We were delighted this year to continue our connection with FC Halifax Town Foundation and work on a range of projects across the season.
The partnership perfectly fits both organisations’ goals (pun intended) of serving and supporting the local communities.
Throughout the season, we’ve been sponsoring the following events:
Grand Central-supported community days
We’ve sponsored four fixtures across the season as community games with the intention of engaging the wider community and harder to reach groups. Aiming to help encourage underrepresented communities into the game and introduce some to their very first live football event.
Grand Central Schools Half Time competition
This was a tournament for Calderdale school children to get the opportunity to play at Shay Stadium as well as provide half-time entertainment to the fans.
One of the schools wrote in to say ''I just wanted to say thank you for our match day experience yesterday. Our children (some of whom had never been to a football match before) loved every moment, despite losing! Their half time match was a real nail biter of a match and although penalties is a cruel way to go out they took it in their stride and I'm proud that they only missed out by a kick against last years champions! We would love to participate next year!''
Grand Central Ball Boys/Girls
Local junior teams were invited to attend each home fixture across the season. The players then form a Guard of Honour as teams enter the pitch followed by ball boy/girl duties during the game.
“The Foundation is becoming an exciting arm of the Football Club,” says FC Halifax Town’s Foundation, Steve Nichol, “Our aim is to combine the local passion for FC Halifax Town and the vehicle of football to make a positive difference to the community.” He adds, “We anticipate the Grand Central initiatives will engage more than 1,000 people across the 2023/24 season. And for many this will be their first experience of a live football fixture or attending a FC Halifax Town game.”
Halifax is a major station on the Grand Central London to Bradford route and this partnership gives a great opportunity to get more involved in the local community, in particular the younger members.
Grand Central's Community Engagement Manager, Hannah Bromage said ''We're delighted to be apart of these events giving young people in our local communities the opportunity to take part, I look forward to working with the foundation and seeing this partnership grow.''
