Hartlepool Sporting Association Press Release
AN ORGANISATION that aims to nurture a town’s sporting talent has been launched to provide the best for athletes of all abilities.The Hartlepool Sporting Association brings together six of the town’s leading clubs to raise the standards of sport across the town. The Association is the brainchild of Hartlepool College of Further Education with the founder members asked to meet strict criteria to ensure high standards are maintained. Hartlepool College vice-principal, Michael Bretherick, who is chairman of HSA, explained: “Hartlepool College has highlighted its commitment to sport and the importance it can have in the development of the College and the local community. “By providing an umbrella organisation for top sporting clubs in this town, we can help to raise standards, share best practice and work together to help athletes of all abilities reach their full potential.”
The six founder member clubs of the HSA are Hartlepool Cricket Club, Hartlepool Rovers Rugby Club, Oaksway Netball Club, Hartlepool Heat Basketball Club, Hartlepool Table Tennis Club and St Francis 2000 FC. All six clubs have a strong presence in the town, with many producing national and international representatives as well as a long tradition of coaching Hartlepool children at all levels. Mr Bretherick continued: “We have put together the framework of the HSA to benefit not only elite athletes but those who participate in sport for enjoyment. “Sport has so many benefits in a person's development. It makes people more confident, able to work as a team, determined and ultimately healthier. The HSA has been set up to make sure that we get the maximum from our clubs and they get the maximum help and support from us.”
Hartlepool Heat Basketball Club secretary Anthony Robinson said: “I think it is a real honour to be invited as one of Hartlepool Sporting Association's founder members. Our players and coaches will really benefit from signing up. It is also good to find out what other clubs are going through. We are all in the same boat but now we get the chance to talk to each other and help each other out.”
Oaksway coach Barbara Brown added: “The benefit of being involved with the other top clubs in the town is that they know what it feels like to strive for excellence.”
Alby Pattison, Director of Rugby Development at Rovers Rugby Club believes that the club can offer more than just coaching to the young players as part of their development. He said: “We have a very strong junior section and want the players to benefit when it comes to making career decisions. They will have mentors that they can go to for advice through the precious links we are forging with Hartlepool College of Further Education. “The town’s biggest College will help develop our coaches, volunteers and first aid people with regards to the latest child protection directives”.