The local charity side won at the Bradford Sports Awards

CHARITY Craven For Change football team has achieved a lot since it was formed around 18 months ago.

For example, the 11 team won Club or Team Amateur Performance in the Team Achievers category at the Bradford Sports Awards at the Life Center in Bradford last Friday (May 17).

Craven For Change have already played at professional stadiums such as Scunthorpe United, while a game at Macclesfield FC is on the horizon, but Danny Dixon, a founding member of the charity team, has revealed his secret desire for the club – to play in the Valley. Parade.

“100 per cent that would be the dream as a Bradford City fan,” admitted Dixon. “We played in Hull and teams came from Blackpool and Cheshire.

“I’ve played all over the UK but to get to the Valley Parade ground – once is better! – would be the dream.”

Craven For Change, which is run by volunteers, aims to raise awareness and money for local charities through football and is an inclusive organization for boys of all ages, sizes and abilities.

Dixon explained: “I was part of the original committee and some of us would play sevens occasionally with our friends, some of us playing and some of us not, and we had a connection with a local charity in Bradford and it gave us the opportunity to play football in 11.

“It’s a good way to release energy, release stress, take your mind off things. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, you can unite on a football field.

“We have players of different ages and backgrounds and when you help charities it’s great. It’s a big win.”

Dixon added: “Every game we raise funds for a different charity. We don’t stick to just one. We like to reach as many people as possible, so when we’re at home we’ll pick a charity that’s close to someone’s family or raise money because of something that’s happened in the community.

“We adapt it for each game as we go. The result of the match is irrelevant. It’s nice to win, but the main thing is we’re raising money for charity and going out and playing football.”

As for the next 12 months, Dixon said: “We’re going to take things one step at a time, play as many teams as possible, make new connections and raise as much money as possible for various charities.”

Highly regarded in the same category was the Brazilian ju-jitsu club, Gracie Barra Bradford.