Parents launch Go Fund Me campaign over football academy closure

A group of parents has threatened legal action against Gateshead Council over the closure of a football academy programme at Kingsmeadow Community School.

Their Go Fund Me page said the scheme run by the Evolution Football Academy for the secondary school had been cancelled without notice even though it has attracted pupils who wanted to use it to prepare for a career either as footballers our as coaches, referees or physiotherapists.

The parents said some pupils had completed several years of the football training and would be left in limbo.

Pupils were to leave school with FA refereeing and coaching qualifications, having had training in first aid and safeguarding with six hours a week devoted to the sport.

The Go Fund Me page sought money to mount a legal challenge over what it said was school having wrongly cited employment law issues for the course’s closure. Our only way forward is to put our case before the judge.” it said.

A Gateshead Council spokesperson said: “We understand that parents are disappointed that the Evolution Football Academy at Kingsmeadow School will not continue beyond the current school year. Families affected by this decision have been kept informed by the school.

“We are in process of responding to the legal claim and are unable to comment further.”