Louis and Joe Ryan at St George’s Park last week
Brothers Joe and Louis Ryan from Keynsham have received a prestigious FA Football Futures Innovation Award for setting up the Kelston Road Football Training Programme for local children during the school holidays.
Described as using their passion for football to bring together a community and address anti-social behaviour, the two were presented with their award at a glittering ceremony at the FA’s new St George’s Park National Football Centre in Burton-upon-Trent.
Working with the junior section of Keynsham Town FC, the town council and the Somerset FA, former St Brendan’s student Joe set up the programme of free football training weeks at Kelston Road three years ago. He was then joined by his younger brother Louis, who is now at St Brendan’s, and the two have also helped deliver a junior leaders course at their own club.
The citation for their Innovation Award read: “Joe and Louis are two outstanding young people who have had such a positive impact on their local community through football. Both with a passion for coaching and a love of the game, the brothers work tirelessly to offer children the chance to play football during their holidays and have inspired friends to get involved with running the sessions.”
