Canterbury Junior Football Club are the first recipients of the new Superstar Sports grassroots football cash grants, to be launched on Friday (March 5) at Dolcissimo Restaurant in the Sydney suburb of Haberfield.
The grants are valued at $300 and will be awarded to a grassroots club every three months by a former player who made it to elite levels including NSL, A-League, W-League, Socceroos and Matildas.
Canterbury Junior’s President James Hondros will accept the first grant at the quarterly “Football Fraternity Lunch” held at Dolcissimo Restaurant on March 5. Hondros will be presented with a cheque by former club junior and Socceroo Peter Katholos.
The grants are part of the widely acclaimed Grassroots Football Project, in conjunction with sponsors Superstar Sports and Zenith Football Pathways.
“Our club is honoured to be the first recipients of these generous grants,” Hondros said.
“To have our cheque presented by Peter Katholos makes it more special. He is one of three Socceroos we are very proud of, the other two being Ernie Campbell and Dennis Yaeger – thanks to all concerned.”
Canterbury Junior Soccer Football Club was formed in 1923 due to an initiative by Andy Burton who met with a group of enthusiasts and sat on a rock pile situated on a vacant block where Canterbury Hotel now stands. Jack Daley was elected President, Andy Burton Secretary and Tom English Treasurer.
Later in the year, Hurlstone Park was created and was followed up by the formation of the Canterbury and District Soccer Football Association (CDSFA). The now Canterbury Juniors were regarded as Canterbury Park with a playing strip of blue and gold vertical stripes and the namesake for the home ground.
Local district competitions were commenced as All Age and U/16 years which saw Canterbury Park win both these competitions run by the CDSFA.
“What a great way to start this scheme – Canterbury are a club rich with history, also having produced three Socceroos,” Grassroots Football Project creator Greg Werner said.
“I’d like to thank our sponsors for their support, and we look forward to our second award announcement in June.”
The awards will begin in Sydney with plans to nationally roll-out in the coming months.
“We are proud to be behind these grants. Superstar Sports was established to help cut costs of equipment for my club APIA Leichhardt, but the enquiries from other clubs have been a welcome surprise,” Superstar Sports’ Tony Raciti said.
“It’s time for some serious players in the sportswear market who are focused on helping junior sport, and not milking it. Congratulations Canterbury.”
The post Canterbury Junior Football Club the first recipients of grassroots grants appeared first on Soccerscene.
