The initiative to bring in the goals was the result of feedback given by the local community at a ‘family fun day’ hosted at the site by the commission in July.
‘We had our inflatable football pitch here and little skateboard ramps, all sorts of stuff. It was an opportunity to ask the residents what they wanted,’ said Nicky Will, director of communications at the commission.
‘We run something called Street Sports, and this is a bit of an extension of our Street Sports initiative.'
Street Sports aims to ensure that young people have the opportunity to be active and play sport in their local communities.
‘Sometimes it’s really difficult and you can’t get transport to get to things. So, just having these opportunities right on your doorstep, where kids can come after school, they can come at the weekends, is really important.
‘We’re also working in partnership with the parish, who are working on a community plan. A lot of the feedback that they’ve had is that kids want opportunities to play sport and be active in the parish. And this is a great site.’
Miss Will was particularly grateful to all those who had helped realise the plan to introduce the goals, especially the Guernsey Football Association, which donated them, and Bob Froome & Sons, which then got them on site.
‘We’re a charity and it can be quite difficult sometimes. It’s thanks to the support from others that we’ve been able to put the goals here.’
The Sports Commission is now turning its thoughts towards what else it might be able to do to make the most of the Rue Jehannet site.
‘We’re working with our community partners, the community police, the youth commission.
‘We’re going to be sitting down later this month to talk about any wider plans, but a suggestion already is that they’d quite like a bike track.
‘So, maybe we can be a bit creative and use some natural materials to make a couple of bike jumps and things like that. And I think the parish plan also talks about wanting pollinator patches and areas of green.’
The commission is also considering other areas around the island where they could deliver similar initiatives for other local communities,
‘We’ve been receiving more and more requests for proper goals to be put in around the island. My plea is that if anyone wants to sponsor some goals, please get in touch with us.’
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