Who are Canaries Football Club?

Canaries FC are a community club based in Preston. The club has been established since 1993 and consist of players from different backgrounds. Canaries FC's senior team have been successful in numerous seven-a-side and five-a-side national tournaments, most notably being the inaugural winners of the Sony Entertainment Television Asia tournament in 2001 and then again in 2002. The seniors also qualified for the grand final of the Millennium Cup; the biggest 5-a-side tournament in Britain. Canaries seniors began playing 11-a-side football in 2001 in the Lancashire Evening Post Sunday Football League and achieved 4 consecutive promotions to the Premier league. The first time this had been achieved in over 40 years of the league. Canaries FC seniors have also been crowned UK Asian Community Cup champions in both 2008 and 2009 and Northwest Asian champions in 2010.

Away from the pitch, Canaries FC were awarded Charter Standard Status in November 2007.

The Way Forward

Canaries FC have taken positive steps to encourage and give youngsters in the community the opportunity to be represented in a recognised FA affiliated league, by entering a junior football team in the Central Lancashire Junior Football League. The club are also involved in numerous voluntary community projects through partnership with other organisations. The emphasis is primarily on youths to enable them to focus their energies in a positive way. We aim to provide opportunities for all members of the community.

Youth Development Strategy

We pride ourselves on being at the forefront of the local community in helping the youths of today. Canaries FC recognise the need to engage with the youths and the importance of ensuring the club are here to stay for the foreseeable future. This has been utmost in our minds, during our youth development programmes. Canaries FC are actively involved in organising and conducting coaching sessions for youngsters. Canaries FC have a number of qualified managers within their ranks. The youth development programme is an ongoing initiative. Canaries FC are also responsible for the organisation and implementation of a number of leagues for different youth age groups. These initiatives have numerous benefits:
  • It allows the youngsters to develop and express their skills in a constructive manner;
  • It preoccupies the youngsters, thereby benefiting the community;
  • It enables Canaries FC to have a readily available youth policy for the future; and
  • more importantly the initiative allows Canaries FC to put something back into the community.

Aims and objectives

Canaries FC have a number of goals both long term and short term. These are:
  • to encourage the community to work together in order to create, develop and enjoy Senior and Junior football;
  • to provide structured pathways in football and sports for players of all ages and ability;
  • to support and encourage all interested individuals to attain Governing Body Awards and other qualifications in order to support Canaries FC and the community;
  • to ensure Canaries FC become established for both the senior and junior teams within recognised and respected leagues;
  • to provide educational opportunities and diversionery activities for the youths in the community.