ENGLAND may be out of the Euro’s but one football devoted employee at a Nottingham appliance care firm is helping to train the next generation of Wayne Rooney’s and Jamie Vardy’s.
Gavin Robinson, who works at Nottingham based Domestic & General, set up a soccer club when his son showed an interest in playing football. He felt the facilities in his area could not accommodate for flourishing footballers.
In the past year, the club at Pelican Colts Soccer School has gone from three players to nearly 50 – and it is on track to double by next year. But to ensure its future, Gavin is part organising an annual fundraiser to buy much needed equipment and renovate the clubs existing toilets.
Gavin, from Bulwell, said: “The soccer school is as much educational as it is recreational. When my son expressed an interest in playing football and our local club wasn’t up to scratch, I looked for other options. Last summer, I set up a soccer club at Pelican Colts Soccer School in Nottingham that would include children under the age of seven.
“Over the course of the last year, the club has expanded rapidly and we’re on the right track to double the amount of players by next year.”
As well as dedicating his time to coaching the soccer club as a qualified Level 1 FA coach and working towards his Level 2, Gavin is a contact centre agent at Talbot ST based Domestic & General. He has worked at the firm for six years in the Registrations Department.
He added: “I like to challenge myself and exceed my own targets, which is why I’ve been a top seller for so long. I’ve got some great colleagues and a strong team. It’s a really rewarding company to be a part of, as your hard work is always acknowledged, not to mention the fact that we’re given some great benefits, including wellbeing initiatives.
“I enjoy having quality time with my family, and through the soccer school I’m able to spend more time with my children and give them opportunities I never had when I was younger. I think it’s really important to encourage the children to adopt great sportsmanship, and welcome players of all levels – teaching them how to work as a team, and how to enjoy the wins as well as the losses is all part of learning how to play.”
On Sunday 10 July, Gavin is part organising a fundraising fair in conjunction with Lily & Co to raise £3,500 to keep the club running throughout 2016. Already the club has raised £1,200 of this total.
The money will be used to provide equipment including balls, cones, poles, bibs and new goals, for over 200 children throughout the next year.
The annual fundraising day will have bouncy castles, an English and Caribbean BBQ, face painting, henna, cake stalls, a soak the coach and much more. There is also the chance to win a signed Leicester City F.C. T-shirt by Wes Morgan among other raffle prizes.
Gavin said: “I’m so passionate about volunteering to train the kids from the local community. We attract children aged nine and under from a variety of different backgrounds, which I think makes the soccer school educational as well as recreational. We teach the children about positive behaviour and educate them about diet, nutrition, fitness and exercise so that they’re all encouraged to be active from a young age.”
The Pelican Colts Soccer Club has five teams this year who play in a league and rely on sponsorship from local businesses and individuals.
Craig White, UK customer service director at Domestic & General, said: “It is great that Gavin is doing this for his local community in his spare time. As one of the city’s largest employers we are keen to shout about the work our employees do in their community.
“We have a talented and diverse workforce so it is great to hear about how Gavin is contributing to providing young people with a worthwhile hobby and hopefully some of England’s future football stars.”
The open day will take place between 12pm and 4pm at the Dave Eastwood Football Ground in Lenton Lane, Nottingham. Entry is free with free parking.
Domestic & General provides appliance care services for UK and International clients and comprehensive product protection for more than 12 million customers. Its Nottingham office is currently recruiting for 70 roles. It has three further UK offices, in Brighton and Nottingham with its headquarters in Wimbledon.
For more information about Domestic & General visit www.domesticandgeneral.com
