The popular two-day camps give boys and girls aged 5-13 the chance to develop their football skills while exercising, having fun and making new friends.
Run by the Irish Football Association in partnership with Portadown-based Irwin’s Bakery, they will be staged at 28 venues across Northern Ireland between 27th and 30th October.
And for the first time this Halloween there will be a camp aimed specifically at young people with physical and learning disabilities.
Open to players aged 7 to 17, it is being staged at Loughside Recreation Centre in Belfast on 29th and 30th October.
Colette Wilson, marketing manager for programme sponsors Irwin’s Bakery, said:
“It’s great to see the holiday camps initiative going from strength to strength. We are particularly delighted that young people with physical and learning disabilities will be given the opportunity to enjoy a camp this Halloween.
“We’ve been supporting the Irish FA’s grassroots football development programme for more than nine years now and 2015 has been the biggest year yet.”
At all of the camps Irish FA coaches give kids tips on dribbling, passing and shooting, as well as encouragement to continue into a more competitive playing environment.
And all the young players leave with a Nutty Krust goodie bag.
Back in the summer around 3400 kids, including more than 200 girls, enjoyed camps at 60 venues.
A first ever visit to Cushendall was among those camps – and it was so successful that the Co Antrim seaside town is hosting another camp next month.
Log on to www.irishfaholidaycamps.com for information.
Details of the camp aimed specifically at young people with physical and learning disabilities are available from Alan Crooks at acrooks@irishfa.com.
Ruth Sloan from programme sponsors Irwin’s Bakery and Mal Donaghy, the Irish Football Association’s Disability Football Officer, offered the kids lots of encouragement.