In lay-mans terms, Pétanque is a sport played on a hard gravel surface (Piste) where players toss a metal ball (boule) towards a small wooden "jack". Teams are made up of one, two or three players. Singles and doubles teams have 3 boule each and triples two each. Team A throw their boule nearest the jack and Team b throws as many boules as it takes to get closer. Points are scored by counting how many the winning team's boule are closer than their opposition. The first to 13 wins. It's as easy as that....
But get the bug and it becomes as tactical as chess and you'll keep coming back for more! 
We need to raise £10,000 for the cost of creating a new covid safe community Pétanque piste for new and existing players to experience in a local, picturesque park in the heart of Leicester City. We have the manpower and experience of creating the playing area, we just need that cash boost to help us complete this project and we will be ready to play within weeks of reaching our target.
The global COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the playing of the sport throughout the country. In Leicestershire, venues are usually based in Pubs or Social clubs and, as these were forced to close due to lockdown restrictions, all league matches, competitions and more importantly, social play stopped overnight. Some of these venues may never even reopen.
While these venues were closed, there were no public areas to play anywhere in the county. Even when Pubs and clubs could reopen, venues were too small for players to play while maintaining a safe distance and many venues had placed tables on the playing areas so they could comply with social distancing guidelines outside.
After many months of searching, our club has managed to source the ideal facility with its own private pavilion. A former bowls club in the middle of a busy, social city park.
The park is already home to Cricket and Football teams, but the low entry cost to play Pétanque is ideal for those in the surrounding areas experiencing social and economic hardship or on a budget. We are one of the largest and most active Petanque clubs in Leicester. With our club's management and over 80 years playing experience between the committee members, we can be part of a positive role bringing new visitors to the area, encouraging footfall and promote community involvement.
Over 90% of venues in Leicestershire with the current distancing guidelines, can only accommodate up to a maximum of 12 players at any one time. When complete, this facility will be able to allow up to 100 players at the same time to play and up 150 players without restrictions in place.
We have signed an agreement with Leicester City Council to take over the facility and have permission to convert it to the largest playing area in the East Midlands.
Pétanque is played on a hard gravel surface and we need your help to fund the creation of the playing area. Your donations will fund the removal of the grass and soil which will be replaced with a stone base and gravel topping to create a new, large Petanque playing area. We will also create a ramp to access the area for those people with mobility issues.
Based in a prominent position in local picturesque park, we can engage and involve the local community and visitors to the park to try our sport all year round. As an inexpensive and inclusive sport, we are passionate about offering all aspects of the game to everyone, irrespective of economic status, race, age, gender, physical ability, sexuality or religious belief.
With male and female DBS enhanced coaches already in place at the club, we will be offering free weekly coaching to Junior players under the age of 18 during the summer months and free adult coaching sessions for interested players.
We will be open for social playing sessions at every opportunity allowing those players once again to interact with their friends, enjoying the fresh air and physical activity that has been missing since March this year.
The pétanque community forges many long term friendships and this pandemic has affected the physical and mental well-being of so many players and this is our chance to do something positive for those people and the community.
- Get people playing together as soon as possible
- Engage the local community and encourage active involvement in the continued running of the facility
- Hold open days, showcase events and attend local activities to promote our sport
- Grow and develop our Junior playing section
- Increase membership by at least 10 members per year for the next 5 years
- Increase number of teams playing regularly in local leagues within 2 years
What better way to fight back against something that has caused so much disruption, isolation and economic hardship in our lives by building a community hub with sport, fitness and social interaction at its heart.