Over 60 kids are set to take part in the final day of a free football holiday programme run by Fun First Football at Oceandowns Reserve on Thursday, April 24.

“It’s been two amazing days so far,” said Colm Kenny, director of Fun First Football.

“We have close to 65 kids coming tomorrow. It’s so much fun seeing them run around and getting into football.”

Kids enjoying Fun First Football's free holiday programme at Oceandowns Reserve, Mount Maunganui. Photo/Supplied.

The free three-day programme, which kicked off on Tuesday, has been held at Oceandowns Reserve on Gloucester Street in Mount Maunganui. It features two inflatable football fields and a range of energetic games like Foot Bowling, Tunnel of Death, Shark Game, BIG GIANT BALL GAME, and the Ninja Noodle Game.

“These games are all about kids learning through fun rather than structured coaching,” Kenny said.

“It’s important to make sport fun for kids when they start playing, and not about being the best.”

Kids enjoying Fun First Football's football game in the inflatable field at Oceandowns Reserve, Mount Maunganui. Photo/Supplied.

Kenny has been running football programmes for kids for seven years and now operates in 13 schools across the western Bay of Plenty.

What began with just a handful of children at Arataki Park has grown into a thriving afterschool programme for four to nine-year-olds, with 420 kids participating every term across Mount Maunganui, Papamoa, Tauranga, and Omokoroa.

“We started with six or seven kids,” he said. “Before long, we were up to 24, then expanded to Papamoa and Omanu. I found myself running all over the field after balls—and that’s when the idea for inflatable fields came to me.”

Kids enjoying Fun First Football's football game in the inflatable field at Oceandowns Reserve, Mount Maunganui. Photo/Supplied.

Kenny had the custom inflatable fields designed and manufactured in China. Now, Fun First Football has four of them, providing a safe and contained space for kids to play.

He believes the programme is now the largest independent school football initiative in the country.

“We have really appreciated our success and last term, gave all 400 of our kids free footballs.”

Kids enjoying the afterschool holiday programme at Oceandowns Reserve. Photo/Supplied.

This week’s free holiday programme is another way to give back, particularly in challenging times.

“With the cost-of-living crisis, we think it’s important to support parents as much as we can,” Kenny said.

The recent success of the All Whites—who qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia in front of over 25,000 fans at Eden Park—has also sparked more interest in the sport.

“New Zealand qualifying for the World Cup—awesome!” he said. 

Fun First Football's 'BIG GIANT BALL GAME' at the free three-day school holiday programme at Oceandowns Reserve, Mount Maunganui. Photo/Supplied.

Kenny also acknowledged the support of local businesses like Lone Star, Freeport, CBK, and Village Green Bar & Kitchen, who provide Player of the Day vouchers, as well as Tauranga City Council for their continued support.

"Tauranga Council and the amazing relationship we have with them allowing us to use their grounds, and their spending on great initiatives building playgrounds, walkways, cycle paths and free community events for families.”

The Oceandowns Reserve playground. Photo/Supplied.

Oceandowns Reserve, where the holiday programme is held, was upgraded by the council to help meet the city’s growing demand for active reserve space. The park now features two football fields, lighting, a playground, public toilets, changing sheds, and car parking—making it an ideal venue.

Council said by establishing the park primarily for football use, it alleviates some of the pressure at other sports fields for other sports codes such as Arataki Park and Blake Park. 

The three-day free school holiday prgramme has been running at Oceandowns Reserve this week. Photo/Supplied.

Despite the programme’s success, Kenny says he’s happy keeping things local and balanced and enjoys the lifestyle that Fun First Football has provided.

“People ask about franchising or expanding to different regions. My honest answer is that I would rather enjoy time with my wife and my one-year-old daughter during the day and run the programme with six of my enthusiastic coaches from 3-4pm Monday to Friday with events and birthday parties every second weekend.

“Money isn’t everything as long as you love what you do.”

For more information about Fun First Football, visit their Facebook page or funfirstfootball.co.nz.