Mayor of Thatcham gets his head in the game with Next Generation Football

The Mayor of Thatcham has celebrated the work of Next Generation Football.

Mark Lillycrop joined football development officer Richard Matias on July 17 for Next Generation Football’s first anniversary.

Children enjoyed games, like Speedshot challenges and ‘football pinata’, at St Gabriel’s School in aid of the mayor’s charity of the year Sport in Mind.

Mr Lillycrop said: “The work he [Richard] is doing for the community and for Sport in Mind is great.

“Sport in Mind is great, they really give people the opportunity to explore their mental health issues but in a very informal, relaxed way.

“They give people the opportunity just to get out and take part in some kind of activity where they are away from the pressures of everyday life.”

Mr Lillycrop said he too has benefited from using sport in a way to benefit his mental state.

He said: “When you are under a lot of pressure from a mental health point of view it is just the opportunity to get out – in my case it was taking part in a half marathon.

“I think everybody has different physical activities that they prefer and Sport in Mind supports most of them I think.

“It gives people the opportunity to try football or just walking and chatting and other activities.

“They are a great organisation and I am keen to encourage them to raise their profile in our area.”