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Following the upsurge in interest for American Football the
Redditch Arrows senior team management took the decision to form a Youth Team in the autumn of 2006.
In February 2007, following local advertising, the first training
session for the new team took place. This first session attracted just six players, over the next few weeks this figure doubled to form the basis of what is now the Arrows Youth team.
For the first year the Arrows played flag football, its first
games being at the 2007 'Festival of Football' held at Kings Norton RFC.
Throughout the winter of 2007 the Arrows promoted the youth team
and began planning a lottery application in an effort to finance the purchase of kit for the fledgling team.
2008 began with the Arrows becoming affiliates to the BAFL Youth
league. 2008 also saw two massively important events for the team. Following a year when 12 players made up the Arrows team, the first session of 2008 saw 26 players turn up for training. The
second event was the successful application to the 'Awards for All' lottery fund. This saw the Arrows awarded £9893 which enabled the club t purchase its first set of club kit.
Following six weeks of training the Arrows played their first
fully kitted youth game against the much more experienced Kent Exiles. The Arrows were defeated 42 – 6. Despite the defeat the Arrows were upbeat, having scored their first ever points in
kitted football, but much more importantly Kitted Youth Football had arrived in Redditch.
The Arrows continued to play and train, as associates in, 2008
until December when they submitted their application for full membership of the BAFL Youth league.
2009 will see the Arrows compete in its first ever league
campaign, hoping to achieve similar success to that of their senior counterparts.
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