England star coaches youngsters

Karen Carney, a striker who plays for England and Birmingham City in the Women’s Super League worked with youngsters at Robert Bloomfield Academy in Shefford.

The former Arsenal LFC player offered tips to budding footballers to celebrate the 100,000th participant taking part in the FA Tesco Skills Programme.

Robert Bloomfield is one of hundreds of FA Tesco Skills Centres which operate around the country.

Run by the FA and funded by Tesco and Sport England, the FA Tesco Skills Programme provides free coaching for five to 11 year-olds.

Young players are taught new skills at lower schools, after-school Skills Centres and at grassroots FA Charter Standard clubs across Bedfordshire.

Steve Maker, team leader of The FA Tesco skills team in Bedfordshire said: “We are all pleased to have reached a significant milestone and it was especially great to have Karen Carney joining in our celebrations.

“The children were all very excited and it was a great day. We look forward to reaching our next milestone and continue helping each child achieve and develop as much as they can.”

To date, The FA Tesco Skills Programme has provided more than three million places on football skills courses, of which one million places have been filled by girls across England.

The programme aims to provide 4.7 million places by 2014.

For more information about The FA Tesco Skills Programme in Bedfordshire contact Steve Maker by emailing [email protected]