Getting on Board-man (& Eccles)

Boardman & Eccles Lacrosse Club, based at Monton Sports Club in Salford, Manchester has a proud history going back almost 120 years, but over recent times rugby and football has increasingly dominated school sport in Salford, with lacrosse being deprioritised in the curriculum.

The club has managed to maintain links with eight local primary schools, but activity has been stop-start due to limited school budgets and some PE co-ordinator’s lack of interest in non-mainstream sports.  This has in turn resulted in low numbers of children in the club’s junior section, which has then needed them to combine with Cheadle Hulme LC juniors to enable boys matches to be played.

In December 2022, TLF approved a £5,000 grant to fund regular coaching sessions in local primary schools (Y3 to Y6; ages 7-11) for the first year of the club’s three-year programme. This aims to make lacrosse a regular part of the schools’ curriculum, and to create and strengthen the links between schools & the club so more youngsters come to play in the junior section.

Since the New Year, the extra coaching provision has meant lacrosse is now being taught in nine local schools (compared to four in 2022), which has seen club numbers grow, with eight new U-10 boys joining, and five new U-11 girls.    

This builds upon the commitment that continues to be shown by club volunteers and parents in running the junior sessions and supporting the teams - which saw the U-11 Girls and U-14 Boys teams celebrate successful seasons. 

The highlight was the recent victory for the Bears U-11 Girls in the final of the JNGLA Cup [Junior Northern Girls Lacrosse Association] beating Mellor 7-3.  Great scenes at the final, and a really positive foundation for the club to build on and continue to develop their junior programme.