About us
Who are We?
We’re Grassroots Sports Academy. We’re a sports provision company from Barnsley that promotes quality and inclusive Physical Education for all. We are dedicated to providing young people with the tools they need to improve their skills and build confidence through engaging sports activities. We believe that the benefits gained from sports can extend far beyond the playing field, translating into valuable life skills that support personal growth and development.
We offer a wide range of services from after school clubs and holiday camps to CPD training and PPA lesson cover. All specially designed to cater to different age groups and interests, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to participate in a supportive and enriching environment. Our programs are designed to enhance physical, social, and cognitive skills, helping young people become well-rounded individuals.
You’ll always find us in one of our local Barnsley Schools, in local care homes or doing sessions within our local communities! There’s never a dull day here at Grassroots as we’re always on the road one way or another.
The Team
Chris Newton
Managing Director
I originally started Grassroots Sports Academy to create opportunity for girls within football, having experience playing at a professional standard as a young player, playing to a high standard on a Saturday as a young man I felt that this combined with my business background has given me the tools to create something special that can have a positive impact on children in sport. Having my own daughters who are interested in sports with very little opportunity has given me the drive to really create something special in and around Barnsley in turn setting a very high standard of expectations for anyone working within my team.
This has now progressed onto a whole scale approach of creating equal opportunity for all people in sport to ensure they have the exposure and opportunity to enjoy and take part in quality sport environments. In addition to this, it was vitally important to help children recover from the effects of Covid-19, to help build their confidence back, reduce anxiety and create a positive environment in sport where children can learn, have fun, and develop physically, mentally, and socially.
Quick Fire Questions
Quick Fire Questions
From a young age I was exposed to top quality Physical Education and sport experiences, which made me create my own passion into sport. Originally, I played football from a young age, then took it upon myself to coach football to young children in the Barnsley area. From this, I then wanted to have a job which replicated my passion for sport which is where I decided to study BaH Physical Education at Leeds Beckett University acquiring a first-class degree and eventually onto a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Physical Education and English helping me acquire my teaching qualification. This gave me the platform to gain knowledge across all sports to ensure I can create positive experiences and opportunity for all. From this, I can create positive lifelong experiences in Physical Education to help children have the same exposure to sport that I had through quality coaching, pedagogy, and enjoyable lessons. I am also a semi – professional (level 3) football referee operating on the National League North and Northern Premier League.
Connor Everard
Director of Physical Education
David Wilkinson
Community Officer
As our local local Community Officer David regularly works widely with the local community reaching out to anyone that is in need of support.
David is an experienced MMA competitor and qualified fitness / gym instructor who promotes positive mental and physical wellbeing. David is the leader of Bear’s Den and promotes community first fitness sessions as well as mental health bootcamps.
David is also one of Grassroots Sports Academy longest serving employees and is most definitely changing lives through sport and physical activity.
