Local football club not hampered by Covid-19 and lockdowns

Having been around for six decades and counting, the Highlands Park Football Club in Linksfield is still considered the best developer of young players.

This is backed up by the 450 members currently in the club, which might be more because some are yet to register, according to Debbie Ilouze who runs the junior team.

Ilouze said the club, founded in 1959, trains the junior team of U6 to U19 of children from all walks of life, both boys and girls.

“We have some really brilliant teams that did well last season, in 2021 after Covid-19. Before that, we didn’t train for a year but we managed to get it together for 2021 and we had a good season. They train three times a week and we play matches on a weekend.”

Describing sports, Ilouze said, “It is a language, a passion, a love. If there is anything that brings people together, it’s a sport. Football is about action and interaction because it enables children to develop social skills and learn to meet various people. I do this for the love and development of junior football so that if they want to continue as they get older, they can.”

She added that the whole team including the children, coaches, groundsmen and parents all work together as one family. With a diverse combination of individuals, the club has children who come from disadvantaged backgrounds whom they transport to matches and look after as best as possible.

Ilouze thanked Hatfield Motors who have been their sponsors all the way. She also acknowledged their head of coaching, Mike Pavkowitch, who oversees all coaching with a vast knowledge of football and has done numerous international coaching courses. She added that the club was currently not taking in new members but nonetheless hoped to perform in competitive leagues as well as they did in previous years.

Coach Dean Workman, who has been with the club for the past six years, commended the team for coming out even stronger despite lockdowns and Covid-19 as evidenced by the ‘flocks of kids that keep coming down to Gemmel Street ( where the club is located)’.

Patrick Baptista, who has been coaching children’s football since 2001, said, “These children have brought so much joy to themselves, each other and their families; that is a direct result of the facilities at Highlands Park, the management and the coaches. The coaches are always being upskilled and guided, and that in turn provides us with better tools to educate and coach our community.”

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Sign up for next year’s football season at Highlands Park FC

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