Thurlby Tigers form a partnership with Bourne Westfield Primary Academy

Young footballers at Thurlby Tigers will train at Bourne Westfield Primary Academy until August following a new pitch rental agreement.

Tigers’ Under 8 teams will utilise Westfield’s five-a-side pitch and its Under 9 teams will access the seven-a-side pitch, on Monday and Tuesday evenings.

The grass playing field facilities will also be used for occasional games on Saturday mornings until the end of summer.

The first training session was held late last month and included a visit from popular Peterborough United mascot Peter Burrow, who posed for photos with players, coaches and club committee members, as well as Bourne Westfield’s headteacher Kate Atkinson.

As part of the agreement, Tigers have purchased new mobile goals which will be used by Westfield children in their PE lessons and football clubs.

Access to toilets and a water station will be available in Westfield's Little Westys nursery block and on-site car parking provided.

Since forming in 2006, Thurlby Tigers has grown to more than 400 playing members. It has an Academy for children aged Under 5 and Under 6 alongside squads representing every age group competitively from Under 7 to Under 18.

While the majority of teams will continue to train and play at Lawrence Park during this period, the club needed additional playing facilities.

Chris Seggie, Thurlby Tigers’ chairman, said: "We are the fastest growing football club in the area and this is a fantastic partnership.

"A huge number of proud Tigers go to Bourne Westfield and we hope that younger children at the school will become aware of our club through this collaboration.

"Football provision in the school will also benefit. We have seen many successful club/school relationships developing in the local area and further enhancing the connection between Thurlby and Bourne is a natural progression."

Football development officer Chris Binns added: "As the club has grown, with multiple teams in many age groups, we have outgrown the amazing space afforded to us at Lawrence Park.

"Practically, this agreement with Bourne Westfield means that more boys and girls can train and play games locally throughout this period, and enables our club to offer affordable playing space for families and their children.

"It sends out a very strong message about our ethos as an inclusive, community-led, football club."

Steve Coleby, Under 9 Whites coach and club welfare Lead, commented: "From a football perspective, this is a fantastic facility which the children will thoroughly enjoy playing in.

"From a club perspective, the fees we are paying to Bourne Westfield for such hire are put back into the heart of the community where it is needed most. It is a win-win for everyone."

Headteacher Kate Atkinson concluded: "We are delighted to welcome Thurlby Tigers to Bourne Westfield.

"It supports our school tremendously and for our children it is wonderful for them to have access to new goals which improve their own playing experience.

"With Thurlby Community Primary Academy and Bourne Westfield both being part of the Keystone Academy Trust we hope this can be the start of an even closer partnership.

"We also lease our playing facilities for netball training and are open to discussing with other interested sports clubs and community groups how we might be able to work with them on a similar basis."