Stratford Town welcomes sports minister Nigel Huddleston, MP Nadhim Zahawi and Warwickshire County Council leader Izzi Seccombe for academy hub unveiling

SPORTS Minister Nigel Huddleston joined Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi to carry out the official opening of Stratford Town’s new academy and education sports hub last Friday, writes David Lawrence.

And he praised the club’s community work, adding they were setting standards that other clubs up and down the country should be following.

Mr Huddleston said: “We need more clubs like Stratford Town, they are the heart and soul of our community. To me it is a model club and one that others in other parts of the country should seek to replicate.

“It is great to see the education centre - a superb example of how such a hub should be set-up and run – and I was delighted to be asked to open it alongside Nadhim, the local MP.

"It is a hugely important part of what’s on offer at Stratford Town – giving opportunities to kids who might not otherwise have those chances.

"It shows the power of sports clubs where they can make a meaningful impact on people’s lives and give them a helping hand.

“This is one of the best examples of that work at grassroots level that I’ve seen.”

Bards chairman Jed McCrory also welcomed Warwickshire County Council leader Izzi Seccombe to the launch which also included meeting young footballers from the club’s academy and seeing a number of improvements being carried out ahead of the new season.

McCrory said: “To have two leading members of the government and the leader of Warwickshire County Council at the club at the same time shows just how far we have come at Stratford Town.

“They were very complimentary of our work in the community and impressed by the performance of our students who continually rank among the best in the country.”