Latest / The PCR Sports Show / The PCR Sports Show - Friday 27th March 2026 - with Gareth Booth from the Peterborough United Foundation

Transcript

The PCR Sports Show - Friday 27th March 2026 - with Gareth Booth from the Peterborough United Foundation · The PCR Sports Show

0:16
Welcome. To PCR Sports.
0:18
Well good evening everyone, it's Friday once again.
0:21
That means it's time for the PCR Sports Show and we've got a
0:24
great show lined up for you this week.
0:26
We're going to be talking to Gareth Booth who is
0:29
participation manager at the at the Posh Foundation.
0:34
So you're going to be talking all about what's going on at
0:37
Posh and how Posh integrate into the community and this great
0:41
sporting community of ours in Peterborough.
0:44
But as usual, we've got some headlines for you first.
0:47
So over to Dipam this week. Thank you Nigel and here are
0:51
your local sporting headlines this evening on PCR Sports,
0:54
starting with football. Peter United picked up a solid
0:57
point on the road with A11 draw at AFC Wimbledon.
1:00
The host took the lead in the first half but Jimmy J Morgan
1:03
struck second midway through the second-half to bring Posh level.
1:07
Posh now their turn now turn their attention to next Friday
1:10
when they travelled to face Luton Town.
1:12
Peter United Women have taken a major step towards promotion to
1:15
the National League with a thrilling 32V away at Boldmere
1:19
St. Michael's goals from Neve
1:21
Reynolds, Jess Russo set the platform before Tara Kirk struck
1:25
A dramatic 88th minute winner to seal all three points.
1:28
The result opens up a 5 point lead at the top of the table for
1:30
Posh with a game in hand. They are back in action this
1:33
Sunday at home to Barnsley Women at 2:00 PM Kick off at Pyms
1:37
Park. If Peter of Sports FC have
1:40
slipped to a narrow one nil home defeat against Darlington at
1:43
Pimms Park on Saturday, However, attention quickly turns to a
1:46
crucial fixture with Sports travelling to face bottom of the
1:49
table Leamington tomorrow. With several teams around them
1:52
struggling for form, a win could provide a timely boost in the
1:55
fight to climb away from the lower end of the table.
1:58
In ice hockey, Peterborough Phantoms endured a tough weekend
2:01
on the ice, suffering back-to-back defeats.
2:03
They were edged out four, three at home by Hull Seahawks on
2:06
Saturday before falling to A5 one loss away at Leeds Knights
2:10
on Sunday. Attention now turns to the
2:12
playoffs where The Phantoms face Sheffield Steel Dogs tonight and
2:16
again on Sunday as they begin their push for place at the 20th
2:19
Anniversary Final Four in Coventry next month.
2:23
In hockey, here's the City of Peterborough hockey club roundup
2:25
from Dave Simpson. City Hockey Club rounded off
2:29
their E League season with a solid return of seven wins, 2
2:32
draws and four defeats. The men's first team were
2:34
narrowly beaten 21 away at Bedford.
2:36
Barford Tigers captain Matt Porter gave City the lead from a
2:40
penalty corner, but two late goals from the host turned the
2:42
game around. City remained 5th with one match
2:45
left and also handed a debut to 16 year old Harry Raybould.
2:50
The women's first team, already confirmed as champions, reged
2:53
out one nil by nearest rivals Norwich Dragons.
2:56
Despite the defeat, City finished top of the table and
2:58
secure promotion back to the East Premier Division.
3:02
Elsewhere, there was title success for the men's 6th to
3:04
finish top of their league, while wins also came for the
3:08
men's thirds, fourths and sevenths.
3:09
Along with the women's seconds, fourths and fifths, there are
3:12
also draws for the men's seconds and fifths.
3:15
While the under 16 boys and girls both impressed by
3:18
finishing runners up at their respective finals days.
3:21
The club now awaits confirmation of league restructuring to
3:23
determine any further promotional relegation outcomes.
3:28
In cricket, A big weekend lies ahead for the local cricket for
3:31
local cricket as AK11 prepared to make history at the ECB
3:35
National Indoor Finals Day. The Huntingdonshire side will
3:38
complete compete at the Home of Cricket Lords Cricket Round this
3:42
Sunday, marking the only second time in the team, marking only
3:46
the second time A-Team from the county has reached the national
3:49
finals. The only previous side to
3:50
achieve his feat was God Manchester Town Cricket Club,
3:53
who went on to win the title back in 2010.
3:56
AK face Waterloo from Hampshire in the first semi final at 11:00
4:00
AM, with the winners progressing to the final later in the
4:03
afternoon. Entry is free for spectators
4:05
with organisers encouraging supporters to end and be part of
4:09
a potentially historic day for local cricket hunts.
4:13
Youth Indoor Cricket League season has come to a close with
4:15
an exciting finish in the Under 15 Girls competition.
4:19
Peterborough Town Girls and Ketton Sports shared the honours
4:22
on finals day with both sides recording a winner piece,
4:25
Peterborough taking the first match by 40 runs before Ketton
4:28
responded with an 8 run victory. The result meant the final
4:32
team's finished level on points, but Ketton Sports claimed the
4:35
title after taking more opposition wickets across the
4:38
competition, with Peterborough and Girls finishing runners up
4:41
in the season's role of honour God.
4:43
Manchester Town completed a dominant campaign by winning
4:46
both the Under 13 League and cup with the Ramsey's runners.
4:49
With Ramsey's Ramsey has run us up in both competitions.
4:53
Organisers have confirmed the indoor league will return next
4:56
winter with plans to expand the programme to include additional
4:59
age groups in Speedway. Peterborough Panthers are set to
5:03
return to competitive action next month.
5:06
The City side will take part in a Spring Triangle event at
5:09
Mildenhall Fenn Tigers on Saturday the April Saturday
5:12
April 25th, with Rye House Rockets also competing.
5:16
The Panthers have been without a home without a home since
5:19
leaving the East of England Showground in October 2023 due
5:22
to redevelopment plans. Despite that, the club continues
5:25
to push forward and have previously raced at Mildenhall
5:28
in October, narrowly beating the hosts 4644 to win the Simon
5:32
Barton Memorial Trophy. Organisers are hoping that for a
5:36
strong turnout from supporters next month to demonstrate there
5:38
is still demand for Speedway in Peterborough onto cycling there.
5:44
There was success for Peterborough City Cycling Club
5:46
at the Northampton and District Cycling Association time trial
5:49
event. Paul Pardo produced an
5:51
outstanding ride to take the individual win at Brogborough,
5:54
clocking 19 minutes and 36 seconds over the F15 Stroke 10
5:59
course. It marked an impressive return
6:01
to racing for Pardo after illness, exceeding expectations
6:04
to secure top spot. His performance also helped
6:06
Peterborough City's Like Peterborough Cycling Club to a
6:09
strong second place finish overall.
6:12
In athletics, home favorite Alex Gibb produced a dominant display
6:15
to win the Keith Hall in Memorial 10K at Thorny.
6:19
The Peterborough Neen Valley runner up stayed runner stayed
6:22
with the league group early on before breaking clear halfway
6:24
through the race, eventually winning by 28 seconds in a time
6:28
of 30 minutes and 58 seconds. The popular local athlete was
6:31
cheered on by a large crowd with the event attracting runners
6:34
from across the count country after selling out within days.
6:39
The race also served as a qualifier for the England
6:41
Masters team with several local runners securing selection for
6:45
the BD 3rd 10K in May by finishing in the top three of
6:48
their age groups and meeting the qualifying round standards in
6:52
boxing. 2 teenage boxers from Peterborough Police Amateur
6:55
Boxing Club impressed with victories on the road over the
6:58
weekend. The 16 year old Stefan Miku
7:01
stepped up in the 72 kilogram division in Debenhams.
7:04
Debenhams in Tagenham, Australia or Debenhams I think delivering
7:08
a compound and dominant performance against a skilled
7:11
opponent from Brentwood Central. Despite the test meet, you
7:14
controlled the contest throughout, landing the cleaner
7:18
and more effective punches to secure a convincing points
7:21
victory. A mature display from the young
7:22
boxer showcasing both power and composure in high quality
7:26
bounce. And then 10 year old James Smith
7:29
of Top Yard Boxing Club made excellent competitive debut in
7:32
the New York on Trent, producing A composed performance against
7:36
home fighter Blake Brumpton in both boxers first scoring bout.
7:40
Meanwhile, Jacob Hussein narrowly missed out on the
7:42
national honours in his bid to become an English junior
7:45
champion. The Jack and student, who boxes
7:48
out of the Pound for Pound Boxing Club, reached the finals
7:50
weekend in Kettering after impressive impressively winning
7:53
his regional title and quarterfinal, but was beaten in
7:56
the final hurdle. Unfortunately.
7:59
And those are your headlines. Back to Nigel.
8:02
Fantastic. Thank you very much Dip, I'm
8:03
great to great to hear. Love all the stuff going on and
8:07
good luck to AK11 at Lords this week.
8:09
Great to have a local club playing at the home of cricket
8:11
actually. Amazing.
8:12
Yeah, only the second time, as I say, in history.
8:14
And yeah, absolutely, all the best to them and hope they bring
8:17
back the trophy. What a what a place to play
8:18
cricket. Indeed, and I do know some fans
8:21
who are going to watch, so they'll be supported as well.
8:24
And great to hear about Panthers coming back as well.
8:26
Yeah, it's been obviously a sad story for for Peterborough
8:29
Panthers over the last few years, having lost their sort of
8:31
spiritual home in the city and having to, you know, take part
8:35
in sporting in a bit part sort of way.
8:37
And, you know, still kind of the hope is still there that Speedo
8:40
will return to the city in a consistent manner one day.
8:44
And, you know, events like this hopefully prove that there is
8:46
still support there and we can get that back one day.
8:49
And even more sub. There's still no development
8:52
going on at the showground, so even more suddenly that there
8:54
could have been Speedway for another few years at least.
8:56
Exactly because their track has obviously been dismantled and
8:59
there's the actual venue's not fit for the to host it anymore.
9:02
And like you say, yeah, we could have had on the two or three
9:04
seasons of it easily. Absolutely.
9:06
Well, thank you very much Dip. I'm no worries.
9:08
There were headlines for this week.
9:10
We're going to have a little break and then we'll be back
9:12
with Gareth Food from the Posh Foundation.
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Rivergate Arcade. You're listening to PCR sports.
11:07
OK, welcome back to PCR Sports Show.
11:10
Really, really pleased to introduce an old mate tonight is
11:15
Gareth Booth. People will know him around the
11:18
local football scene and he's here to talk to us tonight about
11:23
the Posh Foundation. So good evening Gareth.
11:26
Welcome. Good evening.
11:27
Thank you very much. Good to see you mate.
11:30
So posh foundation then founded way back now it sounds 2009
11:35
seems like so like yesterday to me.
11:37
But that's that's quite a few years ago now.
11:40
For those people who don't know, just just give us an overview
11:43
really of what the what the foundation does.
11:45
Yeah, basically the Peter United Foundation, as you say, was
11:48
formed in 2009. We are the charity arm of
11:53
Peterborough United Football Club and really there's four key
11:58
themes that of of programmes that we deliver.
12:03
Basically they're sports participation, social inclusion,
12:07
community cohesion, health and well-being and education.
12:12
So and that's that's basically the foundation in a nutshell.
12:15
Fantastic and lots of synergy with this show because we're all
12:18
about participation, we're all about that inclusion.
12:22
So this is this is really an important group or important
12:27
organization for Peterborough United, isn't it?
12:30
To get them out into the community.
12:32
So they seem to be doing good in the community that they that
12:36
they're in that and they live and work in.
12:38
So that's exactly it. We'll pick, we'll pick up some
12:40
of those themes then and just looking around your website and
12:45
I guess you're going to be busy on, but let's talk about what
12:48
you are responsible for 1st. And I've seen you being very
12:52
busy in school holidays and holiday clubs that you organize.
12:55
I imagine that's just about to go bonkers again, isn't it?
12:59
It is. It's starting to get one of our
13:01
busy periods, certainly for myself because as you say, we've
13:05
got the holiday camps coming up sort of slightly changed than
13:08
this Easter football base. So yeah, we've got the football
13:12
camps coming up also over the Easter holidays.
13:16
Then we've got the football camp in May and then we've got the
13:19
big six week holiday. So it's never ending holiday
13:23
camps and football camps at the moment.
13:26
But yeah, I mean sort of sort of just going back to sort of your
13:29
question about sort of the projects that I run is a big one
13:33
for me is the Premier League kicks project that we do.
13:38
I lead on our walking football that we have on a Monday
13:41
evening. I currently work with
13:47
Peterborough Prison and HMP Wayland where I deliver the
13:51
Twinning Project, which is delivering the Level 1 football
13:55
coaching qualification to prisoners who have 18 months to
13:58
two years left on their sentence.
14:01
So that when they walk out of prison they've actually got a
14:03
qualification ready made should they want to use that.
14:08
And alongside that I do go into the prison, Peterborough Prison,
14:11
on a monthly basis again to deliver football coaching
14:14
sessions. But that's in partnership with
14:17
the prison to sort of help the behaviour of the prison
14:21
prisoners in the prison, which is is working because we're only
14:26
having the 14 best behaved prisoners for that month playing
14:30
football and the prison have said they have seen positive
14:32
results from that. Fantastic.
14:34
So get get involved with the whole spectrum then from kids
14:37
all the way through to to adults.
14:38
Absolutely, that's fantastic. And Premier League kicks.
14:41
Tell me a little bit more about that.
14:42
The fact that it's got Premier League in the title, that
14:44
immediately draws it. Does it does That's sort of the
14:49
what reaches everybody really briefly.
14:53
Premier League kick started about 20 years ago.
14:55
It's the 20th anniversary this year.
14:57
It all started down in London, one of the boroughs in the Met
15:01
was struggling with crime. They contacted the Premier
15:05
League and they said is there anything you can do to help us?
15:08
Premier League decided we'll try a football coaching session,
15:11
we'll put a football session on and that worked.
15:14
Cut a Long story short, Premier League Kicks was born.
15:17
It's now with every all 92 Football League clubs.
15:22
We all run it and it was initially for children between 8
15:25
to 18 years old who were on borderline criminals or getting
15:30
into criminality or victims of crime.
15:33
For families who haven't got a lot of money, they can't
15:36
necessarily afford the football coaching.
15:40
So it's been expanded since since then to basically
15:44
everybody. But the core principles are
15:46
still there. And it's just, it's, it's a
15:49
phenomenal project. We have regular fixtures for the
15:53
participants. We have educational workshops.
15:56
So knife crime, domestic abuse, CV writing, anything that's
16:01
useful in life. They're the workshops we're
16:03
trying to get. And it's to develop the
16:05
independence of the children, their confidence, their teamwork
16:09
in problem solving skills. So yes, it's football based, but
16:14
there's a lot, lot more to it. It's just trying to make a good
16:18
human being and turn turn lives around.
16:20
And that's that's just an example of how powerful football
16:23
is, isn't it? Because it can turn lives around
16:25
and and just getting people to participate in in I say
16:30
football, football, it leads the way I think.
16:32
But it's it's any sport, isn't it sport so powerful.
16:35
It is massively, I mean a a famous name everybody will know
16:40
involved in football, but they won't necessarily know where he
16:42
came from. Marcus Rashford actually started
16:45
with the Premier League kicks. Well, not many people know that
16:48
one, but it just because you're at kicks doesn't mean you can't
16:51
make it to be a pro footballer. So they're still still avenues.
16:55
Well, he campaigned, didn't he, a few years ago about feeding
16:57
kids at schools and that because I think he recognizes where his
17:01
roots are from, doesn't he? And it matches what you've just
17:03
said about him coming through the kicks, kicks process.
17:06
Yeah, 100% and I think it's really important that the the
17:09
footballers out there are supportive of it and we're very
17:13
fortunate. Peterborough United, our players
17:15
are fantastic with it. They support it.
17:16
They come down, they meet the kids, autograph sessions, Q&A
17:21
sessions, sometimes they'll play depending on their situation.
17:27
Obviously that's down to down to Luke Williams and stuff like
17:31
that, but we have to be careful with them playing.
17:33
But certainly they are, they do come down, get involved and sort
17:36
of really contribute massively to the sessions.
17:38
Fabulous. And what about the funding then?
17:40
Just just because the Premier League started all that, if is
17:43
that all funded from the Premier League?
17:44
It is sessions are completely free football clubs pick up the
17:49
bill of higher venues. Everything it's we get funded by
17:54
the Premier League Foundation. So they fund it's different,
17:58
different funding amounts for each club.
18:01
It's but yeah, we get funded by it and that allows us to put on
18:03
free football sessions. 2nd of April, next Thursday we're
18:09
actually going to Colchester for the Premier League Kicks Cup,
18:12
which is a national tournament. If we if you win the regional
18:17
qualifier, you go to Saint George's Park.
18:20
So massive, massive incentive. Last year we actually won the
18:24
regional qualifiers. I think we scored about 30,
18:26
three goals conceded one. I think in the qualifiers, that
18:29
fantastic team. We got through to the Saint
18:32
George's Park. I think we come 22nd out of 50
18:34
odd teams but again, just to highlight, yes it's free
18:40
football but you can play a fantastic venue which not many
18:44
people get to do. And Marcus Rashford, obviously
18:47
one of the the massive names. What about locally?
18:50
Is there anybody come through that locally or?
18:52
No, unfortunately we haven't had anyone locally, but I'd never
18:56
say never. Indeed, indeed.
18:58
I guess, I guess there are more names across the across the
19:02
country And is that, is that something that clubs look at?
19:06
Do they use that as a vehicle to look for talent?
19:10
I don't think it's a recognised vehicle but certainly potential
19:14
vehicle to be used. I mean we have got some very,
19:16
very talented players. I mean, I've just come from a
19:18
session this evening at Neen Valley Community Centre.
19:21
We've got some really talented players sort of there who sort
19:26
of, I'm looking to start to push through, see if we can get them
19:29
onto our pathway and just, yeah, see what happens, see what we
19:33
can do for them. Yeah, because if you see an
19:35
outstanding talent, you know, the next Marcus Rashford, for
19:38
example, or even, you know, anyone capable of playing at the
19:40
professional level, then you're going to give coaches a no join.
19:43
You say, look Academy coaches have a look at him or her or you
19:46
know, there's, there's players there that might benefit us.
19:49
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I mean I share an office with
19:52
our development coaches, our elite centre coaches.
19:55
The Academy office is literally just at the corridor from from
19:58
where the foundation office is. So there's loads of people to
20:02
talk to who could come down, have a look at them.
20:05
We could get potentially get the lads, the girls, some trials,
20:09
see how they go. And yeah, it's.
20:11
Like I said, it's never say never to the future star coming
20:14
from from our Premier League kicks.
20:16
Amazing. And and just going on to we
20:18
started talking there about the the holiday clubs.
20:21
I've seen those first hand. My grandson comes down to
20:25
terrorize you. I know him well.
20:29
And he, it's just, you know, I can talk knowledgely,
20:34
knowledgeably about that. I can't say it, but I can talk
20:36
to that. And it's, it's just, I mean,
20:40
Charlie, he lives for football and it's a great vehicle for him
20:44
to be able to go and play. And he will go down the holidays
20:47
even if his mates can't make it from the team he plays for
20:50
because he loves it so much. And you must see, you must see
20:52
that all the time. We do and it's brilliant to see.
20:55
We've got our regulars who come it.
20:58
It's brilliant for the younger age groups.
21:01
We used to do sort of like multi sports type things like they
21:05
would do in schools for the older age groups, more football
21:08
based and sort of just push them a little bit more with their
21:11
skills. This time we're all football
21:13
based. So it's it's, it's purely what
21:15
we do in a our development centres or our elite centres.
21:19
It's that type of work that we're going to be doing.
21:21
So it's and instead of having an hour a week at the centres, this
21:26
is 6 hours a day for three days a week.
21:30
So it's, it's going to be full on.
21:31
They're still going to get obviously their breaks and stuff
21:34
like that, that they that they need.
21:36
But yeah, it's all the coaches. There are full qualified
21:39
football coaches, FAUA for qualified.
21:42
It's going to be no different really than what they get on a
21:46
on a Monday evening or a Friday evening.
21:49
It's just more of it. Sure, sure.
21:51
And like I say, looks forward to to come in and and I guess, I
21:55
guess you get some amusing things that happen in in the
21:59
holidays. Yeah, a bunch of kids playing
22:02
football and it you say it's going to be more football based,
22:05
but is is that a case? I mean, when I was involved in
22:08
kids football coach and it was like, oh, when can we have a
22:10
game? When can we have a game?
22:11
And that's all they want to do is.
22:12
Play 100% that is. That is the very, very first
22:15
question that we always get. Can we play a game?
22:19
The way it's going to be set up, that side of things is going to
22:22
be the same. There's always going to be a
22:24
game at the end of the day, after they've had their lunch,
22:27
they come back in, have a little bit of what we call sort of free
22:31
time. They just get to practice a few
22:32
bits that they want to do. Then we'll get the pictures set
22:35
up. They play a game in the
22:35
afternoon. So mornings are going to be
22:37
technical based, learn a few skills, have a little bit of a
22:41
laugh along the way. The afternoon, always finish the
22:44
day with a game, end it on a high.
22:47
They will go home happy and tired.
22:49
Some of the parents tell me they like.
22:51
Yeah, until the next day when they find all the energy again
22:54
to come back, don't they? But the government guidelines
22:57
today just been released in the news today.
23:00
They've started off by saying I think it was an hour a week for
23:03
under fives on screens. So this is a great vehicle to
23:06
help parents, isn't it? Stuff like this to to get off
23:09
those screens and and start participating in sport.
23:11
Most definitely, Most definitely.
23:15
It's I haven't seen any of the news days.
23:17
I weren't aware of that ruling. But it can only be a good thing.
23:20
It can only be a good thing. I think the more kids that can
23:23
get out to play football, any sport, it's got to be a good
23:26
thing. It's got to be a good thing.
23:28
So, yeah, sort of quite pleased to hear that.
23:31
Yeah, I think they were just guidelines and they've started
23:33
off with with under fives, which is quite scary that you've got
23:36
to you've got to talk about limiting screen time for under
23:39
fives and that young, but you know it would would you like to
23:43
see that the government expand on that and issue more
23:46
guidelines to to help parents for older kids?
23:49
Yeah, definitely. It's I think with the older kids
23:54
and it's sort of getting into a little bit deeper, but this is
23:57
where Premier League gigs come into it.
23:59
It's you can access all kinds of horrible stuff on the web and on
24:04
the mobile phones now. And yeah, I think if we can get
24:08
kids away from seeing that sort of content because it's not
24:11
necessary, and get them out onto football pitches, rugby pitches,
24:15
cricket pitches, into Premier League kicks, we can help guide
24:19
them away from that. But not only guide them away
24:21
from it, actually give them something, a purpose and just
24:24
teach them life skills and help them teach life skills.
24:28
Absolutely fascinating stuff. Well, Posh Foundation certainly
24:31
leading the way. They're locally, so we're going
24:34
to go to a quick break. We'll be back really soon with
24:36
Gareth some more on the Posh Foundation.
24:49
You're listening to PCR sports. Welcome back then we're here
24:55
with Gareth Booth, participation manager from the Posh
24:58
Foundation. You will be able to listen to
25:02
this again on a podcast. We do podcast the show.
25:05
We'll have that up and running over the weekend.
25:08
Please pop back in and and listen.
25:10
You'll find details that on all the social media, we're on all
25:13
the platforms and we're now on YouTube as well.
25:15
So please pop along to YouTube and you'll be able to see what
25:19
we all look like. OK, Gareth, so we've talked
25:24
about the kids, let's talk about some multi faith stuff that's
25:29
that's been going on through the foundation.
25:31
Read read with interest really that you made BBC News on an
25:36
event recently where there was multiple says I've read 305
25:41
hundred. So it's probably somewhere in
25:42
the middle of there isn't it people for an Iftar event?
25:45
So that that's a good example of how, again, using the football
25:49
club to get out into the community and all the different
25:52
faiths in that community. Yeah, yeah.
25:54
Tell us a little bit about that event.
25:55
Basically it was again, trying to cut a Long story short, it
26:00
was linking into Premier League kicks, sort of trying to get
26:03
into sort of the Asian community, the Muslim community
26:07
very, very underrepresented in football.
26:11
And it's a community that I think we need to, to get into,
26:15
We need, we need sort of them to feel comfortable to, to engage
26:19
in sport, engage with Peterborough United.
26:22
And during those conversations, our health and well-being
26:26
department were introduced to Khadija Mosque in Peterborough.
26:32
And during those conversations between myself, the health and
26:35
well-being department and Khadija Mosque, Iftar came up
26:39
and we decided let's hold Iftar at the stadium.
26:43
We had two weeks to plan it, so it was it was quite rushed.
26:49
Yeah, sorry. In the end, we thought, yeah,
26:52
that was all right. But at the beginning was like,
26:53
how are we going to do this? It's just so many logistical
26:56
things to deal with. But yeah, we did it.
26:59
Tickets were set up, so basically we could just keep
27:03
track of who was coming in. Sort of worked. 300 tickets were
27:08
given out. We had closer to 500 people
27:11
there, so people were just turning up.
27:13
It wasn't a problem. We could accommodate that.
27:15
And it was great to see so many people coming in.
27:19
And it was, yeah, it was just brilliant to see everyone coming
27:23
together. We had the dates, we had the
27:26
water. We shared a meal sort of at the
27:31
end of prayer once, once they'd sort of broken their fast, we
27:35
was invited to sit down with them and, and actually eat food.
27:40
And it just goes to show and I, I've said this in many meetings
27:44
with the community and I said this at the stadium sort of they
27:50
threw a little speech on me that I didn't know I was going to
27:52
have to make. But there you go.
27:53
I had to put some words together in front of 500 people just on
27:55
the spin. And I used the word perceived
28:00
barriers. And they are perceived barriers.
28:05
In reality, there is no barriers.
28:07
It's it's, it's just made-up. It's just a made-up thing.
28:12
And that event just showed that just perceived barriers.
28:14
There's we don't need to be like that.
28:16
Let's get the community in and we're looking to build on that
28:20
year on year. It's something we want to keep
28:22
doing every single year and every single year we just keep
28:25
on going and going and going. I said to Adam at Khadija Mosque
28:29
next year, put 1000 tickets out straight away.
28:32
Let's just just make it bigger and better every year, Something
28:36
I think we should should do. And.
28:39
Peter, as a city has been a multi faith, multicultural city
28:41
for decades, doesn't it? And like I say, I completely
28:43
agree what you're saying about the perceived barriers.
28:45
It's yeah, you know, people in this city have been living
28:47
happily together for many, many years.
28:49
And yeah. And they really, you know,
28:51
fundamentally there's no real issue, Jeremy.
28:53
Absolutely. Pardon what people kind of try
28:56
and create. Absolutely.
28:57
And that's what I believe 100%. And I just think being the
29:02
football club and the position that we can hold in in the city,
29:06
I think we're in a great position to actually break those
29:09
barriers down. But we could do it loudly and
29:13
sort of I'm proud as well. We've got the force of social
29:17
media, like I said, we've got the force of the club badge
29:20
behind us as well. So if we can make this a big
29:23
movement, a big thing, then yeah, let's let's just get the
29:27
communities back to government again.
29:28
Let's embrace. It indeed.
29:29
And and just looking at that as a different angle as well, among
29:33
those 500 people, there must have been lots of people who had
29:35
never been in the stadium before, so didn't know anything
29:38
about Peterborough United, didn't know about the football
29:40
and and that that's just another angle on, isn't it?
29:42
Yeah. Absolutely.
29:44
A lot of people there had never stepped foot into the stadium,
29:48
so we was in the family stand and some of them were lucky
29:54
enough to get a bit of a free tour and a bit of a history
29:56
because obviously in the family stand we've got the different
29:58
shirts over the years on the back wall.
30:01
So yeah, some got a bit of a history lesson.
30:04
And yeah, if it's if I said to them at the time and if there's
30:08
anyone listening there now, please come back.
30:11
You are more than welcome to come back to the club.
30:14
We want, we want to see you. Fabulous.
30:17
Games, Yeah, Come and see it. You, you mentioned just before
30:20
there about next year. So next year is, do you want to
30:22
do that again? One, make it bigger, better and
30:24
more people, yeah. Definitely, definitely.
30:26
Yeah, bigger logistical problems, but doesn't matter.
30:30
That's we'll sort that out and and there's lots of, it's not
30:33
just that single faith. So there's lots of like say
30:37
multi faith city in Peterborough.
30:39
There's lots of opportunities for similar events with other
30:42
faiths, isn't it? Absolutely.
30:43
And one thing that I was told at the iftar was it's not just for
30:49
the Muslim faith. Anybody can attend, absolutely
30:53
anyone with with faith, without faith, doesn't matter If you
30:57
want to attend, going to attend. It is a community event.
31:01
Come for the food. Come for the food and it is
31:03
amazing food. Well, there's a reason to come
31:06
for a start then. OK, let's let's move on a little
31:09
bit reading about your youth employment hub.
31:12
So this is moving on again to another group of people that the
31:16
foundation touches. Tell us a bit about this.
31:20
These are people who are looking for employment.
31:22
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, this is absolutely
31:26
fantastic initiative. The Youth Employment Hub with us
31:31
officially opened on the 6th of November last year.
31:34
And it's for those in not in education, employment or
31:40
training. I think they call it neet N EE T
31:45
the the hub's open Monday to Thursday, 10 AM till 4:00 PM and
31:50
it's for young children, young people aged 16 to 24.
31:55
And again, it's held in the family stand up in sort of where
31:59
the boxes are in the family stand.
32:03
The I've got a few numbers from the youth hub manager and
32:08
considering the hub opened in November, I think these numbers
32:12
are absolutely outstanding. Since it's opened, they've had
32:15
121 unique users into the hub. Of those, 100 and 2142 are
32:23
receiving an ongoing 1 to one sessions, 30 have accessed
32:28
training, 11 have had job outcomes already and this was a
32:34
really important 120 of them are receiving mental health support
32:39
so. Fantastic.
32:40
Bearing in mind where we now sort of March, nearly April in
32:44
what four months with those numbers, that's that's a lot of
32:47
people that we've helped and we want it to keep going.
32:51
Indeed, indeed. And again, bringing another
32:53
group of people into the stadium, potentially for the
32:56
first time, Absolutely, and showing them around.
33:00
Amazing stuff. So you've supported people then,
33:03
like we've said, facing financial hardship, isolation,
33:06
mental health issues. What challenges are you seeing
33:10
most in Peterborough at the moment?
33:13
What people come into with what sort of problems?
33:15
That's a really good question, I would say.
33:18
And again, speaking to our health and well-being manager,
33:21
the community manager, mental health is a really high need at
33:27
the moment. The mental health services are
33:30
under pressure again. A few figures we've got is, I
33:34
mean this is going into 2024, but I think they were the most
33:37
recent figures we could forget. But around one in three people
33:40
actually struggled with mental health in 2024, which is a
33:44
frightening number. And it's a frightening number.
33:48
We've that's part of the reason why we've set up what's called
33:53
our Inspired Men's Club and it's to support men, men's mental
33:58
health. And we've got our forever Posh
34:01
hub, which helps reduce the social isolation in older
34:04
adults. So yeah, mental health is a
34:07
really big probably crisis point probably for the country, I
34:11
would say. And it's just, yeah, that's the
34:14
sort of high hardship and isolation they do lead into
34:18
mental health. And that's an area that we are
34:20
really, really trying, trying hard to help people with.
34:25
And just before we go to our final break, I know you've been
34:29
involved in women's game a lot, Gareth.
34:33
What do the Foundation do for the women's game and girls
34:36
football? To be honest, it's just giving
34:40
them that focus and that drive and the opportunity to progress.
34:47
We've got our development centres and the elite centres,
34:52
we've got our football education program, which used to be called
34:55
our scholarship. And again, it's all about
34:58
developing those technical skills, those personal skills,
35:02
the social skills and the physical sort of person as well,
35:07
the strength and the movements. So it's, yeah, it's, it's, it's
35:11
really to help them become better people, help them develop
35:16
as a person. And I suppose the add on, the
35:19
bolt on is developed as a footballer as well.
35:23
Ideally we, we would love them to go from under eights all the
35:26
way through to the women's first team.
35:27
That's, well, that's the dream. Very successful women's first
35:31
team at the moment, they're doing really well, so let's hope
35:33
you can keep that conveyor belt of of talent going.
35:36
OK, we're going to pop along for another break.
35:39
We'll be back very soon with more from Gareth from the Posh
35:42
Foundation. You're listening to PCR sports.
35:57
Welcome back then. This is the final part of this
35:59
week's PCR Sports Show and it's been a fascinating conversation
36:04
tonight. We've been finding all about the
36:07
posh Foundation and some of their stuff that they get
36:11
involved in in the local community.
36:13
So Gareth, we're just going to talk a little bit now about the
36:17
future. Where do you personally want to
36:20
see the foundation in say, five years time?
36:24
Yeah, another good question. I would sort of like to see it
36:28
bigger. So we get bigger programs, more
36:32
venues to help with the programs that we've got.
36:36
And I think if we can get larger programs, I think we can have a
36:40
a deeper impact in the community.
36:43
I think we can reach more people.
36:45
Obviously more programs bit or bigger programs means more
36:49
staff. So obviously that means more
36:51
funding that's needed. But yeah, in five years, I'd
36:54
just like to see more funding, bigger programs, let's get some
36:58
more venues out there and just let's have a bigger impact and a
37:02
deeper impact on what we've already got got going.
37:05
You mentioned staff there and you could just the whole
37:08
plethora of stuff going on. How many people are behind all
37:12
this? I good question.
37:14
I think without sort of counting up now got about 20, I think
37:19
about 20 of us as 5 managers. And then we've got Jill as CEO
37:24
and also we've got all the various staff members that
37:27
filter, filter from there. So it's, it's, to be fair, it's
37:32
a relatively small team can compare to considering what we
37:35
do. So there's we do do a lot of
37:38
crossovers, sort of like the the football coaches help out at
37:42
school, PES, it's if we didn't cross over and help each other,
37:48
it wouldn't work as well. So for a little team, I think
37:52
it's we do a pretty good job, I think.
37:55
Sure. And and are you looking for any
37:57
help whether that be sponsors coming in with that be funding
38:01
with that be volunteers or anything like that?
38:03
All of that, Yeah, yeah, all of that.
38:06
It's something sort of let's because like I say, we're the
38:09
we're the charitable arm. So we are we are separate to the
38:12
football club. So people might think that sort
38:16
of the football team is getting all this, all the sponsorship in
38:19
that's just going to filter down to everything that's going to
38:21
Peterborough United. It it doesn't, it doesn't We're
38:25
we're our own separate entity. We are sort of elite football
38:30
teams and things like that. They in our development centres,
38:33
they we have to find our own sponsorship for the teams.
38:37
So it's yeah, any, anything like that sponsorship more
38:41
volunteers. It's yeah.
38:42
We'd we'd never say no. And there must be some some
38:45
problems and issues around doing something on this sort of scale.
38:48
If you had a magic wand to instantly fix a problem that
38:53
you've got, what? What would it be?
38:55
I think that would be the a bigger capacity because I
39:01
actually spoke to to Jill about this because I've thought that's
39:05
probably more of a a question for the CEO as as a whole.
39:10
What would you like? And it sort of came back that
39:13
just to have a bigger capacity of staffing to grow our projects
39:16
further. So I think sort of the theme
39:18
there is and I think it's with with all staff, we just like to
39:21
do to do more. I think that's what we want to
39:24
do. We, we want to do more.
39:25
It's, we don't want to be stopped by say funding or, or
39:30
whatever or, or anything. We, we just don't want to be
39:32
stopped full stop. We just want to keep going,
39:34
make, get it bigger and help more people.
39:36
So it's that's the general thing.
39:38
Absolutely. And and how do people get
39:40
involved then? It's I mean, let's start with
39:43
the actual service users. Is is there a referral system
39:47
going on here or is it up to parents to get in touch with you
39:50
or? With the development and elite
39:55
player pathways, they are advertised, trials are
39:59
advertised on social media. So that is very much book
40:03
yourself on the trial, you trial and if you're fortunate enough
40:07
then you you're on the system. A lot of our other other
40:12
elements are pretty much just turn up.
40:14
I mean The Walking football for example, on a Monday evening,
40:17
turn up and play, it's £2 a session, 2 LB a week, that's it.
40:22
So a lot of what we do is a turn up and turn up and play or to
40:27
turn up and engage. The best way to check for
40:30
anybody is just go foundation at theposh.com.
40:34
That's our e-mail address. It'll go through to the the main
40:38
inbox for the foundation. And then your, your e-mail will
40:41
be disseminated to the right member of staff to point you to,
40:45
to guide you and put you in the right direction.
40:47
But yeah, that'll be your easiest, easiest opportunity
40:49
Foundation at theposh.com. Ask a question and we'll 100%
40:54
get back. To you.
40:55
Fabulous. And what about that?
40:57
I guess that's the same route in for for volunteers then, if
40:59
somebody wants to get involved with this as a volunteer.
41:02
Yeah, yeah, that it's, I would always sort of guide you through
41:05
to the to the e-mail, e-mail us in and then we can we can make
41:10
sure that. And that that e-mail address
41:12
againthenfoundation@theposh.com, OK, you mentioned walking
41:17
football there. That was on my list and I've
41:19
glossed over that because that, that is, that is very popular
41:23
now, isn't it? Very much like this last week
41:26
and next week, I believe, is national walking football weeks
41:29
OK? And it is really difficult, I'm
41:33
not gonna lie. Difficult to walk.
41:36
You get the urge to run. You do, Yeah.
41:37
I mean, I've played running football a lot and yeah, it's
41:43
the participants even tell me off the running.
41:46
It is so difficult to to not run.
41:49
It's you see a ball just going out of play, you just want to
41:52
get into that little trot to stop it.
41:53
You can't. Is that a free kick?
41:55
That's a free kick. Yeah, it's a free kick.
41:56
Yeah. So all different rules.
41:58
Ball can't go overhead height, for example.
42:01
It's it's it's really good. Yes, you've got all the
42:04
technical issues and technical technical details and improving,
42:10
but coming away from that, it's great for fitness.
42:14
Anybody can do it and everybody's welcome.
42:17
We don't care on ability if you've never kicked a ball
42:20
before, who cares if you're an ex pro who can't run about
42:24
anymore. Brilliant.
42:25
Everybody come down and just get into walking football.
42:28
It's it is really good fun and it's good for health.
42:31
What? What?
42:32
When are the sessions in? They are on a Monday evening,
42:35
5:30 PM till 6:30 PM at Neen Valley Community Centre.
42:39
OK, it's £2 a session and you just meet some great people.
42:46
It's it's a really good opportunity to meet friends,
42:49
talk to friends and then play football on the side.
42:52
That's the way I always advertise it.
42:53
You just get to meet new people, talk to your friends and yeah in
42:58
you just get to play football. Is it outdoors or indoors?
43:00
That is outdoors, OK, that's on the 3G.
43:02
OK. And it's, it's again, it's that
43:05
mental health element, isn't it? That must help a lot of people
43:08
with mental health issues. Definitely does.
43:10
I've, I've spoken to a few of the users over time and they've
43:14
all said that it it has helped their mental health, it's put
43:17
them in a better place, which is really, really good to you.
43:21
Where? Where do you think that's going
43:22
to end up? Are there leagues already for
43:23
walking football? Yeah, there is already leagues,
43:27
yeah. There's sort of national team
43:29
international tournaments. It's it's something that's been
43:33
going on for for quite a while. I mean, I'm still relatively new
43:35
to it myself, but it's it's, yeah, it's, I think it's just
43:41
going to grow and grow and grow. It's it's probably 1 of the next
43:45
big things of football I think at the minute.
43:48
Is it kind of age-related or could do you get younger people
43:51
playing as well? It's fine with the leagues.
43:53
It's age-related, sort of the older age bracket.
43:56
But for our Monday night session, no age at all.
43:59
It's it's as long as you're over 18, then yeah, come down, come
44:03
down and play. And what?
44:04
What do the numbers look like in Pittsburgh for that?
44:06
Really good. We could get anywhere from, I
44:10
don't know, 12 to 20 coming down and we play on a Niner side
44:16
pitch which it sometimes it can be a bit tight.
44:20
But again because it's walking football it's a little bit more
44:23
controlled. You there's you don't get the
44:25
injuries. So it's probably a safer element
44:29
of football, but you still get that enjoyment.
44:33
OK, amazing stuff. So anything else that we've
44:36
missed out that you want to tell us about the the Posh
44:39
Foundation? I know there's still there's so
44:41
much we could have you in for another show I think and talk
44:44
about all the stuff that's that's going on.
44:48
It's, I mean really, yeah. I mean we've covered a lot and
44:53
like you say, there's so much more that we could cover.
44:56
But I think the one thing I would say is if you are thinking
45:01
of a health and well-being session, a walking football
45:06
session or any of the session that we that we hold, just
45:10
contact us. Just make that step.
45:12
Because often if again, with the mental health side of it, often
45:15
the hardest step to take is that first one of actually contacting
45:18
somebody. And it's above all else, it's a
45:21
great way to make friends, ease that mental health, get yourself
45:25
into sport, get fitter. You.
45:31
It's it's. Yeah.
45:32
Just take that step. e-mail us, ask that question.
45:36
It may just be what you the thing you need.
45:39
Don't just think about it, do it I guess.
45:41
Absolutely right. Listen, we've run out of time,
45:43
Gav. It's been Absolutely Fabulous
45:45
tonight. A great conversation.
45:47
I personally wasn't aware of more than half of that that
45:51
we've talked about tonight. And like I say, there's a whole
45:53
list of stuff that we haven't even touched on.
45:57
So fabulous work, well done. And like I say, we'll have you
46:01
back on sometime and talk about the rest of that stuff that we
46:04
haven't, but some superb stuff going on in the community and
46:07
it's just great to see people getting out and doing stuff,
46:10
isn't it? It is absolutely, the outreach
46:13
that the Posh Foundation give to the community in the city is
46:15
incredible. And you know, I'd absolutely
46:18
urge anyone in the city to to grasp those opportunities that
46:21
have been offered and and get involved in whatever capacity.
46:23
Absolutely. Fantastic.
46:25
Thank you. OK, we've come to the end of
46:27
another show. Please have a look at our
46:30
socials through the week. We'll be back next Friday, 6
46:34
till 7 again, right here on PCRFM.
46:37
Thank you very much for listening.