By Isle of Wight Observer
Shanklin under-8 football team have secured the support of ICRTouch, which has supplied a full training kit for all players and coaches ahead of their debut season.
Inspired by the 2026 World Cup, Shanklin FC under-8s were founded by manager, Ben Murphy, assisted by Adam Priest, both of whom have sons in the team. Ben set up the squad to give young local children the opportunity to play for their home team, build confidence, make friends, and fall in love with the sport.
For every child in the squad, this represents their first experience of playing football as part of a team. Wearing a matching, high-quality kit has helped to bring the squad together.
“With the memories of the 2026 World Cup still fresh, we wanted to give the kids the chance to play for their local team, and experience what being part of a squad is all about,” said Ben.
“When you’re seven or eight years old, putting on a professional-looking training kit makes you feel like a Premier League footballer! Seeing the kids’ faces light up when they received their kit was fantastic. A massive thank you to ICRTouch for supporting the squad and making their first season so memorable.”
With four pre-season games under their belts, the team is now officially ready to begin its league football journey. While scorelines are secondary at this age, the experience of playing together, building confidence, and growing as a team will set them up for a fantastic season ahead.