The Woodham Warriors are delighted to announce that they have secured funding from Sport England to employ a part-time American Football Community Development Coach to work in Newton Aycliffe and the surrounding areas. Danny Ketch who had previously been a volunteer with the club will take up the post with immediate effect and will be looking to further develop local youth American Football by setting up a network of free coaching sessions and clubs in local primary schools across the town via the new Woodham Warriors Community Pogramme. It is hoped that every child in the town will soon have the opportunity to try their hand at the safe non contact version of American Football and that there will be increasing opportunities for children who enjoy the sport and want to keep on playing.

Woodham Warriors (the flagship club of the programme) are currently the NFL UK Champions and finished 3rd in the NFL European Championships in 2006. Danny Ketch has been coaching for Woodham for the past three years and in this time he has helped coach the team to two successive UK Championships and has also gone on to be part of the Team England coaching staff. He was also named Aycliffe Volunteer of the year for 2006 at the inaugural Aycliffe Community Awards at the Newton Aycliffe CLC last month.

Jon Tait, Head Coach of the Woodham Warriors and manager of the Woodham Warriors Community Programme said “This is a wonderful opportunity for young people across the town to have the opportunity to take part in grass roots American Football. I am sure by the end of the year the popularity of the sport will be hugely increased within the town”. Any interested schools or organisations can contact Jon Tait at Woodham Community Technology College on 01325 300328 for further information about the programme.