Kinja FC – New Year Update

As we move from a difficult and turbulent year of 2021 for everyone across the country, and look ahead to 2022, we at Kinja FC would just like to take a moment to reflect on some of the many positives that arose from 2021, and the exciting opportunities we look forward to as we move into 2022, and the second half of the 2021/22 season. Reflection of 2021 Move To Preston Manor – In July, we were delighted to announce that we would be moving our home ground from The Hive Football Ground, to Preston Manor School, in a move that allows for the long-term growth of the club, but also sets roots for a place that we can look to officially call home, with a longer term view to move training across to Preston Manor when possible. Creation of New Teams & Football Programmes – At the start of the 2021/22 season, Kinja FC grew by two new teams, the U13 Boys and the U9 Girls, who currently compete in the Harrow Youth League, and the Capital Girls League respectively. This was in addition to the fantastic teams we already had within the club from last season, who all continued after a Summer of wonderful growth in applicants within the club. Selection For Women’s EURO 2021 Legacy Programme – As the largest football provider in the Borough of Brent, we were selected in October to be part of the National FA Women’s EURO 2021 Legacy Programme, which is an national initiative to use the upcoming Women’s European Championships, where the final will be played here in Wembley, as a platform to really boost the growth of the female game, and use the funding and exposure of the competition in order to encourage more women and girls to get involved and participate in football. Women’s FA Cup Final #1 – For the past five years, we have had the pleasure of making it a tradition as a club to make a group booking for the Women’s FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, and this year was no different, despite it taking place on a cold December Sunday afternoon, instead of a warm Summer evening in May. The cold didn’t dampen any spirits though, with over 230 players, coaches, friends and family of Kinja attending the fantastic game between Chelsea and Arsenal, which saw Chelsea win the trophy after a 2-1 victory. Sponsorship of Charterhouse Accountants – In the 2020/21 season, we were delighted to welcome Charterhouse Accountants as sponsors of our U9 and U16 Girls teams, with sponsored kits provided for both teams, and jackets provided for our U16 Girls players as well. Despite a season that was heavily impacted by the triple lockdowns, with all campaigns eventually cut short, we were delighted that Charterhouse Accountants agreed to extend the sponsorship with us, and even increase their sponsorship of the club to become kit sponsors for all of our girls teams, which was a wonderful gesture and a really welcome alignment of values between Charterhouse & Kinja FC to help grow female participation in football, which is something we have always been extremely passionate about as a club, and something that Charterhouse were very open about wanting to be involved in. We of course would love to take a moment to thank Charterhouse for their continued support over the past couple of seasons, and their assistance in helping us grow our girls programme. Looking Ahead To 2022

Kinja

Development Opportunities With Preston Manor – As our relationship with Preston Manor School continues, we are looking forward to the opportunities this brings to grow the club, and be able to provide more opportunities for children and adults in the local area to get involved within football. As part of this – We are actively working with Brent Council, the Football Foundation and Middlesex FA in order to obtain granting and planning permission to re-lay the current astro-turf at Preston Manor into a state-of-the-art 4G surface, which we will be able to then use exclusively for all of our teams and football activities to take place on, and expand the fantastic offerings we have as a club. Women’s FA Cup Final #2 – After a wonderful day out at Wembley Stadium on December 2021, we will be treated to a second Women’s FA Cup Final in less than 6 months, when the 2021/22 competition reaches its conclusion with the final taking place in May 2022. The finalists are yet to be determined, with the Quarter Finals taking place towards the end of January. We’re looking forward to making another group booking, and hopefully beating our current record of attendees, when the ticket bookings open up later in the year. Improved Coach Development – As a result from our positive relationship with Middlesex FA we have recently been awarded three bursaries for three of our U18 Girls to take on the FA Level 1 Coaching Course, which they will begin later this year. In addition to this, we have had a number of coaches take on and complete the Playmaker course, and we hope to help a number of other potential coaches make their first steps into coaching, and continue to develop them to provide the fantastic coaching we’re so proud to have within the club. Last but not least, we want to just say a huge thank you to all of you for your continued support and efforts to help create such a wonderful environment for all of our players to learn and develop in, and we wish you all the very best for this upcoming year. Many thanks, All Of The Kinja FC Team Kinja Football Club www.kinjafc.co.uk Facebook Twitter Instagram