There was a boost for Kilgetty AFC Girls teams this month, with news of further kit sponsorship.

Ty Francis MBE, co-founder of New York Welsh and JerseyForAll.org has committed to further kit sponsorship for the Girls teams.

The New York Welsh Kilgetty partnership started in 2018 when Ty first sponsored Kilgetty AFC Under 14s Girl’s Team kit and training tops using the New York Welsh diaspora organisation’s branding, after a brief conversation with Kilgetty AFC Chairman, Lukas Gamble.

This became one of the catalysts for the launch of JerseryForAll.org, an initiative he then launched with his wife Alayna, to raise money for grassroots sport in Wales, with a focus on promoting minority sports, especially organisations delivering girls and disability sport, to help more girls, women’s, and mixed ability teams in Wales find funding.

In 2020, James North, Kilgetty AFC director of football, established Kilgetty AFC Girls Under 8s, 10s, and 12s teams. When over 70 girls registered within a few weeks, the cost to kit out the teams was a challenge. Ty stepped in, smashing that challenge and providing kits for all of the new female players.

With strong Pembrokeshire roots, Ty is a former Tenby Greenhill School pupil and former vice-president of the New York Stock Exchange, now chief advisory officer of global ethics and compliance company, LRN who’s HQ is in New York City, where he co-founded New York Welsh.

As with all grassroots clubs, sponsorship is invaluable at Kilgetty AFC, it’s thanks to such on-going support that the Kilgetty AFC Girls Football teams have now been provided with a total of 125 kits.

New York Welsh recently increased their support when Ty heard about the growing numbers in the under 13s girls’ team, securing sponsorship funds to buy a kit for every new player. In addition to further tops they provided for the new Under 7s and some of the U13s last season.

“It is thanks to New York Welsh and JerseyForAll.org that our young female players have access to play football as a team, meaning the girls can raise their activity and fitness levels, improve their confidence and skills, have fun and make friends too. We are so thankful for their fantastic sponsorship!” said Kilgetty AFC girl’s coaches.

The girls’ training sessions and matches take place weekly. Thanks to having new football kits, the girls’ teams will be able to play matches as a recognisable team against other teams in the Pembrokeshire Women’s and Girls League.

“I’m thrilled to be a small part of Kilgetty’s female football hub,” remarked Ty.

“Being able to give back to where I grew up is very important to me, and I’m fortunate that Alayna and I can help provide this funding for the club. But, my part is pretty insignificant next to the contribution that people like Lukas Gamble, James North and Sharon Hardwick make to grassroots clubs like Kilgetty.”

For More information visit: kilgettyafc.co.uk www.jerseyforall.org www.newyorkwelsh.com