With 34 school teams contesting the Kinder +Sport Football League Kids Cup on Monday, January 12, it was another busy day at Brentford FC Community Sports Trust.
In amongst the bustle of excited children from Hounslow, Richmond and Ealing, Minister for Sport Helen Grant was finding out more about the work of the Trust from Chief Executive Lee Doyle.
The main reason for Ms Grant’s visit was to meet the young talent that had been developed, and is still developing, at the Trust.
She spoke to Amber Lloyd and Sian Marshman, two permanent staff members who had started their careers through volunteering and apprenticeships.
Amber, whose apprenticeship was partly funded by the Danny Fullbrook Fearless Foundation, told the Minister she was enjoying her diverse role and was working hard to get more women involved in sport.
Ms Grant also met two of the Brentford FC CST Futsal scholars.
Alfie Hipwell and Louis Dailey were modest about their football skills and talked instead about their hopes after the Futsal BTEC Level Three Diploma.
Alfie, who has been involved with the Trust since he was four, told Ms Grant he wanted to go to university to study journalism.
'A' team captain Louis said he was learning a lot on the Futsal course and hoped to go into coaching.
During the visit, MsGrant was accompanied by MP for Isleworth and Hounslow Mary Macleod.
After the football tournament, the MPs visited the Brentford Boating Arch at Kew Bridge where they met more inspirational young people.
This time it was the Motivator coaching team – who are developing sessions to get more young people active in the borough of Hounslow.
After the serious talking was done, Helen and Mary were happy to pose on rowing machines alongside the Trust team.
Ms Grant said: “It has been a fantastic visit and I really enjoyed meeting the apprentices and staff today.
"It is clear how passionate they are about sport and developing young people and I am very impressed."
Ms Macleod said Brentford FC CST was a great example of how young people can develop within a sporting environment.
She added: “The Club and Community Sports Trust understand the power of sport and they are doing some fantastic work.
"They are not just getting people into health and fitness but developing self-confidence and teaching important life lessons.
“Lots of people get involved in sport because they enjoy it and then there is the opportunity for them to train as a coach or volunteer in a range of sports.
"We need to open up more opportunities for young people – and the Brentford Trust is a great example of how to do this.”
The final destination on the Trust’s whistle-stop tour was the Lionel Road stadium site where project director Brian Burgess spoke to Ms Grant about the future plans.
While they carefully dodged trucks, Brian drew an imaginary outline of the stadium that will be a new sports hub for the Brentford community.
Brentford FC Vice Chairman Donald Kerr said; “It is fantastic for the club that the work of the Community Sports Trust is being recognised by the Minister for Sport.
"This will only raise the profile of Brentford Football Club.”
MP for Brentford and Isleworth Mary Macleod said: “The Minister with responsibility for sport visited Osterley and Chiswick on Monday to meet some of Brentford Football Club’s Community Sports Trust’s fantastic apprentices.
"Does the Secretary of State agree that apprenticeships in sport are incredibly valuable for building the knowledge and skills needed for a successful career in the industry, and that we should encourage even more of them?"
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Sajid Javid said, “I know that Brentford is having probably one of its best years on the pitch.
"I am pleased to say that the club has done excellent work off the pitch too, which the Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Ms Grant), went to see for herself.
"I agree with my hon. Friend the Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Mary Macleod) on the importance of apprenticeships in sport and the great opportunity they offer for individuals to develop important skills.
"That is why I am pleased with the support that Sport England already provides.
"Brentford FC is a good example to many others, showing what clubs can do to help their local community.”
BFC Community Sports Trust CEO Lee Doyle said: “With our diverse range of projects using sport to capture the imagination we are perfectly placed to provide training and work experience.
"The Minister’s visit and Secretary of State’s praise in Parliament provide a focus on this important area of opportunity and we welcome further initiatives to enable the Trust to provide more opportunities.”