TEENAGERS from Chelmsford City Football Club's U15s have moved one step closer to funding a dream overseas tour following generous support from an Indian restaurant.
The trip, probably to the Netherlands, would be a major learning experience for the side and will include playing a local tournament and possibly a major stadium tour.
Earlier this month £100 was added to the kitty after parents of the boys in the CCFC Academy dined at Indian Night, in London Road, Chelmsford.
Each month mums and dads will eat out en masse at a restaurant within the city in the hope of attracting a donation from restaurant owners towards the character-building football trip.
Azad Ali, from Indian Night, is the owner of the first restaurant to step-up in support of the children.
On September 13, around two-dozen parents tucked into Indian Night's award-winning cuisine before receiving the heart-warming donation from Mr Ali.
Andy Titley, a team manager at City's Academy, described the evening at Indian Night as "perfect". He added: "Myself, Damien (CCFC Academy Manager), the parents and all the boys wish to say a massive thank you to Ali and the team for their generous donation to kick-start our fund raising for the end-of-season tour.
"The hospitality shown was superb and to get a donation at the end of it was fantastic."
The £100 gift will go towards the £3,500 it will cost to send the 19 U15 squad members abroad.
"The reason behind the trip is to give the boys a memorable end to what we hope to be a successful season, I remember going on a tour when younger and having the time of my life.
"It's looking like costing around £3,500 to fund the trip, so we have a lot of work to do but with the support of local businesses like Indian Night and the community as a whole through our future events we can get there."
