KickStart Registration

You may have seen a recent article in the Gloucester Citizen advertising KickStart ( Citizen article on KickStart ) - many thanks to The Citizen for doing this as it's helped to increase interest in the scheme; unfortunately the article came out after a registration day at GL1 on the previous Saturday - meaning that dads missed out on signing up. These things happen! The KickStart mobile appears to be turned off at the moment too - which hasn't helped either. However, if dads have left messages on the mobile we will be in touch.

In the meantime if you want to register, please download and fill in the KickStart registration form ( in pdf or Word) from the sidebar and either send it to KickStart Organiser, Living and Learning Centre, GL1 Leisure Centre, Gloucester - or take it in an envelope to the reception at GL1 marked with the same details. We'll then put you on our database and duly inform you of your team and fixtures.

Kickoff will now be on January 10 - we've had to extend the registration period to ensure we have enough teams and players to make it worthwhile.

In the meantime - if you do have any queries send them to kickstart@topmail.co.uk - ansd we will try to find out what's happened to the mobile phone!

Thanks

The KickStart team

Old Guns CHAMPIONS! - Registration this Saturday!!!

KickStart Summer League? It's Autumn! What happened? A combination of holidays, pressing work requirements, putting off what you can do today until tomorrow, walking the dog (and the fact that some of the final results went missing...) has meant a delay in publishing the final table. But here it is.

The final month's matches were hit by the holiday period - a lesson for us to consider next time we run a summer league; one match had to be declared void as neither Team Brown nor Young Lads and Dads fielded a team on August 16th, hence if you're wondering why the table looks odd with regard to their matches played, won, lost, drawn - it's because they didn't turn up! More fool both teams as Team Brown in particular were going great guns and leading the table up until the final month. Talking of guns - congratulations go to Old Guns, who are THE CHAMPIONS!!! Not far off the pace, despite only winning 2 of their matches were Liver Lads - who reached 2nd place by dint of completing their health and parenting activity forms - well done!!! Commiserations to the rest of the teams and players and big thanks to all for turning up!

On Saturday 17th October there's a chance to register at GL1 (10.00) for the new KickStart league starting at the end of the month - and a presentation of the KickStart Shield plus other prizes. Hope to see people there.

The KickStart Team

Rescheduled match

The scheduled match between All Stars and Pro Team has had to be rescheduled to 21st August due to Pro Team being unable to field a full complement of players - so the potential top of the table clash scheduled for the 21st of August between All Stars and Old Guns was brought forward to 26th July. A fractious but equally matched game saw Old Guns turn out eventual victors. In the other match The Good, The Dad, and The Ugly beat Young Lads and Dads.

All players under 25 were informed of the opportunity to score extra points next weekend - if they turn up for Chlamydia screening at 10.30.

Health activities - these were completed today by the teams involved (except for Old Guns who had already undertaken the healthy eating activity last week); a number of parenting activity forms from 2 weeks ago which had not been handed in have also been added to teams points haul.

Scores:

All Stars 6 Old Guns 11

The Good The Dad and The Ugly 24 Young Lads and Dads 10

Table Week 10

August 2nd - Wet your whistles!

For those players who aren't aware (and of course you all are!) the week of August 2nd is sexual health week. As usual there will be a quiz activity to score points - but we'll also be temporarily joined on the morning by a member of the Chlamydia Screening team - and a chance to score extra points.

For those of you who aren't aware, or possibly think it's a flower, Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection, especially amongst young people. It often has no symptoms - particularly in men - but can do a lot of damage to any female partners including pelvic inflammatory disease leading to infertility. In guys, if there are any symptoms these can include swollen balls and sub-fertility (difficulty in fathering a child).

All you need to do on the morning is turn up at 10.30 at GL1(that's right - 10.30) on the morning of August 2nd, and if you're a KickStart player under 25 you'll be given a small bottle to pee into (in the loos - not on the playing court!) - and that will be it - no umbrella blades or q-tips down your todger.

The Chlamydia Screening team member will be on hand to advise what will happen if you have a positive test (basically just some pills to cure you). It's worth taking the test - it's not a lot of bother to you, but can prevent problems for your partner or any future partners. And we'll award 2 points per player if you take the test! More info about Chlamydia Screening here; sexhelpglos ; info here on Men and Chlamydia

For those dads older than 25 who are concerned they might miss out, we are going to arrange a short talk on dads talking to lads about sex - to be held at Bartongate Children's Centre (probably on 9th August - but to be confirmed) - again you'll score points for attending, and it's worthwhile coming along to pick up a few tips.

Keepie Uppie!

Finally...we get around to showing where teams are to date in the table - which has been updated to include all of the scores and health and parenting activities for weeks 7, 8 & 9. The scores from week 7 were mislaid hence the delay in tracking these down and making sure everything is in order!

Team Brown top the table - Old Guns are not too far behind. Liver Lads are 3rd; it just goes to show that if you complete your activity forms then you still have a chance of pushing up the table even if your footballing prowess suddenly fails you on a Saturday morning...Tactrix - where are your forms?!

The scores for each week - putting on the best BBC's announcer voice possible, are as follows:

Scores: 28th June

Tactrix 14 Team Brown 27

Old Guns 29 The Good The Dad and The Ugly 7

Scores: 12th July

Liver Lads 6 All Stars 26

Young Lads and Dads 20 Pro Team 14

Scores: 19th July

Tactrix 21 Liver Lads 19

Team Brown 12 Old Guns 18

Table Weeks 7, 8 , & 9

Health and Parenting Activities

We've received suggestions from 2 players with regard to the health and parenting activities, which we'll discuss at the next KickStart team meeting. We'll need to review the activities and the points scoring system for next season - but it's great that people are doing them and adding to their points total.

We're planning on holding some evening meetings to discuss the future of KickStart including forming a voluntary group to raise funds, manage the football etc - which we hope will eventually be composed of interested dads to help run it, so if any dads would like to come along and get involved please get in touch; for times and dates please use the KickStart email address. Thanks!

Scores and Table Week 6

Here's the table for week 6. A competitive game between Young Lads and Dads and Liver Lads ended in a draw - but Liver Lads completed 5 health activity forms as against Young Lads and Dads 1 form - so Liver Lads now sit 3rd in the table with Young Lads and Dads one off the bottom.

In footballing terms Pro Team shipped 29 goals, scoring a paltry 3 in reply - but have managed to climb one place to 5th in the table by dint of completion of 4 health activity forms, the same number of forms completed by Old Guns who are now 2nd in the table.

Scores: 21st June

Pro Team 3 Old Guns 29

Young Lads and Dads 17 Liver Lads 17

Table Week 6

Scores and Table Week 5

In a bid to make those players who look at the online table sit up and take notice of what they need to do for their team in order to stay in the race - here's the table for week 5. The teams - and one in particular - that completed their health activities have added considerably to their points haul. For the players involved in the next round of matches you now know what you need to do to keep up! The same health activity - on avoiding cancer and testicular self-examination will be run at next week's game.

All Stars not only hammered Tactrix, but also gained a large number of points from the health activity. Tactrix turned out for the game, but didn't complete any activities - no points scored sorry lads.

Team Brown and The Good The Dad and the Ugly also scored health points. Team Brown also scored a point for a player going to the dads club. An Old Guns player turned out for The Good, The Dad and The Ugly this week - and scored 4 points for Old Guns by completing the health activity - but will not be allowed to undertake the same activity when Old Guns get to do it next week.

Still all to play for - if you don't win the football match you can still grab points by completing activities and attending the Dads and Kids Club.

Scores: 14th June

Team Brown 22 - The Good The Dad and The Ugly 12

All Stars 21 - Tactrix 6

Table Week 5

Headline News! KickStart Team Announcement!

For those of you who access this blog and are interested in ensuring that the Gloucestershire KickStart men's health and parenting 5-a-side football project continues, the KickStart Team who organise the project have been exploring the possibility of establishing a voluntary 'Gloucestershire Dads and Lads' group to raise the relatively small amount of funding required to ensure the project's long-term future. Whilst there is finance currently available for the short term, we feel that the project will have a greater chance of being sustained if a voluntary group is able to raise the necessary funding. To this end, the KickStart team will be speaking to players during the course of the summer league about getting involved in establishing a voluntary group. We will continue to organise and run health and parenting activities - but the football will be run by the dads.

We envisage that the current KickStart organising team will establish the group, prior to handing over (or being voted off!)to a group of dads willing to get involved. If you're a KickStart player and you're interested in this idea, please let us know via the KickStart mobile on 07507 307123 or by email at kickstart@topmail.co.uk . Thanks!

Announcement to all KickStart players!

There will be an end of season 5-a-side tournament for all KickStart teams on Saturday 30th August - prizes to be awarded. More details to follow soon.

Scores and Table Weeks 3 & 4

OK - here's the updated table and results for weeks 3 & 4 of the league. Team Brown lead on goal difference over Old Guns, and Young Lads and Dads prop up the foot of the table - but early days yet. Liver Lads were beaten - but managed to score a point for a dad's attendance at the creche at the Dads and Kids Club. For those other dads who turned up at the Dads and Kids club expecting to get a point (mentioning no names...) - you do have to turn up with a child! If you can't do this there will be other activities you can do later in the season to score extra points.

Scores:

24th May

Pro Team 18 The Good The Dad and The Ugly 8

All Stars 11 Team Brown 12

31st May

Old Guns 25 Liver Lads 5

Tactrix 25 Young Lads and Dads 16

Please remember there are no matches on the 7th of June - next fixtures will be on the following Saturday.

Table Weeks 3 & 4

Scores and Table Weeks 1 & 2

Apologies for the wait! Here are the results and the league table for the matches played on the 10th and 17th of May. The table will be updated again once the results of the matches on 24th May and 31st May are known. We'll also have some of the health and parenting activities completed by then, so more points can be added to your team's total whilst you're bringing your football skills up-to-scratch...

...And remember you can score points for your team by attending the Dads and Kids Club at Bartongate Children's Centre.

Last season's champions Pro Team are fixed to the foot of the table following a thrashing at the hands (or feet) of newcomers Team Brown who top the table after the first round of matches. All Stars handed out a similar drubbing to Young Lads and Dads. Meanwhile Old Guns dug out a win over Tactrix, and The Liver Lads and The Good, The Dads and The Ugly fought each other to a draw...

Scores:

10th May

Team Brown 23 - Pro Team 3

All Stars 20 - Young Lads and Dads 6

17th May

Old Guns 19 - Tactrix 9

Liver Lads 19 - The Good, The Dad and The Ugly 19

Table Weeks 1 & 2

Kick Off!

The KickStart Summer League got off to an impressive start on Saturday with a big turn out of players. Thanks to all who turned out - especially those of you from teams who didn't play on Saturday - we needed as many people as possible there to get people registered - and to let people know about what's involved. As usual you'll score points for the football - but you can score points too for any activities we give you to do (nothing difficult!) You can also score points by attending the Dads and Kids Club at Bartongate Children's Centre - just remember to give your name to the staff there and tell them you're a KickStart dad. If you do need a creche facility please can you ring and let us know. Thanks!

If you want to play - get in touch with us ASAP and we'll allocate you to a team.

Two matches were played on Saturday (as they will be every Saturday) - match reports to follow; more importantly here's the fixture list...

KickStart Fixtures Summer League

10th May.

Team Brown v Pro Team.

Young Lads & Dads v All Stars.

17th May.

Liver Lads v The Good, The Dad &The Ugly

Old Guns v Tactrix.

24th May.

All Stars v Team Brown.

The Good, The Dad & The Ugly v Pro Team.

31st May.

Tactrix v Young Lads & Dads.

Old Guns v Liver Lads .

14th June.

Team Brown v The Good, The Dad & The Ugly.

All Stars v Tactrix.

21st June.

Pro Team v Old Guns.

Young Lads & Dads v Liver Lads.

28th June.

Tactrix v Team Brown.

Old Guns v The Good, The Dad & The Ugly.

12th July.

Liver Lads v All Stars.

Young Lads & Dads v Pro Team.

19th July.

Team Brown v Old Guns.

Tactrix v Liver Lads.

26th July.

The Good, The Dad & The Ugly v Young Lads & Dads.

All Stars v Pro Team.

2nd August.

Liver Lads v Team Brown.

Young Lads & Dads v Old Guns.

9th August.

Pro Team v Tactrix.

All Stars v The Good, The Dad & The Ugly.

16th August.

Team Brown v Young Lads & Dads.

Liver Lads v Pro Team.

21st August.

Old Guns v All Stars.

Tactrix v The Good, The Dad & The Ugly.

KickStart Summer League! Starts May 10th!

For players who are disappointed that their team didn't win the KickStart league - and for new players wanting to take part - take heart! The new KickStart Summer League will commence on May 10th! We will definitely be tying in with Bartongate Children's Centre Dads and Kids Club with provision of creche facilities for those dads who want to attend the dads club and also play football (you'll even score points for your team by attending the club).

Need to know more? KickStart has a simple premise - a 5-a-side league for dads (a small number of non-dads are allowed) - you score points for the football, but you also score points for any very simple Health or Parenting activities we ask you to undertake (some of these can be done at half-time on match days - so we make it easy for you!) And there are also real prizes to win - see the blog below for further details.

In order to take part you will need to register. If you do want to take part, you can contact either Lloyd Williams on the KickStart mobile on 07507 307123, or Ian Broady on 01452 560451.

Important Announcement for all KickStart players!

Stoppress...Pro Team KickStart Champions...Pro Team KickStart Champions...Pro Team KickStart Champions...Pro Team KickStart Champions...Pro Team KickStart Champions...Pro Team KickStart Champions...Pro Team KickStart Champions...Pro Team KickStart Champions...

Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond our control we are unable to make use of the GL1 sportshall to play the final April matches as we intended. Following a meeting earlier this week it has been decided that due to this and the fixture congestion that would ensue due to the start of the KickStart summer league in May, it was felt that we had no option but to finish the current league and leave the Table as it stands. There was some discussion around deducting points or adding points to teams to balance up the number of games played, but this would not have affected the current league standings in relation to the winning team. Therefore, by dint of their input around the Health and Parenting activities (and afterall that's the purpose of KickStart!) Pro Team are this season's Champions!

Well done Pro Team - lets hope this sets an example to some of the other teams that they can't win just in footballing terms alone! It's important to register, otherwise you can't take part in any of the activities that will earn your team more points!

Rearranged fixture - Pro Team Vs The Good The Dad and The Ugly

A rearrangement in fixtures due to the unavailability of the GL1 sports hall in April means that the match due to be played on April 12th between Pro Team and The Good, The Dad and The Ugly was played today 22nd March.

Unfortunately further fixture issues may arise as the sports hall is now not available to KickStart for several Saturdays in April (due to other events being held there) - and we are hoping to commence the KickStart summer league in May. Hopefully we can resolve this in order to ensure the current league comes to a close with all teams having played their remaining fixtures.

In the meantime Pro Team and The Good, The Dad, and The Ugly fought a literally bloody and disputed battle (elbows and nose bleeds), the result being a narrow victory for The Good, The Dad and The Ugly. Result Pro Team 14, The Good, The Dad and The Ugly 15. Despite the result Pro Team retain their place as league leaders - only a significant haul of Health and Parenting Activity points from the teams below can now mean that they can be overtaken.

Week15 (GDU & Old Guns not awarded points for non match week 11)

Pro Team Vs Old Guns

In terms of points scored, Pro Team may lead the table by virtue of their haul of Health and Parenting Activities points, but in terms of football Old Guns are way ahead of the pack giving Pro Team a drubbing. Final score Pro Team 1, Old Guns 12. But the point of KickStart is that it's not just about the football and Pro Team remain top of the table.

Week 14 (GDU & Old Guns not awarded points for non match week 11)

Old Guns Vs Team Dad

The points on the board this week go to Old Guns who are running away with the football points, and have also accrued points from Health Activities. Team Dad didn't come away entirely empty handed - points being scored for Health Activities. Final score Old Guns 17, Team Dad 9.

Week 13 (GDU & Old Guns not awarded points for non match week 11)

Awards

Tom McCormack of The Good, The Dad, and The Ugly, alongside daughter Paige finally received the Wayne Rooney signed England football shirt, along with a copy of the Haynes Man Manual at the Dads and Kids Club, Bartongate Children's Centre on March 1st. Paige won the 'design a Mr KickStart' competition at the start of the season.

Old Gun's Lloyd Williams received a pair of sparring gloves for the match banter award. Keep it up Lloyd.

Raffle: Pro Team's Justin Lee received tickets for a forthcoming Cheltenham Town FC football match (provided courtesy of the Cheltenham Town FCs Football in the Community Team) and James Williams ( Pro Team) received JJB sports vouchers. Both James and Justin also received Hayne's Men's Health Manuals.

Remember points mean prizes!

Announcement! Summer league

Whilst the points for football and Activity points from last weekend's game are tallied up to add to the league table, the KickStart team would like to make an announcement that we have secured space at GL1 for a KickStart summer league, to continue immediately following the end of the current one. We've decided to do this as last year people were really enjoying the league - then it closed for the summer, and we lost players and had to recruit all over again. By having a summer league we hope to continue the momentum and add more teams to the league, provide a space for dads on Saturday mornings at Bartongate Children's Centre, and include the opportunity further men's health and dads parenting activities.

Pro Team (red bibs) in team training prior to forthcoming match with Old Guns. No need for the offensive weapons lads! (Colin is that you looking on?)

Pro Team Vs The Good, The Dad and The Ugly

Who says that competition doesn't work? Both teams submitted Health Activity forms on sexual health - and members of Pro Team also returned their Parenting Activities, meaning that in terms of points scored for health and parenting awareness Pro Team are way ahead of the pack at the top of the table. Sadly the same cannot be said of their goal scoring ability. The Good, The Dad and The Ugly ran out clear winners, despite Pro Team looking initially as if they were going to win the match - but they fell away towards the end. Final score Pro Team 12, The Good, The Dad and The Ugly 17. A great turn out this week - lots of roll on/off substitutions.

The day also saw the relaunch of the Dads and Kids club at Bartongate Children's Centre with some of the KickStart dads in attendance prior to their match.

Week 12 (GDU & Old Guns not awarded points for non match week 11)

The Good, The Dad and The Ugly Vs Old Guns

The match on Saturday 23rd February has been declared null and void as not enough players turned out for one team. Therefore the match will be counted as played - but no points awarded.

Week 11

Attention all Dads! Error in previous posting!

Please note that the Thursday, February 21st posting re the Dads and Kids Club at Bartongate Children's Centre states that you will be able to leave your children at the Centre whilst you play football. Please note that this will not be the case until creche workers are provided - ie you will not be able to leave your children at the Centre whilst you play football until we get this sorted. Apologies for any confusion caused.

However, the Dads and Kids Club will still run every Saturday - and you can still earn points for your team if you attend the club. We will of course let you know about the availability of creche facilities when ready.

Message to all players!

Dads and Kids Club - March 1st - and every Saturday

As of Saturday March 1st, the Dads and Kids Club formally housed by The Trust Centre will be moving to Bartongate Children's Centre (near GL1) on a Saturday morning between 9.30 am and 1.00pm. This means that if you want to bring your children along they will be cared for by Children's Centres professionals (Glos County Council) whilst you play football. There will be activities for your children (of any age) - you can call in before the football commences for a cup of tea etc - and return there afterwards to collect or play with your kids as you wish. This service will be available every Saturday. If you attend the club we'll add points to your team's score! See poster below for further details.

The club will be launched on March 1st - prizes from last season including a signed England football shirt, match tickets for Cheltenham Town FC, JJB vouchers, and Haynes Men's Health manuals will finally be awarded. Come along and earn your team some points!

Pro Team Vs Team Dad

Pro Team climb to first place!

A final score of Pro Team 16, Team Dad 10 earns Pro Team the 3 points for the football and Pro Team climb to the top of the league by dads completing some of the health activities - adding 8 points to their points haul. These, plus the 3 points from the game - mean that Pro Team have overhauled Old Guns at the top of the table. This should be an incentive for other teams to take note and complete their activities - otherwise they may find themselves slipping down the table - Old Guns beware!

On another note the KickStart team have been informed via the referee that one unidentified player left the field following a foul - we'd be grateful if that dad could get in touch via the KickStart mobile number (mentioned on the right-hand column of this blog) to confirm he is OK - thanks! The league is provided for fitness, health and parenting issues - it's a physical contact sport - but we don't want anyone to get hurt - OK. Thanks.

Week 10

Match postponed

The match on 9th February between the Good, the Dad, and the Ugly and Team Dad had to be cancelled as only half the players turned up (c'mon guys!) The match will now be rescheduled to be played at the end of the season.

Pro Team Vs Old Guns

In the words of one wag - the only thing that stank more than the bibs taken away for a wash at the end of the match was Pro Team's footballing skills. Harsh words? Possibly - but the final score doesn't belie the truth: Pro Team 6 - Old Guns 37. What a drubbing! Questions need to be asked - come on Pro Team!

More Health and Parenting Activities to be sent out this week.Pro Team - we suggest you fill 'em in quick!

Week 8

Old Guns Vs Team Dad

No repeat of the earlier draw between these two teams this time around - Team Dad were soundly beaten. Final score Old Guns 15 Team Dad 8.

Table Week 7

Pro Team Vs The Good, The Dad, and The Ugly

A 17 goals to 12 victory for The Good, The Dad, and The Ugly saw them swap places with Pro Team and move to 3rd in the table - on goal difference. Pro Team are leaking like a sieve at the moment - having let in 54 goals in 6 weeks. Both teams are going to have to do better on the field to improve their league place - or fill in their Health and Parenting Activity forms!

Next weekend sees the 'top of the table clash' between Old Guns and Team Dad - the last time these two met was the first match of the KickStart season resulting in a 15 - 15 draw. A win for Old Guns will establish a 6 point lead; it's up to Team Dad to haul them back...

Table Week 6

The Good, The Dad, and The Ugly Vs Old Guns

A combative performance by The Good, The Dad, and the Ugly could not overcome the youth, speed and skill of a 'young' in form Old Guns team who leapt into a commanding lead before The Good, The Dad, and the Ugly could hit back. 7 goals in reply were not enough and the result was never in doubt - The Good, The Dad, and the Ugly 7 - Old Guns 22.

Old Guns head the table – but there’s a chance for all teams to earn points and push up the table – if players bring their completed Health and Parenting Activity forms with them on match days.


Table Week 5

Pro Team Vs Team Dad

According to our on the spot reporter this was a great match - Pro Team taking a commanding lead before Team Dad reduced the difference to 3 goals behind at 16 - 13. Pro Team turned up the heat at the end - the final score 22 - 14. Well done Pro Team.

The league is still pretty tight at the moment - but teams can make a difference to their league place, if they return their Health and Parenting Activity Forms! A reminder will be sent out this week - and a new Activity Form.

Table Week 4

Who ate all the Pies?

Another reminder that for Pro Team and Team Dad players there's a chance to run off all the Christmas pudding this Saturday morning at GL1. If you can't make it please let us know via the contact details in the right hand column of this blog. Thanks.

Happy New Year - The KickStart Team