Young Guns Tackle Grass Roots Game

As members of a generation that is often labelled lazy and lamented for showing a lack of initiative, it would seem that Jarrad Ince and Danny Millen are doing all they can in order to avoid being tarred with the same brush.  The inseparable double act who have been friends since childhood have now taken the bold step into the world of business together and the Marple pair are bringing a fresh perspective and much-needed enthusiasm to Grass Roots sport.

Millen and Ince hope that soon, this will be a  thing of the past.

Fit 4 Kidz targets a niche in the market and offers the parents of children aged 2-5 the opportunity to introduce their kids to sport in a safe and fun environment.  I asked Millen about the aims of the company, ‘there is currently no structure in place to offer a stepping stone into sport from pre-school into primary education, by setting up Fit 4 Kidz we feel we’re doing our bit to help curb childhood obesity and get children interested in sport and healthy living at an early age.’  He went on to add that cuts to the funding of sports in the UK, made by the coalition government, haven’t helped the problem of childhood obesity and that it may take more companies like Fit 4 Kidz to help bridge the gap.  The general consensus in Britain is that Grass Roots sport is a struggling industry and Ince and Millen both agree that there is room for improvement but insist that companies like theirs, amongst others, are crucial when it comes to the development of youth sport in the UK. 

London's Olympic Stadium.

With the Olympics just around the corner the duo are hopeful that the games will leave a massive legacy and rejuvenate the country’s love of sport, ‘We’re a multisport company so obviously we’ll take a massive interest in the London Games.  A successful Olympic campaign would be a good thing for companies like ours.’

Ince and Millen, both 20, show a refreshingly positive attitude to their work and are thriving on the responsibility of running their own business and the rewards that brings.  The emphasis, they stress, is on providing an introduction to sport in a fun, caring and positive environment and there is no doubt that the local lads offer a valuable service to their local community; running sessions in schools, playgroups and nurseries around the Stockport area.  The company’s early success has seen them begin to branch out into Tameside and its surrounding areas. 

The company formed in early 2011 after Jarrad and Dan both decided to make fresh starts and use their coaching qualifications, love for sport and initiative to provide the youth in their local area with a stepping stone into Physical Education.  As well as running Fit 4 Kidz the pair also manages to find the time to coach the youth team at local Evo-Stick League club New Mills AFC, who have recently began to offer young aspiring footballers in the area the chance to become full time scholars, in a rare move for a club at this level.  Despite this the boy’s focus is unwavering and their determination to see the growth of their brain child continue is plain for all to see.  They coach with passion and an immovable smile that is mirrored on the faces of the children they coach. 

Maintaining the steady growth of Fit 4 Kidz is the main aim and they continue to receive interest from schools and nurseries in the local areas for their services. This ambitious pair is setting themselves no boundaries and they have not ruled themselves out of the running for the vacant England Managers post, ‘We’ve sent our CVs off but not heard back from the FA yet, our managerial records are untarnished so we’re hopeful’.