Port Stanley

The work that the club's FITC scheme does to forge links throughout the local community is now well renowned, and recently it has led to an interesting bond that has developed between our FITC coaches and the RAF.

The mutual feeling of respect and trust that the two organisations have found for each other has opened the door to charity events, football matches and, spectacularly, the delivery of the match ball, courtesy of a Sea King helicopter, for a Football League game here at Brunton Park last season.

Hold on to your hat

FITC Officer John Halpin told us, "the relationship that we have built up with the RAF has been superb and, I think, mutually beneficial. Hopefully we can continue to work closely together in the future, to the benefit of everyone."

Having staged a number of events together throughout the summer, the FITC were to be left amazed when an unusual invitation dropped on their desk just a few months ago. Basically, the local Forces Careers Information Office here in Carlisle, in conjunction with the RAF, wanted to know if the club would be able to support a joint recruiting / activities visit to the South Atlantic by releasing the FITC team to assist with football coaching sessions for the kids of Port Stanley, Mount Pleasant and other settlements around the Falkland Islands.

Having looked in to the logistics of the 'operation' it was decided that the lads could indeed lend a hand, and the finer details of the trip were quickly finalised.

So we have it that our Football in the Community team are now enjoying the hospitality of the Joint Forces Logistics Unit (JFLU), part of the British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI), as they deliver specific coaching courses to kids of all ages from as far apart as Goose Green and Port Stanley on the Falkland Islands (FI) themselves.

The lads left last Thursday and have an all action itinerary, which takes them all the way through until the end of this week. As well as meeting the FI kids, the FITC team will be interviewed by the British Forces Broadcasting Service Radio detachment in Stanley and will, weather permitting, get to see some of the major areas of battle from the 1982 conflict.

Goose Green - retaken by 2 Para after fierce fighting

Halpy said, "this is a superb opportunity for us, and we are delighted that we will be able to take some tips to kids who otherwise wouldn't get this kind of chance. We can't thank the RAF and the British Forces, who will be hosting us, enough for allowing us to come over and take part in their already busy schedule. I'm sure it will be a massive success and an experience that we will remember for a very long time to come."

We will, of course, be bringing a full account of what the lads got up to on their trip as soon as they return.

Watch this space!