attending every session.
The training is for both boys and girls, aged 3-11-years-old, with three separate categories being run, all tailored to that particular age group.
The children are taught by our UEFA B licensed coaches and receive regular gifts within the sessions, including FREE tickets for Boreham Wood home matches, and discounted adult tickets.
As well as the Wednesday after schools coaching, the club will also be taking on after schools coaching with Woodlands school on Monday’s.
FEBRUARY HALF-TERM SOCCER COURSES
Following the success of the previous Soccer Courses ran by the club, the Community Department have now begun preparations for the February half-term soccer courses.
As always, each week will be full of fun games, matches and exciting prizes. The courses provide the children with the perfect opportunity to progress their footballing skills.
The courses are perfect for all abilities; the club’s professional coaches teach the participants brand new skills and help them to perfect the more basic techniques of passing, ball control and shooting.
Details of the courses will follow in due course.
COMMUNITY DAYS
The club have run a number of hugely successful community days since the previous Community Update.
In particular, the community session ran prior to the match against FC Halifax Town, on non-league day.
This session involved free football coaching for children aged 5-to-12-years-old, ran by our UEFA B licensed coaches, and players from our PASE Academy.
During the community session on non-league day, we were raising money for Prostate Cancer UK.
The sessions were hugely successful and then provided the children with free tickets to watch the Wood take on the Shaymen at Meadow Park, as well as discounted tickets for their parent, or guardian.
The club also a ran a similar Community day in partnership with Hertswood school, prior to the fixture against AFC Fylde, Saturday, December 9, where we further strengthen the links between ourselves.
Over 35 students attended the coaching sessions, and then watched the Wood beat AFC Fylde 1-0, in the National League.
SEASON TICKET PROMOTIONS
The club have been running a Christmas Special Season Ticket offer.
The 2017/18 Season Ticket price was discounted to just £99 for the remaining of the season, if purchased ahead of New Year’s Day.
That works out at just £9-per-game, with 11 home matches still remaining this campaign and it is a huge saving on the normal match-day entry costs.
FROM THE PITCH – MICKY ENGWELL
“I think that the department is definitely growing, and the excitement of the FA Cup, which we took into local schools, Barnet Hospital and local businesses, seems to have just grown the togetherness within the community.
“Having met the teachers at the different schools, we were able to explain to them, what we could introduce into the schools.
“We also went into Hertswood School with the FA Cup, and met the numerous teachers and spoke to the coaches in charge there, and the relationship between the school and the club, seems to be thriving and just getting better and better.
“It is really exciting at the moment; the club is going from strength-to-strength both on-and-off the pitch. We are doing well in the league as well, and that gives the community a bit of a vibe.
“With success, both on-and-off the field, brings new opportunities and it has shown. Numbers in the various community activities we run, are constantly increasing and it is just a good time for the club at the moment.”
