First Bus and Huddersfield Town team up with first match experience for Batley families

A group of 50 adults and children from Batley enjoyed a special bus ride last weekend (Saturday 13 December), with many experiencing their first ever match day at Huddersfield Town!

Families from Soothill Community Association joined the trip, arranged by First Bus and the team at Huddersfield Town, to support access to sports and culture in disadvantaged surrounding areas.

In all, 17 families  boarded the bus from the community centre to make the journey to Huddersfield’s Accu Stadium for the game against Wigan Athletic.

On arrival at the stadium, the children and parents enjoyed a range of pre-match activities organised by the club. These included visiting the community hub, where families played table football and PlayStation games.

Skills session with Santa

Festive activities outside included the Christmas snow globe and a football skills session with Santa before being shown to their seats to watch Town draw the match 1-1.

Habib Dadiwala, Lead at Soothill Community Association, said: “For many on the trip, attending an event like this would not have been possible due to financial barriers and a lack of awareness about access to such opportunities.

“Families experienced first-hand the cultural, social and sporting benefits of a live football match. It was a really positive occasion, helping to gain confidence and develop a stronger sense of belonging and inclusion within the wider community.”

Habib added that several children who previously showed little interest in football are now enthusiastic for the sport and their local football club. “This demonstrates the lasting impact of the initiative beyond the day itself,” he added.

Parents praised the bus company and the club for setting up the trip and putting on a festive show. One said: “ “My children were able to spend time with their friends away from school and the mosque and do something different. They also made new friends.”

Joe Morphet and Mubs Mahmed from First Bus joined the bus from Soothill Community Association.

Joe said: “Working with the club in communities is a new aspect of our partnership. This gave us the opportunity to bring a first-time experience to many families and their reaction to the trip was fantastic.”

First time match experience for families

Mubs, Community and Social Value Manager, added: “Enabling a first live sporting experience made it a wonderful day but this was more than just football, offering an important social outing at a time when many families are experiencing financial hardship and social isolation.”

Callum Limb, Partnerships Manager at Huddersfield Town, said: “It’s great to team up with First Bus on initiatives such as this that genuinely benefit the wider community. Working together to offer free travel and match tickets is a fantastic way to help more people experience what our club is all about.

“We share a strong commitment with First Bus to supporting our local communities and it’s brilliant to see that come to life through activities like this.”

Robyn Kennerdale, Head of Supporter Experience at Huddersfield Town, commented: “We’re thrilled to partner with First Bus on projects like this, especially when we can see the positive impact right here in our local community.

“It was wonderful to welcome so many young supporters on Saturday – for many, it was their first ever Town match, which is such a big moment. Our goal is always to make that first visit feel exciting, welcoming, and unforgettable, and together with First Bus we hope we helped create a lasting connection to the club.”

Picture captions:

Soothill_1: Joe Morphet (left) with Habib Dadiwhala, Suleman Aswat from the association and Mubs Mahmed.

Soothill_2: Parents and children gather at Soothill Community Association to board the bus for the trip to Huddersfield Town’s Accu Stadium.

Soothill_3: Children are all smiles on the way to the match.

Soothill_4,5,6: Terry The Terrier greets parents and children on arrival at the stadium.

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