New Directions Support Largest Ever Stockport County Community Cup

Local training and recruitment company, New Directions Education joined forces with County’s Community Foundation to help sponsor the Stockport County Community Foundation Schools Cup competition again this year.

The competition, established four years ago by the Community Foundation is set to become the largest ever with increasing numbers of schools applying to take part. Primary schools will battle it out to become the Champions of the only Cup which is open to all Junior Schools in the Stockport and Tameside area. This competition encourages pupils to test their skills against each other in a structured and fun environment giving them the opportunity to play the finals on the hallowed turf at Edgeley Park Stadium, home to Stockport County football club.

Last year Banks Lane Junior School in Offerton celebrated winning the 2015 Stockport Cup after a close fought final with Moorfield Primary of Hazel Grove, and Stalyhill Junior School were jubilant victors of the Tameside Cup.

Cassandra Summerton who leads the New Directions Manchester team and Sam Pilling who runs the Wirral operation recently joined the Foundation team to watch Stockport County continue their unbeaten run since former player and County hero Jim Gannon took over the reins as Manager of County at the Gainsborough match.

Cassandra said “The ethos and values of the Community Foundation mirror those of the New Directions’ team. This donation is to support the work of the Foundation in the local community and reinforces our commitment to making sporting activities available for all.”

Delighted with County’s 2-0 win over rivals Gainsborough the Community Foundation’s Assistant Manager Matthew Bailey added, “This is the fourth year New Directions Education have sponsored our Schools’ Cup Competition. This funding will help assist the Charity, which is self-financing, to fund the costs of this exciting Tournament and therefore allow more children the opportunity to take part in the challenging competition.”

The Community Foundation, acknowledged by the Football Conference League Trust as the leading non-league organisation of its kind, works with over 20,000 children and young people each year and has rebuilt the organisation since losing its funding when the football club was relegated from the football league.

Chairman Ian Lees, emphasised the importance of the Schools’ Cup to County’s future fan base. “Although our team work hard week in week out both in primary schools and with older children and young people (not to mention the over 50’s this season! ), the evidence shows
that encouraging more and more youngsters of this primary age group to come to Stockport County and play in this Cup each year is a great boost to increasing numbers of County fans for the future whilst supporting the children to gain in confidence and join in competitive sport and even inspire players of the future.”

This year more schools than ever before have entered the Stockport County Community Foundation Cup with the finals at Edgeley park expected to be one of the annual highlights of the schools’ sporting calendar.

For more information about the activities Stockport Community Foundation can offer you. Please contact the Community Foundation office on 0161 286 8888 ext 262.