Barney Daniels has coached the children of Crab Lane for several years. Last week we were informed by the school that Barney would no longer be providing football for a variety of reasons including those relating to health & safety. We were advised that some after school sporting activities would be provided instead. Im sure that the health & safety measures to be put in place for such activities could also be used for the football with Barney. To those of us who have known him over the years, we know that Barney doesn't just teach the basic kicking a ball around a cone stuff, he teaches the little things that only an experienced football player can know. Having played professional football for Manchester City, Manchester Utd, Hyde Utd, Ashton Utd & Stockport, the skills that Barney has to teach have seen many kids, not just from Crab Lane, go on to play for academies and more than a handful are now playing for professional teams. He has also given a lot of girls the confidence and the skill to go on and play for good teams. Barney knows the names of almost every kid he has ever taught and often asks how kids are doing who are now in years 7, 8 and 9. He has even gone to football matches out of school to watch the kids he has taught, some from years before. He never forgets them. Over the years, Barney has had several youth teams begging him to coach them and some he has but couldn't fit them all in. He could very easily have given up the Crab Lane post to go on to do a better paying coaching job but he never did because he loved our kids and would always be loyal to them. I don't think the school realises what they are denying the kids of. The parents & children of Crab Lane have grown to know & love Barney. We the undersigned are not opposed to the multi sports after school activities offered but would like Barney to continue to coach our childrens football.

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