My Football Passion

BES Utilities is delighted to be sponsoring local football club, Anchorsholme FC for the 2020/21 season, as part of their continued commitment to supporting the local community.

Several members of the Anchorsholme FC team are employed by BES and the wider group of companies, so when they were looking for sponsorship, BES was their first port of call.

Andy Pilley, owner and Director of BES, managed Anchorsholme FC many years ago, so when he was presented with the opportunity to reconnect with his old club, he jumped at the chance. As a result, BES has given the club £600 to cover the cost of their football kits.

“Anchorsholme FC is a club really close to my heart,” said Andy. “They were my local team when I was a young lad and I went on to manage them for 11 years, which spurred on my love for football.

“We had some meteoric rises, climbing from division 4a to second in the northern premier league, and I made lifelong friends through playing and managing the team. We were out in all weathers every week, going through all kinds of emotions together – I have such fond memories of those times.

“I’m delighted to get involved with the club once again, and everyone at BES wishes them the best of luck for the upcoming season.”

​Compliance and Complaints Agent, Neil Unsworth is the Chairman of Anchorsholme FC.

“I’m so grateful for BES supporting us this season. It really does go a long way to helping teams like ours, and without people like Andy and the guys at BES we probably wouldn’t exist,” said Neil.

“Andy genuinely shows interest in our club and local football, which is great, and he is always asking how we’re getting on. He knows a lot of our players and has even been over to catch a glimpse of our games in the past. 

“When you put that into perspective with what he has achieved in football with Fleetwood Town, it really demonstrates his generosity and commitment to this community.”

Formed in 2013 by Neil Unsworth, Anchorsholme FC are in the Mid Lancashire League, and their home ground is at Fleetwood Town’s training complex, Poolfoot Farm. Keep up to date with club news by liking them on Facebook here.

A once forlorn football pitch is bringing players of all ages together thanks to a stunning transformation led by Fleetwood Town.

The pitch in East Pines Park, Anchorsholme, was in a rather sorry state until the Cod Army’s grounds team got involved.

Town chairman Andy Pilley – who grew up nearby – pledged to help revamp the facilities after he was approached by the Friends of East Pines Park.

Now, following extensive improvement work, which includes drainage and a new marked-out playing surface and goals, the pitch plays host to a variety of community football sessions for youngsters. There are also weekly walking football sessions for older players.

And the new facilities have already been credited with reducing instances of anti-social behaviour in the area.

Visiting the park to see the stunning transformation for himself, Andy said: “I grew up near the park and know it very well. It’s an important open space for local residents that sadly, until the Friends group got involved, was in a rather sorry state.

“I’m delighted that as a local lad I’ve been able to assist the great work the Friends group does. The pitch now looks fantastic – I’d hazard a guess it’s probably the best park pitch on the Fylde coast!

“What is great to see is that since the work was carried out so many groups are now using the pitch. The club is committed to helping with its upkeep and we hope this is the start of something really special for Anchorsholme residents young and old.”

Together with the help of Fleetwood Town, the Friends group– which is made up of a dedicated band of volunteers and local councillors – has secured grants from Sport England and the Lancashire Crime Commissioner.

This has enabled the creation of coaching sessions for under-11 to under-16 age ranges. The sessions, run by Sport Blackpool in association with coaches from Blackpool and The Fylde College, involve around 50 youngsters.

Cllr Paul Galley, who represents Anchorsholme ward, said: “Andy and Fleetwood Town have been amazing. With their support we have been able to create a truly wonderful playing surface. It has proper drainage, is correctly marked out, goals, nets, corner flags and is something the whole community is rightly proud of.

“The impact of the pitch and coaching sessions, together with our message of respect for the park, respect for other residents and respect for the local community, has helped reduce anti-social behaviour in the park massively.

“Our next step is to create several East Pines Park five-a-side teams that can play in the leagues at Fleetwood Town’s Poolfoot Farm training complex. Again, Andy has generously agreed to help us on that journey.

“Through Andy and Fleetwood Town’s support and guidance, we are creating an amazing footballing and sports legacy which will positively shape the lives of people of our young people for a generation to come.”

Since 2015, the Friends of East Pines Park has secured funding and raised money allowing them to install £45,000 of new play equipment, erect £28,000 of new railings, plant more than 4,000 plants and open a café at Anchorsholme Library. In 2018 the park was named ‘Best Park in Blackpool’ in the Blackpool In Bloom awards.

Football-mad youngsters living at a Salvation Army Lifehouse have now got their very own pitch to play on thanks to Fleetwood Town Football Club chairman Andy Pilley.

The Cod Army was approached by the charity with a view to donating footballs to assist young residents living in temporary supported accommodation, George Williams House. 

However, Andy was so moved by the fantastic work done by The Salvation Army he arranged for the club’s grounds staff to visit George Williams House in Fleetwood which offers support and services to young people and families facing homelessness.

The Highbury team cleared an overgrown garden area and created a football pitch for residents to use. Fleetwood Town’s Community Trust also donated goals, nets and footballs. 

James Scott, Salvation Army Support Worker, said: “We can’t thank Andy and the team at Fleetwood Town enough for their hard work and generosity in getting our garden back into use.

“Since the work they’ve carried out our younger residents have been playing football every evening after school and all day at the weekend.

“It’s a much-needed resource and this was a very generous gesture from Fleetwood Town FC. This offers the children a valuable chance to meet other young residents in a safe environment allowing them to have fun in a healthy way.”

Andy Pilley said: “Fleetwood Town is a real community club and when I heard about the great work The Salvation Army does in Fleetwood I was only too happy to help.

“Our grounds staff not only do brilliant work at Highbury, and our Poolfoot Farm training base, but in the community through our Community Trust.

“It is wonderful to see the transformation of the garden area at George Williams House and we hope the young people living there have many happy hours playing football with their friends and family.”

As well receiving temporary accommodation, residents at George Williams House are helped with gaining access to GPs, mental health support services and assistance with any health issues they may face.

This can include accessing help from agencies who work with people struggling with addiction issues.

Staff also offer support with money management when residents move on to their new home as well as tenancy training to ensure they sustain their new accommodation.

For more details about Fleetwood Town Community Trust’s work in the community go to www.fleetwoodtownfcct.com and for information about The Salvation Army go to www.salvationarmy.org.uk