Dorset’s Company of the Year is helping the Cherries to engage youths in sport.
Specialist recruitment company TeamJobs is supporting the club’s youth development scheme, Premier League Kicks.
Jason Gault, MD of TeamJobs, visited the Cherries’ Vitality Stadium to meet AFC Bournemouth (AFCB) player Tyrone Mings, the scheme’s ambassador.
Cherries sign up TeamJobs
Jason said: “It’s been great to meet Tyrone and members of the club’s community sports team and hear how TeamJobs will be helping to involve local young people in sport and coaching.
“As sponsors of Premier League Kicks, we will be supporting AFCB’s free, weekly youth football sessions for boys and girls, as well as their matches against other Premier Kicks clubs and additional packages which enable young people to get involved in volunteering, coaching and to gain qualifications.”
Jason, 43, is a former champion weightlifter and now races for the Primera-TeamJobs cycle team.
He said: “Many of the TeamJobs’ staff love to play sport. We also do as much as we can to engage with the local community and we are really looking forward to getting involved at Premier Kicks sessions.
“It’s really satisfying to know we will be helping to focus young people, keep them fit and widen their ambitions for the future.”
TeamJobs is also jokingly taking some of the credit for the Cherries’ continuing Premiership success – after finding the team a chef.
Hospitality specialist Rachel Wilson explained: “We’re very proud to say we provided AFCB with its first team head chef, Paul Harper.
WHAT A DISH: TeamJobs’ Rachel Wilson and AFCB’s Tyrone Mings tuck into Paul Harper’s latest creation
“He’s a very talented guy who worked for the RAF for 16 years and also as Head Chef at the Sandbanks and Haven Hotels, and now he’s in charge of feeding Tyrone and his fellow players – which is quite a responsibility!”
Paul, who is married and lives in Bournemouth, said: “I cook all the players’ food fresh each day from the best ingredients. Luckily they are on similar diets and they are surprisingly easy to feed. They especially like my curries.”
He added: “There are important things to remember, such as no red meat for two days before a match, because it takes that long to digest. But Tyrone and the rest of the guys are very healthy and know all about the importance of good nutrition.
“They do like the occasional treat though and striker Callum Wilson really likes my scones!”
The Head of AFCB’s Community Sports Trust, Steve Cuss, said: “Premier Kicks is a very successful scheme which we are really enjoying rolling out, and TeamJobs’ valuable support will ensure we can run more sessions and engage even more youngsters in the coming year.”
TeamJobs was named Company of the Year at the Dorset Business Awards 2015.
Premier Kicks sessions take place at the Vitality Stadium, are free and open to boys and girls age 14-plus. To pre-register contact Andrew Battison on: 07887 384762.
