The last of a series of free football sessions for youngsters takes place this weekend.

Dartford McDonald’s franchisee Paul Shaw is providing 120 hours of free, safe, Fun Football sessions for children throughout April.

The sessions have been taking place at Dartford Goals in Green Street, to get those between five and 11 playing again.

Getting children active after a long year of lockdown restrictions is key to keeping them mentally and physically healthy. Whether they are first-timers or keen to get back to developing their skills, every child can turn up, take part and enjoy.

In partnership with all four Football Associations across the UK, McDonald’s and its franchisees are providing hundreds of free football sessions, all delivered by a team of fully-qualified coaches at more than 600 locations across the UK this year.

In Dartford alone, it means 120 under 11s will have the opportunity to learn from top FA coaches.

Three Fun Football sessions have already taken place but there are still spaces available at the session tomorrow (Saturday) from 11am-midday.

All sessions follow the latest FA grassroots guidance and government protocols.

Paul said: “Children here in Dartford and across the country have faced a year of immense disruption and upheaval to their daily lives. I sponsor Swanscombe Tigers, so I know just how important the return of grassroots football is for returning to normality.

“Seeing kids getting out, playing with their friends and having fun again has been wonderful. It’s so important they’re able to be active for the benefit of both their physical and mental health, and I’m incredibly proud that our Fun Football sessions are helping to facilitate this in the Dartford community.”

The Dartford Fun Football sessions are part of McDonald’s programme which aims to provide five million hours of free coaching to children in the UK by 2022.

In 2021 alone, McDonald’s will provide more than one million hours of free Fun Football sessions, as it doubles the number of sessions it puts on this summer to enable more youngsters to get active again.

McDonald’s also has a suite of football skills, tricks and drills that you can try at home. Simply go to: www.mcdonalds.co.uk/funfootball for downloadable video drills from ambassadors Jack Rutter, Casey Stoney and Martin Keown.

Click on the same link to sign up for tomorrow's session.

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