Looking back on an action-packed summer...

A busy July and August saw plenty of tournaments, fundraising events, Soccer Schools and volunteering projects for the Community Sports Foundation’s participants and staff.

Here’s an in-brief recap of what we got up to:

Summer Cup

The twentieth edition of the Summer Cup tournament, notable for being the first one played at the Community Sports Foundation’s new hub The Nest, was held over two weekends and welcomed over 180 grassroot teams and 1,750 players from across East Anglia.

As well as the grassroots competition, the Foundation invited 12 different clubs from across the country to take part in a pan-disability tournament. The competition featured teams from Manchester City (City in the Community), the Chelsea FC Foundation, Arsenal Community and eventual winners Middlesbrough FC Foundation, among others.

Run Norwich

A record 6,199 runners took on our annual Run Norwich 10km.

Runners swept through the 10km city centre course, passing iconic landmarks such as the Castle, Carrow Road and Norwich Cathedral, spurred on by the passionate support from tens of thousands of spectators and over 450 volunteers.

Fundraisers running for the Community Sports Foundation raised an additional £60,000 for the charity.

National Citizen Service

Around 650 15-17 year olds took part in the summer programme of NCS, and aside from friendships made, self-esteem raised and CVs boosted, they made a big difference in the local community through their social action projects.

Some of the fruits of their labour are there for all to see – a renovated youth shelter in Fitzmaurice Park, being one; while others left their mark in other ways: care home residents treated to a day at a wildlife park, or thousands raised for local charities through cake bakes and talent shows.

Challenges conquered for CSF

Ten sky-jumpers took to the skies in July for an adrenaline-fuelled fundraiser – among them were ex-Norwich City footballers Simon Lappin, Adam Drury and Ryan Jarvis, who all now work for the Foundation.

Also in July, and scaling the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales as part of our Three Peaks Challenge were 22 hardy fundraisers, who collectively raised over £5,000 between them.

Soccer Schools

Over 1,261 young participants joined us at a Soccer School this Summer, at one of our sites across the county. The budding Canaries enjoyed all the usual football-themed fun n’ games (with the odd water fight thrown in for good measure!).

FC Live

We hosted the first ever ‘FC Live’ event in July – a new series of interactive football coaching workshops.

Over hundred coaches from grassroots clubs heard from special guest Canaries sporting director Stuart Webber, before a workshop led by CSF and Norwich City FC coaches.

Overnight residentials at The Nest

Ahead of the upcoming season, overnight residentials for many of the boys and girls in our Football Development programmes helped to form some invaluable bonds.

During their stay at The Nest, they enjoyed team building exercises, training and fixtures.