Cheshire Jets help county police football team

Jul 28 2010 Chester Chronicle

CHESHIRE Jets have come to the rescue of Cheshire Constabulary, in preparation of their annual international football tournament, held in Wavre, Belgium, at the end of this month.

The police force called upon the Jets for help with team hoodies, and Cheshire’s premier basketball sides were only too pleased to be of assistance.

This year is the tenth anniversary of WISPA (Worldwide Indoor Soccer Police Association) holding their first tournament, going back to the birthplace of the competition, and Cheshire Constabulary, the only English representatives, is taking a squad of eight players to the indoor five-a-side contest.

The eight-strong team are travelling and participating fully through self-funding and using up their own holiday time to be involved, but have had help through Tesco and Arsenal FC with prizes for a raffle.

One of the officers, Claire Francom, has been overwhelmed, not just by the Jets' contribution, but by other sports teams in the North West:

“Liverpool Football Club have given us 12 full kits to take with us to give away, Everton have also given us ten football shirts and signed photographs to give to local children in Wavre when we visit, because in between playing, we’ll spend time at local hospitals and children’s homes.”

As well as the gifts, all the kit used by the officers, including the Cheshire Jets hoodies, together with Newcastle United FC tracksuits, will be auctioned off to raise funds for both local charities here in the UK and also for the tournament’s local charity, Televie, which supports children suffering from cancer in Wavre.

After Howard Webb, a Yorkshire policeman on sabbatical to concentrate on refereeing, and his performance as referee in this year’s World Cup final, Cheshire’s finest will be looking to emulate the success of Webb rather than England’s football side.

PC Francom said: “The last time we were involved was back in 2007 when the competition was in China.

“Only two of the players from then are a part of this year’s team, but we were knocked out at the group stages, so hopefully we can get a bit further than that this year.”