If you haven’t heard of it before, it will mean something by the time you have read this! 200 youngsters ranging from 6 to 18 definitely know, and will enthusiastically praise this special undertaking.

The Thunder Club is a sports academy started in 2022, currently based at the Amendoeira Golf Club, Alcantarilha, where twice a week boys and girls play football – and more recently netball and hockey – in a friendly, fun environment. This is a not-for-profit club for children and is free - yes free! - and has grown so much that they have now been able to split the boys and girls up into age-related teams to keep things fun, engaging and safe. This inclusive club is open for all nationalities, with experienced coaches and volunteers helping to nurture their players’ understanding of these sports.

Thunder Club is run passionately by Mark Cathersides, Darren Cranshaw and Henri Lambriex, who are motivated by a mutual love for sport and support for young athletes. A host of vetted volunteers are happy and willing to give up their time for the lads and lasses, who are coached and organised to play the sport they are interested in. This is a non-competitive club with no pressure on anyone to perform, and welcomes those who know nothing about sport, as well as those who are keen players. All are given red team shirts as part of their kit, balls are provided, and even hockey sticks are available for those into hockey. On occasion, teams meet head-to-head with similar local clubs across the Algarve for fun tournaments.

Hockey and Netball

These two sports have been added due to demand for something different, and hockey fans are fortunate to have an instructor who is a former high-level player and coach – kids are not just running about wacking a ball with a stick, but given structured direction in a controlled and knowledgeable manner.

Netball teams are mixed with boys and girls enjoying competing in the same team with an amazing coach. Tina Alter has taken their skills to a new level that sees them regularly competing against teams such as the Vilamoura Vipers - the Algarve’s longest standing team.

Mark and his colleagues have so much enthusiasm for what they are providing for children, giving their time and energy free, and are overflowing with ideas to ensure the Thunder Club offers something the kids may not have had the opportunity to experience - free sport for fun. What could be better for the youngsters but fresh air, companionship and a chance to perhaps learn something new, and moving them away from keyboards and screens to interact with other children?

Charity Help

This Christmas, the Thunder Club generously stepped in to help Algarve Emporium Charity. Club members and families filled 21 shoeboxes with lots of small gifts for some of the less fortunate people that the charity helps in Tunes. Every box has been personalised to individual people’s situations.

Credits: Supplied Image;

So how is it free?

Have you any idea how much all this costs? Someone has to pay the rent for the pitches used for training and matches. Someone has to pay for the kit, the balls and the hockey sticks, to keep it free. Someone has to pay their coaches. Someone has to do the admin. The whole point of the Thunder Club is to provide a free opportunity for children that involves making them feel like an important part of a community, where emotional and social connections can be formed.

Sponsors

The Thunder Club themselves are desperately in need of sponsors to help finance their club, and would be happy to talk to anyone who can help, and in return, they can offer brand visibility, access to a specific audience, or positive public relations. They are running 3 social events per year, so these could be incorporated into any sponsorship deal.

To help keep the Thunder Club free, Mark would be delighted to hear from any reputable businesses willing to help and support the Club, keeping it a free reality for the children.

Contact Mark by email at: markanthonycathersides@gmail.com or phone on (+351) 914 426 137.