Young footballers in Haverhill can join two free open training sessions this July, hosted by the New Croft Foundation for Haverhill Rovers U13 Reds. The sessions run on 9 July and 16 July 2026 from 7pm to 8pm at The New Croft on Chalkstone Way.
The charity is inviting all U13 players, typically aged 12 and 13, to take part. Parents or guardians must register their child in advance by emailing [email protected]. The Foundation announced the opportunity on its X account on 1 July, giving families just over a week to sign up before the first date.
The free sessions offer a direct path into the Foundation’s regular paid programmes, which cost £20 a month for the U10 to U13 Development Centre. Those sessions run on Fridays from 6pm to 7pm and deliver 39 sessions a year. By opening the taster evenings to the wider community, the charity aims to remove barriers for children who have not yet joined a club side.
The New Croft itself has expanded rapidly. A second floodlit 3G pitch opened in December 2023 after a £1.3 million project supported by an £825,000 grant from The Football Foundation. The facility now serves 156,000 visitors a year and has 800 members. Haverhill Rovers Football Club has grown to more than 50 teams, making it one of the two largest clubs in Suffolk.
Haverhill Rovers U13 Reds compete in the Cambridge & District Colts League. The New Croft, managed by the Haverhill Community Sports Association, has been a community hub since 2008. The Foundation became a registered charity in September 2023 and works alongside Samuel Ward academy to deliver football and education programmes for local children.
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