Story added: 19th April 2024
Fantastic Four - City players visit RAF Mildenhall Youth Programme
Josh Sargent, Ashley Barnes, Sam McCallum and Jacob Sørensen recently visited RAF Mildenhall’s Youth Programme for an afternoon of fun.
The group would first visit the ‘Teen Centre’, where the young participants were enjoying an afternoon of recreational activities following their day’s schooling. Table tennis, shuffleboard, chess, lego, pinball, PlayStation and much more occupied the children and players alike as the group immersed themselves in the fun.
Following this, the quartet moved over to the Junior Centre and sports hall to set up a surprise for over 100 eagerly awaiting children. Disguised in their finest fancy dress (wrestling masks and an aptly selected ‘king’ outfit for the U.S native, Sargent) the group emerged from an inflatable tunnel, opening fire with a barrage of nerf guns and foam rockets, to the children’s delight.
After some impressive penalty kicks by the young participants to better the questionable goalkeeping skills of the players, there was enough time for some photos and autographs to conclude this stage of the visit.
It was then time for the players to return to their element – the soccer fields… and it was derby day!
After another meet-and-greet with some excitable children, parents and military representatives, the group watched as Mildenhall U9s-U11s took on neighbouring base RAF Lakenheath and reluctantly refrained from joining in a training session for one of Mildenhall’s other young sides.
Finally – no visit to RAF Mildenhall is complete without a quick pit-stop to check out the American shopping mall and grocery store. Wide-eyed by the assortment of American candies and goodies, some much needed water and electrolytes to replenish the players’ afternoon of activities would have to suffice to draw a close to the day.
The Community Sports Foundation would like to thank RAF Mildenhall for their hospitality and reception, Chad Barkalow for arranging the visit to the Youth Programme, and finally to RAF Mildenhall Base Commander, Col. Ryan J. Garlow for taking the time to welcome the group.