SME News Midlands Enterprise Awards 2025/ 22 Most Dedicated Community Sports Coaching Company 2025 - Staffordshire Whittington Soccer Centre is the biggest football development centre in South Staffordshire. A community-focused hub, it delivers grassroots football sessions for children between the ages of four and sixteen. Whether a child has played football before or they are stepping onto the pitch for the first time, it strives to make everyone feel welcome through affordable, friendly, and inclusive sport. Whittington Soccer Centre stands out within its local community for keeping things simple and consistent. Families know that their children will be welcomed with quality coaching, a friendly environment, being listened to, and receiving a service that evolves with their needs. Its coaches know every child by name, they celebrate their small wins, and they genuinely care about their development, both on and off the pitch. It is this that has kept the centre’s pitch full and families coming back week after week for the last 30 years! Sessions at Whittington Soccer Centre aren’t one-size-fits-all. It is proud to offer a service that is inclusive, adaptable, and welcoming to children of all abilities. No matter if a child is full of energy or a bit nervous to join in, its coaches meet them where they are. Parents often say that their child has “found their place” with Whittington Soccer Centre, and that’s something it takes real pride in. It is also one of its most gratifying goals to help players get to a point where they feel ready to join its affiliate club, Whittington FC. The soccer centre works hard to mirror what Whittington FC stands for, offering opportunities for children to play in teams and enjoy football in a supportive environment. It’s not just about being the best or most competitive, but it is about making sure that every child gets to play, grow, and feel part of a team. Combining experience, heart, and a clear mission, Whittington Soccer Centre uses football as a way to help children build confidence, friendships, and a sense of belonging. Whittington Soccer Centre wouldn’t be the exceptional place it is without its close-knit, friendly, and community-driven culture. Its core team has been with it for the last 10 years, with everyone having roots in the local area. Many of them were friends before they started coaching together, and these bonds have only grown stronger over time, both on and off the pitch. This creates a genuine family feel that comes through in everything the team does. Furthermore, a lot of value is placed on open communication and shared ownership. It is Ben and Paul who lead the day-to-day operations, however a real effort is made to involve all coaches in decision-making. Their feedback, ideas, and experiences continue to shape how it delivers its sessions. Professional development is key in ensuring its coaches are performing at their best, with this coming in the form of regular training in both coaching skills and safeguarding and always seeking ways to improve and grow together. Overall, Whittington Soccer Centre deserves to be proud of the solid culture it has built, with its grounding in friendship, mutual respect, and a shared passion for making a difference. “We are delighted to have won this award and want to thank everyone, from coaches to children, who have supported us to get to this position! Your support with all of our weekly sessions is second to none and we would never be where we are without you!” Ultimately, the future is looking very exciting for Whittington Soccer Centre. For the remainder of 2025 and beyond, it is focused on growing its reach while staying true to the community values that have got it to where it is today. One of its biggest goals is to expand its inclusive sessions, especially for children with additional needs or those who might not feel confident in a traditional sports setting. The centre has already seen how powerful these sessions can be for children, and it wants to make them a core part of its offering going forward. Additionally, it is looking forward to more community events with local schools and other groups. In the longer term, the centre is hoping to secure a dedicated facility that it can call its own. Having a permanent base would give it more flexibility, allow it to run more sessions year-round, and create a true hub for local football and community activities. While not in a rush to grow for the sake of it, Whittington Soccer Centre is focused on steady, thoughtful process that meets the real needs of the families it serves. If the last 30 years have shown it anything, it’s that success comes from listening to its community and building trust. And the plan is to keep doing just that! Contact Details Company name: Whittington Soccer Centre Contact name: Ben Kirk Website: www.whittington-sc.co.uk AIM-Jun25040
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUyMDQwMA==