Trearddur Bay Allstars are living up to their name

One of the most popular winners at last week’s Môn Actif Sports Awards were Trearddur Bay Allstars.

The flourishing project run by Trearddur Bay FC won the Clwb Insport y Flwyddyn / Insport Club of the Year.

Allstars were formed last year with the aim of making football inclusive for all.

It was introduced when the Anglesey club combined its three sections into one (ladies, juniors, men’s) and relaunched under the one heading of Trearddur Bay Football Club. The club has grown and now offers football to boys, girls, people with a disability and senior men.

Club secretary Chris Davies takes up the story of the Allstars: “The club has been working hard over the last few years to sustain a gradual growth. There were a couple of areas we were keen to get involved in – the female game and inclusive football.

“This project was running alongside the expansion of our junior section which also grew nearly 200%.

“We concentrated on getting a ladies team off the ground, and then the junior girls teams. We then started our Allstars section which is a weekly inclusive training session for children with a range of disabilities or for children that aren’t quite ready to join a mainstream team.

“When we started we had a regular 6-7 turning up but have now got around 20 regulars with sometimes more at a session.

“We have always tried to upskill our young players to utilise them as coaches. These lads have played for Trearddur Bay for many years and understand what’s expected by the club on and off the field.

“We have a group of 5 of last season’s under 17’s team currently involved coaching the Allstars team, which is brilliant. We also have a few other coaches which enables us to then have the option of one to one coaching with anyone that needs it.

“The children really enjoy the young lads been involved in the sessions and in some ways maybe look up to them as senior players.
“It’s truly one of the most enjoyable group of children to coach. Some of the players have come on so much since day one, it’s great to see.

“We have some really good players there and some have gone on to play mainstream football which is a huge success story for us.”

As for last week’s awards, Chris added: “We were hugely grateful to be nominated as Insport Club of the Year at the Môn Actif awards and even more thrilled to have walked away as winners.

“All volunteers involved with football do it for the love of the game but it was nice to be recognised for all the hard work that goes in, especially by the coaches. I’d like to say a huge thank you to Richard, Tony, Matt, Jesse, Olly, Jake, Callum, Sean, McKenzie and Alexander for their efforts in making this scheme a success.

“I’d also like to thank all the parents for their dedication to bringing the children along each week, some traveling from the other side of Caernarfon etc. and last but definitely not least to all the children that attend and make it so enjoyable to all of us.

“These sessions would not be sustainable without local businesses supporting us, so we would also like to thank Hogan’s and Redboat ice cream for their kind sponsorships over the last couple of years.“

So, what’s planned for the Allstars in the future?

Chris said: “We will be guest at a Wrexham home game soon. We’ve also been invited to Manchester United and Everton to take part in training sessions. On the field, we hope to keep growing the Allstars section and would like to provide a platform for adults at the club.”