News from Stoke-on-Trent

 

Little City Strikers aims to find the next generation of football stars

 

Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Stoke City FC have come together to create ‘Little City Strikers,’ a brand new multi venue football training course for children aged 3-6.  Following a number of successful pilot courses the full programme has now been rolled out throughout May to four venues across the city. 

 

Little City Strikers has been jointly developed between the coaches of Stoke City FC and Stoke-on-Trent City Councils Football Action team. It provides a fun, supportive and friendly environment where young children can learn and practice the same skills that helped take Stoke City to the Wembley FA Cup Final.

 

Over 10 weeks children develop a range of ball control, team working and leadership skills. Each child is given a Little City Strikers wall chart to map their progression against the various skills. Once the child has achieved the training criteria for each skill they are given a special football sticker to put on the wall chart. At the end of the ten weeks each child will be awarded a Little City Strikers certificate by the Stoke City FC mascot ‘Pottermus’.

 

Stoke City FC have also agreed to allow Pottermus to visit the training venues and join the fun throughout the 10 weeks – demonstrating how the various skills should, (or shouldn’t) be done in his own unique style.

 

For those who know children who would like to join the fun all dates and venues are listed below. Further details can be gained from ringing the course leader, Kate Beer on 07725 914016.

 

Stoke City F.C. Academy Dome Phase 1 and 2

29th May 2011 to 31st July

  

Trentham High Phase 2

19th May to 21st July 2011

 

Priory Primary School

9^th August to 11^th October

 

Fenton Manor

11^th August to 11^th October

 

James Brindley phase 2

14th May to 16th July 2011

 

 

Kate Beer
Assistant Sports Development Officer

01782 235 030 / 07725 914016.

Kate.Beer@stoke.gov.uk

 

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Tour of Britain returns to Stoke-on-Trent

 

The Tour of Britain, the UK’s biggest professional cycle race and largest free-to-watch live sporting event, will return to Stoke-on-Trent for a fourth successive year as the city plays host to Stage Three of the 2011 Tour.

 

Taking place on Tuesday 13th September, 100 of the world’s top cyclists will take on the challenge of a 150 kilometre stage, beginning at Trentham Gardens and finishing with the hugely popular uphill finish in the city centre.

 

The Tour of Britain will be the second major cycling event to come to Stoke-on-Trent in 2011, following on from The Halfords Tour Series televised city centre race which takes place on Tuesday 7th June.

 

Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent Councillor Denver Tolley welcomed the return of the popular cycling events.

 

"I think it is tremendous news that the Tour of Britain, and the Tour Series and Tour Ride, are all returning to the city once again this year. They are events that are enjoyed by thousands and thousands of people, they are free to watch and I know officers work tirelessly to put on a real spectacle for our residents to enjoy," said the Lord Mayor.

 

He added: "It is vital that we continue to work with partners to ensure professional sporting events like this come to our city so we can reap the economic, social, health and environmental benefits. The Tour is an inspiration to all."

 

Amateur cyclists will once again have the opportunity to take on the challenge of the Stoke-on-Trent stage of The Tour of Britain and raise money for The Prostate Cancer Charity a week after The Tour comes to town.

 

Taking place on Sunday 25th September, The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Ride Stoke-on-Trent will bring cyclists from all around the UK to the city to take on the challenge of riding a stage from The Tour of Britain and compare themselves against the professionals.

 

“We are delighted to once again be working closely with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to bring The Tour of Britain and The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Ride to Stoke-on-Trent,” said Tour of Britain Race Director Mick Bennett.

 

“Over the past four years we have enjoyed great support from the city and surrounding areas, a brilliant and enthusiastic turn out from spectators and some excellent racing, so I am sure we can look forward to more of this in 2011.

 

“The fact that we are time and time again choosing to return to Stoke-on-Trent shows that the city is an excellent host for a world-class sporting event, and a city which is also committed to cycling.”

 

The Tour of Britain was revived by SweetSpot Group in 2004 after a five year absence from the calendar, with Stoke-on-Trent first hosting the race in 2008.  The city has since hosted The Tour of Britain on three previous occasions, including in 2010 when the race helped celebrate the centenary of Stoke-on-Trent.

 

SweetSpot Group unveiled the full route for The Tour of Britain, which will begin in Scotland on Sunday 11th September and culminate in central London on Sunday 18th September, at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden.

 

In addition to the Stoke-on-Trent stage, riders from some of the world’s top cycling teams will also face stages in the North West, Wales, Devon, Somerset and Suffolk and Norfolk before a split-stage in central London featuring n individual time trial in London ahead of the final circuit race, which will see the race’s final Golden Jersey crowned.

 

Tour organisers also unveiled the new IG Markets Golden Jersey that will be born worn by the race leader and the new Yodel Sprints Jersey at The Tour of Britain’s National Launch in London.

 

The Tour of Britain is proud to be partnered with The Prostate Cancer Charity.  Don’t forget this summer your chance to follow in the wheel tracks of the professionals and ride stages from The Tour of Britain.  Go to www.tourride.co.uk to find out more.

 

Gemma Whalley
Events Officer - City of Stoke-on-Trent
T: 01782 232399

E: Gemma_nermal@hotmail.com