Redfearns Junior Football Club kicks off the rainclouds with a community fun day on Saturday June 8.

MP Dan Jarvis opens the day at Redfearns football ground, Monk Bretton, and a performance follows by Mencap Take a Bow Theatre Group.

Attractions include coaching sessions in the sports arena and stalls with birds of prey, fashion and jewellery, garden furniture, toys and games and cakes. There will be a kiddies' fairground, a Rodeo Bull, donkeys and a win-a-bike competition.

Redfearns JFC, set up in 1996, currently has 180 children on its books. Teams range from under fives to under 15s and league games and tournaments take place regularly, with training once or twice a week.

Children are coached by 16 volunteer FA-qualified coaches. The club has also developed partnerships with other businesses and organisations such as fitness clubs, nurseries, healthy eating outlets, the church, the young farmers, sport centres and entertainment venues.

Many of the club's footballers go on to referee or coach, and play semi-professional football, as it is the main feeder club to Barnsley Football Club Academy.

Fund-raising chairwoman Richard Fisher said: "We're using the day to position football as one of the key contributors to building a strong community.

"Football is an extremely valuable resource to help in the long term success of getting children off the streets and their couches and into sports, which along with tackling child obesity, is a big problem that the government and our community face."

Tracy said sport reduced boredom in children and gave them an alternative, rewarding experience.

"The more children we can get involved during our gala - especially groups with low levels of sport participation - the more children we can help grow to their full potential."

This was the only opportunity for some players, she added, to play football due to cuts to physical education in schools.

The fun day is on until 4pm at the Burton Road ground.