In the heart of Buckinghamshire, the Wycombe Wanderers Foundation hosted two thrilling matchday training sessions, proudly sponsored by Prolojik, for the budding young starlets of Hullbridge Sports.
We are proud to sponsor Hullbridge Sports and it was our pleasure to organise these training sessions with one simple goal in mind; to provide grassroots teams with an affordable taste of professional coaching. Coaches from the Wycombe Wanderers Foundation led the sessions. The Foundation is the charity partner of our Chairboys, EFL League One’s Wycombe Wanderers Football Club, located in Adams Park, less than three miles from Prolojik HQ.
We announced these sessions back in December, when it was confirmed that the Hullbridge Sports under-9’s would be training with Coach Ashley Lamb before attending the fixture with Peterborough United on 10th February and the under-11’s would be training with Coach Jason Carr and attending the League One clash with Barnsley on March 2nd.
These sessions not only honed football skills but also highlighted the symbiotic relationship between sports, creativity, and innovation – values central to Prolojik’s ethos.
The journey of both sessions began at the state-of-the-art 4G Cressex Football Centre, the chosen battleground for a 90-minute training session. This venue offered a pristine playing surface, setting the stage for a footballing spectacle.
Led by members of the Wycombe Wanderers Foundation’s Elite Development Academy (EDA) Coaching Team, all equipped with FA and/or UEFA qualifications, the players embarked on a journey of skill refinement and tactical awareness. Under the guidance of Coaches Ashley and Jason, the teams experienced a blend of fun and focused drills, fostering not just technical proficiency but also teamwork and strategic thinking.
The atmosphere was electric as the lads soaked up the knowledge and expertise of their coaches. From precision passing drills to creative attacking strategies, every aspect of the game was dissected and practised. The teams were asked to focus on positioning and making the pitch as wide as possible, maximising the time and space available to them. The games, predominantly one-touch, encouraged speed of thought and precision.
Our sponsorship of the team added a layer of professionalism to the sessions, underscoring the importance of innovation in both football and the business world, and it was a thrill to see our name adorning the front of the shirts.
As a company synonymous with cutting-edge lighting control systems, there is a parallel drawn between our commitment to innovation and the dynamism of sports such as football. In the pursuit of victory on the football pitch, as in the realm of business, creativity and innovation are indispensable traits.
The matchday training sessions embodied this philosophy, encouraging the young athletes not only to master the fundamentals but also to think outside the box and embrace creativity as a tool for success.
As the training sessions reached their crescendo, another exciting prospect awaited – the chance to witness Wycombe Wanderers in action. The matchday training package, thoughtfully designed and crafted by Activities Programme Manager, Andy Homent, included the opportunity to attend a Wycombe Wanderers EFL League 1 fixture at Adams Park as a guest of the Foundation.
Families and players could bolt on tickets for a nominal fee, transforming the weekend into a complete footballing experience. The synergy between grassroots training and professional matchday viewing created a sense of community, uniting players, coaches, and supporters in their shared passion for the beautiful game and allowing them to see the skills they’d learned that morning put into practice on the hallowed turf at Adams Park.
The under 9’s were witness to the Chairboys’ magnificent 5-2 victory over heated rivals Peterborough United on Saturday, February 10th. As goals from Archie Finn Collins (OG), Jack Grimmer, Kieran Sadlier, Nicholas Bilokapic (OG) and a late fifth from David Wheeler saw off the Posh, who staged something of a second-half resurgence with goals from David Ajiboye and Ricky-Jade Jones.
The under-11’s were present at Adams Park as the Chairboys fell to a tough 4-2 defeat against Barnsley on March 2nd. Dale Taylor gave Wycombe Wanderers the lead somewhat against the run of play, only for Sam Cosgrove to equalise with the last kick of the first half. Despite Kieran Sadlier restoring the Chairboys’ lead on 52mins, the Tykes ran riot and dominated proceedings as goals from Donovan Pines, Corey O’Keeffe and Conor Michael Grant secured the win.
Mark Fawkes, Prolojik Marketing Coordinator, who was present at both sessions commented on the sessions: “The Wycombe Wanderers Matchday Training Package is a must for any grassroots team looking to up their game. Ashley and Jason are a credit to both the Foundation and to Wycombe Wanderers Football Club, and it was so cool to see the lads soaking up every word of their knowledge and experience.”
The matchday training sessions orchestrated by the Wycombe Wanderers Foundation, with the invaluable support of Prolojik, were not just about football drills and tactical acumen. They were a celebration of creativity, innovation, and the enduring spirit of grassroots football.
By nurturing these young talents and providing them with an immersive footballing experience, the foundation and Prolojik have paved the way for a future generation that understands the transformative power of sports – a philosophy that goes far beyond the confines of the football pitch.
Here’s to the rest of the season for both Hullbridge and Wycombe Wanderers!
Some more photos of the sessions:
