The Grassroots Post

WOMEN'S

•

MEN'S

•

UNI

•

VETS

•

WALKING

•

DISABILITY

•

SMALL-SIDED

...& FUTSAL!

LONDON & THE HOME COUNTIES EDITION

WE GO AGAIN! APRIL 2021

VOL. 01 ISSUE 02

FREE!

PLU

S:

LIE CHARTIN AUSp42

AFTER 100 DAYS WITHOUT AMATEUR FOOTBALL, IT'S FINALLY TIME TO HIT RESTART! HALL OF FAME: ENTRY #1

THE FA: STATE OF PLAY

FOOTY ADDICTS: GAMES FOR ALL

PECKHAM TOWN: THE MENACE

Why I Turn Up

3

Across the region, at all levels, and across all ages, people are getting up, getting out, and turning up. We asked these five why they do it…

1

CHARLIE, STRIKER DOCKLANDS FC, HACKNEY & LEYTON MEN’S SUNDAY LEAGUE

"I play Sunday League because I love the game. I've been playing football for as long as I can remember, from cage football to playing at school and five-a-side, and now Sunday League. You can't beat the atmosphere on a cold Sunday morning over the Marshes, great banter and proper football. Football for me now is about enjoyment and having fun! And what's better than playing with your mates, week in, week out."

2

BECKS, MIDFIELDER AND U15S MANAGER HORSHAM SPARROWS, SUSSEX COUNTY WOMEN’S & GIRLS FOOTBALL LEAGUE

“Having been told when I was young that ‘girls don’t play football’, I’ve been making up for lost time and I’m sure I’ll be doing so for years to come. But when I do finally hang up my playing boots, I’ll still be lacing up my coaching boots early on a Sunday morning in the hope that I can continue to inspire girls and women to take their rightful place on the pitch.”

3

JAMAAL, LONDON CUP ORGANISER LONDON FA

"I live to serve football, I love to serve the game. Running competitions and giving footballers the opportunity to compete for London's biggest prize is such a rewarding experience for me. I use the London Cups to harness the power of grassroots football to enrich footballers' lives in London."

4

SHAUN, CO-ORDINATOR BARNET FC WALKING FOOTBALL TEAM

“It’s more than just a football team. We are a group of friends. We look out for each other with phone calls, Zooms, shopping for those shielding, and to organise fixtures and see the fun that players enjoy from the experience is an emotional high. We have players up to 85 years old celebrating a goal as if they were eighteen again! It’s a great feeling to be part of organising such a great group of people.”

5

AMANDINDER, STRIKER GURU NANAK LADIES FC, SOUTH EAST COUNTIES WOMEN’S LEAGUE

“Football allows me to express myself. It helps me focus on my goal, gives me a purpose to drive and push past my limitations. I reflect on the seven seasons of playing with QPR Ladies FC and it's all thanks to my older brother who taught me how to kick a football. Guru Nanak Ladies FC has become my family; playing with them brings me so much happiness."

HELLO We’re back! At the maddest time in grassroots football history. Editor Mike Backler says hello.

4

So, welcome to Issue 2 of The Grassroots Post. It’s great that it’s back, and it’s great to be back.

An incredible collision of emotions greets the grassroots game’s return. At a time when it could be suggested that there are bigger things going on, it’s also never felt quite so important.

For me, personally, there are four main pillars of my life. Family, friendships, the football team I run on a Saturday, and my work. Family leads the way, obviously, but grassroots football plays a major role in the other three. To have it stripped away has been tough, there’s no doubt about it.

And I know I’m not alone.

We’re all incredibly excited to see it return and to get back out there, of course. But it arrives with the challenges and reflection that a lot of clubs, teams and good people from the grassroots family are suffering or have been lost. We hope that the return of the amateur game can help in the recovery of all those affected in any way by the pandemic.

Putting this publication together is an absolute privilege. My WhatsApp, my DMs and my inbox are constantly awash with a diverse group of passionate grassroots people with an infectious enthusiasm for the game. I’m incredibly lucky to be in communication with so many

inspiring and brilliant people and for it to be my job.

And, I’m learning every day.

I thought I knew pretty much everything about grassroots football.

I don’t. It turns out that almost thirty years in the men’s amateur game is the same as never leaving England and claiming to be an expert on Europe. We’ll strive to learn more and to cover as much as we possibly can.

It’s been great to make a start on Futsal and Walking Football in this issue. To hear from The FA on their new strategy and from Charlie Aus-

tin about his love of grassroots. To improve the depth of our coverage of the women’s game and to add more female contributors to our team. I’m really proud that we’ve been able to cover so much during such a difficult period. Very soon, we’ll be visiting players, volunteers and clubs across the region; and I can not wait to see all the madness and nonsense and familiar magic of grassroots football in person. It’s special.

Stay safe out there and make the absolute most of having a kickabout with your mates! TGP

DEVELOPMENT

Interview: The Grassroots Post @thegrassrootspost

STATE OF PLAY:

THE FA As millions return to grassroots football after the most tumultuous period for the amateur game in generations, The FA has launched its new long-term grassroots strategy. We spoke with James Kendall, The FA’s Director of Football Development, about the current state of play and the challenges ahead.

What’s the new strategy trying to achieve and how will it affect how the grassroots game is run?

We’ve been excited to announce our new four-year Grassroots Strategy after what has been an extremely difficult year. The strategy sets out our ambition to serve and lead the game, addressing the three stage challenge – survive, revive, thrive. We have set out a number of goals to revive the game by addressing the areas that require particular attention. This includes increasing opportunities to ensure that girls have the same access as boys to football in schools and clubs, and improving the quality of pitches, with the aim of seeing 5,000 good-quality pitches added to the current number by 2024.

The four-season-long strategy also takes a look ahead to ensure that the game thrives. Not only encouraging new participation at every age group and from historically under-represented groups, but also harnessing the power of digital to better connect participants to the game they love. It also means ensuring that the game is played in a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment. I’m confident that we'll seize on the remarkable togetherness and resilience our national game has shown in the face of Covid-19 and use it as a force for good. We recognise that there is a huge amount to achieve, but we have set ourselves the challenge and look forward to delivering on this strategy which puts players at the very heart of everything we do.

development of the grassroots workforce, particularly all the volunteers who put their time into the game, has to be up there as one of our biggest challenges, even pre-Covid. The role of volunteers cannot be underestimated and it’s crucial that we retain and grow the workforce as they are the lifeblood of the game. It’s also worth highlighting that whilst a very significant number of men and boys are playing the game, there is still work to be done to encourage retention, particularly at the ages and stages of life when they might consider dropping out. Addressing this is another feature of the strategy.

VE. I V R U S IVE. REV VE. THRI

Tell us about the challenges the grassroots game was facing pre-Covid?

The quality of facilities always tops the list of challenges when we survey participants, and rightly so. Without a pitch, no-one gets to play. And without better-quality pitches, it’s really tough to improve. That’s why improving facilities, in the form of 5,000 new good-quality pitches in the next four years – with a particular focus on grass pitches – is one of the key areas in our new strategy for the grassroots game. For this reason, we were delighted to see the £25 million investment announced by the Government in the recent budget, the first part of their £550 million commitment which will transform grassroots football facilities in communities across the country.

In addition to facilities, supporting the recruitment, retention and

And as we restart, what are The FA’s biggest challenges across the grassroots game?

At this moment in time, dealing with the impact of Covid-19 is currently our biggest challenge, for multiple reasons: the financial impact on clubs; potential loss of appetite to play at grassroots level; and ensuring that our volunteers feel safe and want to return. Our immediate challenge, therefore, is to get grassroots football back on its feet.

This means continuing to focus on providing financial and business support to those that need it most whilst ensuring that football can continue to be played in a safe and secure environment through The FA’s Covid-19 guidance.

We know that grassroots clubs and volunteers require financial support and that’s why we have committed £2.5 million to support teams with their affiliation fees

7

"Our immediate challenge, therefore, is to get grassroots football back on its feet." this season and next. Through the Football Foundation and alongside our funding partners, the Premier League and the UK Government, we committed £9 million to support pitch and building maintenance.

And with the support of Sport England through the Lottery, we have just committed a further £2.1 million to support clubs and community groups in the most deprived parts of the country to return to football.

What aspects would you say were on the right path?

The women’s and girls’ game has gone from strength to strength over the last few seasons. The Gameplan for Growth doubled participation, growing from 6,000 affiliated teams to over 12,500 affiliated teams, mini-soccer groups and adult recreational groups over the breadth of the country in 2020. We are really proud of this progress and excited to be growing the game and making it as easy as possible for women and girls to get into

roots Strategy requires the seamless collaboration of one team, comprising The FA and the County FAs. Collectively, our role is to lead and serve the game nationally and locally and the relationships we have established are stronger than ever. At the heart of our partnership is the same shared ambition for the game, with different roles to achieve it.

Pitch improvement, as you say, is a huge part of the new strategy.

With grassroots football and its facilities often falling foul of the elements in winter, have there ever been any discussions about moving the season to a different time of year?

We are always considering options to improve the football experience for the many millions that enjoy playing the game up and down the country.

Changing the season is a complex topic and there is a need to consider conflicts with other sports, in addition to alignment with school holi-

" Without a pitch, no-one gets to play. And without better quality pitches, it’s really tough to improve." football, no matter their ability level, background or community.

Our accreditation scheme (FA Charter Standard) which is open to all grassroots clubs and leagues is also worth a mention and we’ve set ourselves some ambitious goals to increase the proportion of affiliated teams playing within FA-accredited clubs in our new Grassroots Strategy. In adult clubs, we’re targeting an increase from the current 49.7% to 70% and in youth clubs from the current 87.6% to 90%.

Finally, delivering on our Grass-

days, facility availability and the professional game, to name just a few. I think the more immediate challenge for us is to address the issue with pitches, something we are committed to doing. We want to make the playing experience enjoyable for everyone who plays the game and improving the playing surfaces is fundamental to that aspiration.

With so many different steps and leagues and needs, there's obviously not been a one-size-fits-all solution to restarting the grassroots

game. How difficult has that been?

The past year has certainly been a challenge for everyone, including The FA and the fifty County FAs across the network. Our primary concern has always been for the safety and welfare of clubs, players, staff, officials, volunteers and supporters during the pandemic. That’s why our return to football guidance, which has been reissued multiple times over the past year as lockdown restrictions have been introduced or eased, has always followed Government advice and the relevant safety protocols. In light of the ongoing impact of Covid-19 on grassroots football, and ahead of the most recent return, there was a need to consult all involved in the game to gather feedback on how the current 20/21 season should be finished and their appetite for football during the summer. We analysed the results of this survey which received 11,057 responses and acted to extend the 2020-21 grassroots season until the end of June in order to provide additional flexibility and time for leagues to complete their fixtures this season if they wish to do so.

We will always look to put players at the heart of our decisions and, although we recognise that there’s not a one-size-fits-all solution to restarting the grassroots game, hopefully by providing this flexibility, we’ve accommodated an extended return for those who want it. I know the County FAs and leagues up and down the country have been working incredibly hard since the return date was confirmed to find the best solution for their local players and clubs.

For further information on the FA’s new grassroots strategy, please visit: www.thefa.com

Advertorial-1-Full Page - Issue 2.pdf

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

1

26/03/2021

16:25

WOMEN'S

League: Super 5 League, East London

Words: Clara Heffernan @clara.heff

Images: Stuart Harper @stuart–harper

SIRENS FC Super5, Soccer AM and Social Champions.

We hear from Morf and Georgy on the rise of...

After a tumultuous start to 2021 for football teams everywhere, many are wondering what the future holds for small clubs across the country. Amidst the chaos of Covid I sat down (virtually) with Morf and Georgy, the founders of Sirens FC - a London-based women’s club - for a chat about Zoom calls, online trolling and creating inclusive spaces for women in sport.

So, starting with the basics, how did Sirens come to be?

10

Morf: Me and Georgy actually used to work at the same agency and we worked with a lot of football clients. So back in May 2019, we discovered the Super5 League and went along to their open training. We noticed a lot of girls there who didn’t have a team and just looked at each other and said ‘f*ck it, shall we make a team?’. From here, we started building our community through open training sessions and nowadays we have around fifteen players at training every week. As people who were new to working in Lon-

don, we saw an opportunity to create a really strong bond with a group that became friends as well as teammates.

Georgy: Yeah, and as someone who didn’t grow up as an avid footballer, the thought of doing trials for a team was very daunting. We wanted to create a space that was very open where everyone is welcome, and I’m so proud that we’ve achieved that with Sirens FC. So is Sirens FC about the social aspect or the sporting aspect, or both?

M: Yeah, I would say we always try to strike a balance. We’re a mixed ability team which allows for so much growth in a sporting sense, but there is also a really important social element too. Offpitch, we definitely spend time together as mates, although that was much easier before Covid happened! Taking part in charity initiatives allows us to bond as a team while also doing some good for the community, so it’s ideal for us.

11

"It showed us that even as a small grassroots team, we were able to achieve something massive..."

"Anyone is welcome. No intense trials or anything – just a good, honest environment for people to train and socialise in" Can you tell me more about some of the charity work you’ve done as a team?

G: Since the first lockdown started, we saw how the team coming together actually had such a big impact. It was so nice to see how, during a period of isolation, people were so willing to come together to make a difference. We started with a virtual run for Age UK to combat loneliness amongst the elderly during lockdown.

M: That initiative ticked a lot of boxes - we were able to work on our fitness while we couldn’t train and we supported each other as a team while raising money for a cause close to our hearts.

Then we had our art auction, which allowed us to reach out and connect with other teams. We basically decided to ask each team that we play against to create a piece of art about what community spirit means to them. Then we took it even further: we reached out to talented local artists like Martyn Ewoma, Kelly Anna and Lydia Bolton who repurposed or donated pieces to be auctioned. Ultimately, the proceeds went to The Black Curriculum and Kick it Out. It showed us that even as a small grassroots team, we were able to achieve something massive.

On that point, how do you champion diversity as a women’s team in terms of race, sexuality and religion?

M: It’s something we’ve always tried to do from the get-go. Obviously, there are teams within the league that repre-

sent specific ethnic minorities, which is great. Our goal has just always been to create an open team for everyone.

Anyone is welcome and, like Georgy said, no intense trials or anything - just a good, honest environment for people to train and socialise in. Also, our charity work champions lots of different marginalised groups, so we hope that we represent the diversity of the team through that fundraising.

G: Yeah, as a team we don’t align ourselves with one specific charitable cause because we want to do as much as possible to support charities that are significant to each of our players. It’s so important that we use our platform and team power to improve the lives of our players and their communities, so that’s the inclusivity we always aim for.

As a women’s team, have you faced backlash or negativity in such a male-dominated sport?

G: We definitely benefit from the community that Super5 League has created; it’s really open and very respected, so we receive a lot of support from people who appreciate what we do. But in different situations, it’s not necessarily the case. Last year, Sirens appeared as the first women’s soccer team on Soccer AM as the fans doing the football challenges. They posted a ‘top bins’ video and there were definitely a lot of comments from lads about women belonging in the kitchen and all that sort of stuff. That was an eye-opening moment, I think.

M: The thing is, that video got about 250,000 views so you can hope that young girls out there can see that and identify with us - but experiencing the trolling is the downside of that exposure. When the team saw those comments, we had to remind them not to let those opinions affect them because what they had just achieved was a really huge milestone!

G: And even though it’s difficult to read those comments, maybe it’s positive that we are exposing people to this content and challenging their views by just existing as a team. It could be seen as a road bump on the way to a more progressive attitude towards women in football.

M: More generally, it’s amazing that we have so many male supporters, and it’s so nice to have their encouragement at games and sessions. It’s always funny to hear the shock in their voice when they say ‘that was one of the best matches I’ve watched!’, because they don’t normally see women’s football and they honestly don’t expect to be impressed.

I’m sure Covid presented Sirens FC with a difficult challenge - how have you guys navigated lockdown as a team?

M: Zoom calls! We are so aware that everyone’s lives are currently on Zoom, so we try not to overdo it. We do have touchpoints - on New Year’s Eve we had a celebration on Zoom, and we have our group chat so we can check in on each other… It's all about having an outlet and staying connected. The Super5 League

13

has been posting football sessions every Sunday, which has been a great option for staying healthy and socialising.

G: We’ve definitely been conscious of not asking for too much from the team some people do just want to come along and play football! Until that is possible again, we don’t want to be dragging people into a million Zoom calls, but we want those options to be there as an added way for people to connect and bond with their team.

What does the future look like for the Sirens? What are your hopes and ambitions for the team in the short-term and the long-term?

G: I think, short-term, our priority is just continuing to create an inclusive and safe space for people to play. Beyond that, there are so many opportunities for the team to continue being creative, being charity-driven, and we will be able to achieve so much when we collaborate in all those areas.

M: Yeah, I think just continuing to create a positive community and maybe expand it as much as possible. We’re always looking for new players so perhaps we could work towards forming a second team at some point down the road.

Our charity work and team spirit are the most important elements of what we do, and I think if we can continue doing that, it’ll be great. Ultimately, I think we just want to keep using our creativity to champion women’s football and prove what we can achieve. TGP

SMALL-SIDED

Interviews: James Cronin @hiddenfootball

FOOTY ADDICTS We all love playing. But sometimes, finding a team in a new city, or one that suits your personality and can fit around your commitments, can be tough. Luckily, there’s Footy Addicts.

A platform born for just those reasons, which has grown to 140,000 members, where you can sign up, turn up, socialise and enjoy a game any time of the week.

For many, it’s been life changing. From musicians to forensic accountants to Olympians, and from all parts of the world, we hear from nine Footy Addicts who can’t get enough of the ball at their feet.

01. F REDDIE - From Barman to Full-Time Football Coach “I used to work in a bar, and every Thursday night the last customers were these guys in their football kit. One day I asked if I could join them, so they made me a profile on the Footy Addicts app and it just took off from there.

“I started playing matches all over London and before long I was hosting and organising games and teams myself. I’ve met people from all over the world and we are all united by this same love. It’s nice to know you're from another country, another language, another culture, another mentality, but at the same time we share football, this thing, rolling on the floor, scoring goals...it’s beautiful.

“I'm from Argentina - we don't love football there, we live it. It's different. But I’ve never been a very good player, so that’s why I took up coaching and now refereeing, too. I’m working in two academies, at Aldershot and also Hampton & Richmond Borough, as well as for a women’s team.”

02. GARY - Played Over Fifty Games in a Month “I work for a football club and it’s always been a huge part of my life, but in recent months I’ve gone a bit crazy with it, aiming to play fifty games a month.

“In the early stages I was thinking, ‘can I do this, can I really play so often?’ I’ve had knocks and pulled muscles,

Website: footyaddicts.com Twitter: @footyaddicts Instagram: @FootyAddicts

done my back in, and worse. But I found that it takes perseverance and my body is much more resilient now. It doesn’t mean I can do this for the next twenty years, but for now I’m loving it. Apparently it’s a Footy Addicts record, and I can’t see anyone breaking it for a while.

“Football never gets boring. Every game is different different challenges, different people - so that's why I’m still playing as much as I can. I like the element of togetherness, and people coming from different walks of life, people who enjoy the game in a different way.”

03. GEMMA - Becoming a Footy Addict “I wanted to get back into playing, so I bought a ball, and after a few kickabouts with myself in the park I knew I needed something more organised.

“The first game I signed up for was hilarious. Eight of the girls were Italian and were all friends, and the one other English girl there spoke Italian too. So they were all chatting away and I didn't have a clue what was going on, but it was amazing, I felt so comfortable.

“With the Women’s games, it's so inclusive and fun, super competitive, and everyone goes in hard, but it's a really nice place - if you mess up or miss a shot or a sitter, everyone has a laugh about it.

“I have actually turned into a bit of a Footy Addict, trying to get three or four games in per week. I just went mad for it when it got started again after lockdown.”

04. MARTS - From Olympian to Footy Addict “I used to be an athlete, doing track and field for Team GB. I just saw people playing in the park, saw the bibs, looked up Footy Addicts online and realised there were games in my area and I jumped straight in.

“My sport prior to this was athletics, so when I started playing football my touch was terrible, my game was so poor. Nowadays, I’m still not amazing by any stretch of the imagination but I’ve come on leaps and bounds.

“It's just good fun. You take your mind off whatever you're stressing about that day, play an hour of football, get fit, get healthy, hopefully score a few goals or set up a few, win the game, and then get back to real life.

“I was always a kid who looked forward to PE and the breaks where you can play on the rec ground. For a lot of people, I think they get past school age and fun group sport just kind of leaves their lives. So for me it’s been good fun to bring that back and I think a lot of people appreciate that too.”

05. MICHAEL - The Universal Language of Football “I work as a night train host on the Caledonian Express, London all the way to Scotland. It’s hard working nights,

but I’ve got used to it now. When I know I’ve got a day off and I’ve got nothing to think about, I come down and play football - it’s the perfect way to relax.

“I play all over London with a really diverse group of players. There are people from Europe, South America, all over - people who have come to London to start a new life. Everyone is just playing football to make friends and feel comfortable in a new culture or country.

“As we know, football is a universal language and when you play football you don’t have to talk to anybody, you just talk with your feet. People make friends because of that.”

06. DARYL - Producer / Actor / Player “I play for a Sunday League team but then we stopped having training mid-week and I had to find my own way of playing. So my friend said, ‘go online and check out this thing called Footy Addicts.’

“You meet some really cool people. If you come regularly there are people that you’ve built a relationship with by coming on the same day and playing with them, week in, week out, even though you might not know their names.

“I’m a musician, making indie, hip-hop, electro-type stuff, and an aspiring actor. But football is the perfect way to spend free time.”

07. MARCO - “This is My Game” “I’m half West Indian, half Italian. My grandmother lived here and I came years ago to study and live with her, and I ended up staying.

“This is my game, every week at the same pitch. The 5-6pm slot on Wednesdays has become basically my life.

“Even my child, my wife, everyone knows that 5-6pm on that day, whatever happens, is free for me to play. When I take holidays, they are after Wednesday and before the next Wednesday - it’s non-negotiable.

“I love hosting the games and allowing others to enjoy themselves too. There are people from everywhere, all different backgrounds. Football is just what brings everybody together. The language is the same all of a sudden.”

08. MIRANDA - Tackling the Bad Guys “I used to play football a lot at university, but I hurt my knee and had to give it up. I started playing netball, but then I hurt my arm, so I went back to football.

“I never had the confidence to join a team in London because you don’t know anyone and it's scary. But then I needed a change in my life to get me back out and about, and I went along to a game. Everyone was super nice. It’s only been a year, but it feels like forever.

“I’m a forensic accountant by day, investigating the bad guys, but football is the perfect release.”

09. AJ - 147 Games This Year “I left my university team and found it hard to get back into playing. But since finding Footy Addicts, I think I've played over 100 games now...Actually, I just checked the app: 147 games, just in the last year.

“Naturally, as you start coming more often, you start seeing the same players and it's nice. You build friendships, and that’s the best part.

“I think I’ve improved a lot as a footballer as well. During the lockdown it was a shame, there was nothing about, and I realised how much I missed it.

“I’ve played eight games in a row this week. I'm a physio, I've always been active, and I've done physio for a few different teams. Now I’m with the NHS and my work is virtual during COVID, so I've got more free time and can play.” TGP Fancy a game? Check out footyaddicts.com.

You won’t regret it.

15

MEN'S

League: Rochester & District Saturday League

Words: Mike Backler @backlermike

Images: Grand Sports Club @grandsportsfootball

RAV'S GRAND PLAN From community foundations to cup final magic. The story of Grand Sports Club: an inclusive and inspirational football club.

18

From left: Captain Kane rallies the troops; Rav & the boys after first ever win; Cookie celebrates cup semi final scalp

Running a grassroots football team is hard. It’s not just the time or the admin, the recruitment or the finances; it’s managing a squad full of different expectations. The sixteen different opinions on tactics. Or the sixteen different reasons for turning up. Some will think you take it too seriously.

Some, not enough. You can make or break so many different weekends. You can win handsomely, but upset an individual. You can lose heavily, but change someone’s outlook in a tough week. In order to begin to enjoy it, you have to have two things. You have to understand and accept that you are never going to please everyone.

And you have to love it.

Ravinder Marwaha completely loves it. And it shines through in everything he does for Grand Sports Club (previously known as FC Grand). It’s in the detail of every recollection of the makeup of the team over the years, and their glorious, triumphant cup run. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever done,” says Rav, about the Gravesend club, as we finish chatting about their journey from community program, to league whipping boys, to cup winners, all in the space of six years. It’s a story that is an advert for grassroots football, featuring all the big players: fantastic intentions, community, adversity, defeat, determination, diversity, camaraderie and triumph.

And it’s just beginning.

The club’s roots are in Rav’s place of work, the Grand in Gravesend, a healthy living centre he has worked at for the past fourteen years. “Back in 2014, we were given some money

by Kent County Council to get men active again. I work with adults mainly: trying to get adults to become fitter, more active and eat healthier.

The Grand had always successfully ran aerobic and exercise classes, but weren’t getting through to men.

Using the World Cup in 2014 as the driver, we set up ‘Back To Football’ sessions. They were for anyone; anyone that played football, anyone that had never played. It didn’t matter.

We had our first session as Ebbsfleet Utd and twenty-three people came along. Then it just grew and grew.”

It wasn’t long until talk of taking a team into the big leagues came to the surface. “Everyone returned after Christmas buzzing to be back and Stef came up to me and said, ‘let’s start a team… I can’t do Sundays’.”

And so, FC Grand joined the Rochester and District Saturday League.

We’re joined by club legends (I’m sure they won’t mind me calling them that) Kane, Josh and Yinka.

There’s a great vibe between them - just what you’d expect from lads who have played together for a long time and become close. They can switch pretty seamlessly between giving each other a bit of stick and talking seriously about the club. Yinka is late to our chat and Rav laments that he’s spent years of his life waiting outside to

pick him up for matches. If you’re involved in grassroots football, it’s a familiar relationship. It’s that self-deprecating humour that’s needed to reflect on the first two seasons. Rav recalls that they were hard going: “80-85% of the squad in our first season had never played eleven-a-side football. And the results showed that. But no-one ever complained. People understood that we were gonna lose games.”

So, what was the hardest part?

“Making sure people didn’t get on people’s backs. The three or so players that did have ability didn’t get on the backs of the ones that didn’t.

It was ensuring that we finished that season, kept our heads high and carried it on.”

Kane used to attend Back to Football sessions, has captained the side, and has been a huge part of the club from the very, very beginning. “Before FC Grand, I’d always played, but mostly in cages and parks. I joined when I was nineteen and I’m still here.” I asked him if he was able to enjoy the first season. “It was enjoyable. Stef and a few others that played are like family. Some games we lost double digits but I don’t ever remember anyone after the game saying, ‘oh this is crap’.

Everyone was really positive with it to be honest. We’d just go to the pub and laugh about it. We’d take the wins from the losses. We may have been 6-0 down at half-time but we scored two in the second half. Or, we kept the ball for five, six passes.

As Rav said, the technical quality wasn’t great! There was no negativity. People always came to training, numbers were always great. There was no sulking. We get a lot more of it now than we did then.”

It’s this attitude and team ethic from those first couple of seasons that underpins what the club has gone on to achieve. It’s the very essence of grassroots football. Turn up, play well for your mates, be positive, improve and see where it takes you. And it’s taken them a pretty long way.

Josh has been a massive part of that. He joined in the third season after uni. “Kane sent me a text saying, ‘We need a right back’, and I’ve stayed ever since. It’s massively the environment. For the amount of stress we all go through, the only reason to do it is because we’re all still pals at the end of the day.

Sometimes we can play sublime football. Unbelievable football. But more often than not, we’re our own downfall. Dealing with that stress as well. The only reason we do it is because we’re friends.”

One of the most disappointing aspects of this lockdown has been that we weren’t able to visit the team in person. Since the fourth season, the team has been sponsored by a local restaurant, V’s Punjabi Grill, which

we’ve had our eye on. It plays a big part in the social side of the club.

“They were happy to cover the costs of the pitch, have their logo on the front, gave us 20% off food and we’ve been going there ever since. Christmas. End of season. Boxing nights.

The worst thing after a defeat is to go home and stress about it. We go there, debrief, and think, ‘okay, it’s done now, move on’. Football is supposed to be a de-stressor during the weekend, after all!” Josh pipes up, “Food’s absolutely banging as well.”

There were a couple of nights in 2018 when V’s Punjabi Grill would have been absolutely jumping. In grassroots football there’s nothing quite like a cup final. Those warm memories that mates can share for years to come. All those little aspects that are magical. The match day build-up, the changing rooms, the stadium announcer, the crowd of friends and family coming through the wooden turnstiles, the floodlights. It’s all very special.

We’re desperate to hear about the night, but before that, Rav takes us through the cup run in fantastic detail. It’s a pleasure to hear about it.

The earlier rounds include a 5-4 extra-time win, a phantom goal that went through a poorly-pegged net and a professional job over an ex-military team. But it’s the

" Stef came up to me and said, ‘let’s start a team... I can’t do Sundays’."

semi-finals where FC Grand finally landed, bringing forty supporters to an unbeaten team top of the division above. A team with a reputation for the ‘dark arts’, shall we say.

2-0 up early and after weathering a storm of aggro, they see the game out and are on their way to the bright lights of Chatham Town FC for the final. Four years ago and after another thrashing, it would have seemed as far away as the Maracanã.

Rav remembers it all. He remembers the roar in the restaurant that evening when they found out who’d they face. He remembers how hard it was to pick a squad and is still happy to defend his team selection. “It was under the lights. Like an old Champions League final.”

It’s beautiful to see his mind going back there and to see the lads’ eyes light up. “We started slow. Maybe the occasion. Once we got our foot on the ball, and started passing the ball around, we never looked back.”

“Our centre-back Chris (Cookie), who actually joined us in our second season, used to walk his dog around where we played. He could see how bad we were but he still wanted to join us. He’s played at many levels, including at Chatham Town. He bought his first pair of boots in ten years for the cup final and he sat in the same seat in the home dressing room where he used to when he was younger. He was forty-one or forty-two at the time. He played that game like he was twenty-one. He didn’t put a foot wrong.

Won every header, won every tackle.”

20

Opposite Page: Michael, Stef, Rav and Justin get cosy with the trophy

" I don’t care where you’re from, what colour skin you have, what language you speak, as long as you wanna play football."

Right: The lads after the big cup triumph at Chatham Town

FC Grand would go on to win the game 4-0. Yinka grabbed the third. Kane and Josh lifted the trophy together. “It’s the best feeling,” says Josh. “I’ve played football for a long time and won other trophies but that’s the highlight of my career, lifting that cup with Kane. I can not stand Foster’s for the life of me. Some boys filled up the cup with it and got me to drink it. And it tasted beautiful.”

So for these three cup heroes, what’s it like to play for Rav? Yinka goes first: “To be fair, Rav’s easy-going. He can be demanding. Sometimes he does lose his nut on the sideline.” Josh interjects, “He can be demanding, but different to what Yinka thinks is demanding. Asking Yinka to track back is not demanding.” Yinka laughs and continues: “I love playing for the club. I love playing for Rav. The club is going in the right direction. Where we were four or five years ago, you can see how much has changed.”

“Rav loves it,” says Kane. “It’s infectious. Rav’s been there from the start, I’ve been there from a minute after. We talk a lot, pretty much every day. The passion is there. I love it as much as he does - it’s his baby but I take it on as well. Even at work I’m thinking football…weekend.”

Josh backs them up: “Rav’s a good guy, he’s got everyone’s best interests at heart. The club itself is what you look forward to, seeing your pals, playing some football, hopefully winning. This will be the last team I’ll play for.”

They’ve built a brilliant, inclusive environment in which to enjoy football, there’s no doubt about it. Some people search a long time in their adult life to find a team they truly love playing for, one that becomes a huge part of their life. Some never find it. Even taking into account the cup win, it’s their best achievement.

“If you look at the make-up of our squad - I once posted something on Instagram with the flags of all of

our players’ heritages - we are basically the United Nations of football teams. It’s an open space, whoever wants to turn up, can turn up. Free to play. Doesn’t mean you’re always gonna be in the team. I don’t care where you’re from, what colour skin you have, what language you speak, as long as you wanna play football.

And you’re not an arsehole. That is the one thing. Everyone talks to everyone with a bit of respect.”

Did Rav ever think in the early days of the programme that it would get this far? “There were no plans. Not at all. When the project started, I thought it would be good if we had a regular five-a-side team, but once the team started it grew and grew. I’ve got the logo everywhere. A towel over there. A bag over there. There are t-shirts coming. My garage is full of equipment. But I don’t regret it and I wouldn’t give it up for anything.”

And so, after a couple of seasons’ upheaval, what’s next for the club?

Last season they had a brand change

from FC Grand to Grand Sports Club to become a multi-sports club. This summer they’ll hopefully have enough for a second team, using the ‘Back to Football’ element and targeting younger players who either lost their team because of Covid or didn’t have an exit route from youth to adult football. This will also work as a feeder squad for the first team or for those recovering from injury.

There are plans in place to have a youth team in the next few years and, in the long term, they’ll be covering coaching badges for players and young people so they can coach in midweek with their age groups or assist with the adults.

So, absolutely no resting on their laurels for Rav, Kane, Josh, Yinka, Stef, Cookie and all the lads from Grand Sports Club. A shining example of how a club built by good

people on the foundations of supporting the community can thrive.

It’s also very inspiring for anyone who’s looking to set up a football club. If you’ve got the passion, the energy and the determination, and you don’t mind it not being completely perfect in season one, then you can really leave a legacy.

We’re looking forward to the next five years of Rav’s Grand Plan. TGP

TECH

Interview: The Grassroots Post @thegrassrootspost

Stream Your Games.

Grow Your Club.

After fantastic success in Scandinavia, Joymo – the platform that allows grassroots clubs to broadcast their matches to fans, friends and family – is now launching in the UK. We caught up with CEO Mike Emery to find out how it works and how it can benefit your team.

We give you the tools to broadcast in a GDPR-compliant way.

Secondly, you can make money with Joymo. We have sports teams in Norway, Sweden, Ireland and Belgium who make upwards of £2-3k a year in livestreaming through PPV tickets and season tickets.

Thirdly, a digital platform like Joymo is fun. It’s engaging. Players enjoy it and love watching themselves after their game. Football needs to keep up to speed

Hi Mike. Looking forward to the return

the Joymo app (available for IOS and

with the engagement levels of e-sports

of grassroots football?

Android) and you invite fans to watch it

and Twitch. Joymo is the answer.

Absolutely. Football, and sport in general,

live or on-demand via a URL link which

is vital for so many people. The chance to

you can send out via text, WhatsApp,

Are you working with clubs and organ-

be with friends, socialise, use your body,

Twitter, Facebook, Insta, you name it.

isations in the UK already?

release tension, laugh and have fun. Foot-

Your fans pay to watch – a small amount

Yes. In football, with several regional foot-

ball is part of who we are as a nation and

for each game, or they can buy a season

ball associations and some big local clubs

without it we lose part of our fabric.

ticket – and your club gets the money

who operate the full range of age groups.

back at the end of every quarter. You

We are also working with associations

So Joymo arrives in the UK at just

decide what those pay-per-view and

and clubs across many other sports.

the right time. Tell us about how it all

season ticket costs should be.

began and the journey so far...

We're all hoping for a return to nor-

Joymo was actually created long before

Livestreaming of matches and con-

mality next season. What are your big

Covid-19, as a response to football, and

tent is obviously something that is

ambitions for 2021/22?

other grassroots sports, crying out for a

picking up pace now in the UK. For

We want to make customers happy

better way to broadcast. A way to safe-

those grassroots clubs that can not

with our product. We’d love to have lots

guard data, monetise content through

afford robotic cameras, or a match-

of teams and clubs livestreaming and

ticket sales and reach out to fans direct-

day cameraperson, does this provide

recording, but really, what’s more impor-

ly. Our idea is that this content belongs

an alternative? Or do you see it as a

tant than targets and numbers is a sense

to you, the team, and not to the big

better model?

of satisfaction that people like what

social media platforms. We want you to

This is the easiest and most cost-ef-

you’ve made, that it helps them, and that

broadcast it, own it, invite fans to watch

fective way to livestream. It costs £2.99

they are proud of working with you.

it, invite your players to watch it, and for

a month to use Joymo. You will need

you to be able to advertise on it.

someone to film, but instead of using a

football back up and running will be

We started in Scandinavia where

We know that getting grassroots

company or lots of hardware/software,

tough for a lot of clubs and hopefully

football is as important as it is here in the

you just use an app, your phone or

Joymo can energise and engage people

UK. We’ve now grown out of Norway and

tablet, and a tripod.

to get back out on the pitch. In addition

Sweden and landed in the UK – where

The real value of Joymo, though, is not

to making sport more fun, our aim is to

I’m from - and are ready to help clubs and

in how cheap it is or how easy it is. It is

provide an additional revenue stream

teams in a post-Covid football world.

in the value of this data – for the players,

to help clubs and teams pay for the

for the club, for the fans, for the sponsors

cost of pitches, referees and affiliation

So for us technophobes who still pay

– and we give it all back to you. It’s yours

fees etc. We know the pressures a lot

our subs in cash, how does it work?

and we want you to be able to broadcast

of clubs are under and we want to help

It’s super simple. Instead of livestream-

with control and peace of mind.

grassroots teams survive and thrive in the future. TGP

ing with Facebook and YouTube Live – which I’m sure many teams and clubs

How can using Joymo help grassroots

know how to do – you simply create

clubs be more sustainable?

an account with Joymo (www.joymo.

First of all, we help you with something

Keen to share your grassroots skills with

tv), set up your team and you’re away.

super important that is your responsi-

the world? Check out www.joymo.tv and

You livestream your game through

bility: GDPR and privacy as a whole.

get livestreaming today.

FOOD & DRINK

Words: Emmy Campbell @nutritionemmy

Nutrition What grassroots footballers should be eating on match day I’m a Sport and Exercise

it wrong, and you’ll likely be

Nutrition Register (SENR)

running on fumes by half time

qualified sports nutritionist,

and seeing points dropped

working with footballers on

throughout the season.

everything from weight loss and muscle gain to fuelling strategies. Whether you’re

So, what should footballers be eating on match days?

Think of your body like a

stores and make sure you’re hydrated.

The Night Before Fuelling has to start the

Sports drink or energy gel

night before to get enough

OR

energy in the tank.

Water and a handful of

a rising academy star, a

fuel tank: the more you eat,

semi-pro player or just

the fuller the tank is and the

Chicken and tomato pasta

enjoy a run out for your

fuller the tank is at kick off,

with garlic bread and a

local team, I can help you

the better and longer you

large glass of juice.

to fuel your performance

can perform. The key is to

Granola with 0% Greek yo-

and get the most out of

make sure the tank is filled

ghurt as a bedtime snack.

your ninety minutes.

with the right kind of fuel. For

Energy stores and fluids

footballers, this is carbohy-

will need to be topped

you would nip to the pie van

drates. To make sure your

up at half-time to keep

outside the ground for your

tank is filled with carbohy-

pre-match meal. With the

drates, fuelling has to start

Pre-match meal

rise in popularity of sports

the day before and continue

A high carbohydrate pre-

nutrition, players are becom-

into game day, too. Take a

match meal eaten 2-3 hours

500ml sports drink

ing more interested in what

look at the meals below for

before kick-off is a must on

OR

they eat before and after

an ideal fuelling strategy for

game day. Keep this low

500ml water and three

a game. And while fuelling

footballers of all levels.

in fat and easy to digest to

Jaffa Cakes.

Gone are the days when

strategies were once seen

Remember, what you eat

jelly sweets.

Half-Time

your performance up for the second 45.

prevent stomach pains.

as something for only the

doesn’t have to be compli-

professional footballers to

cated or fancy, just simple

Porridge made with semi-

think about, the importance

options that tick all of the

skimmed milk with banana,

of a good feed before a game

right boxes: high in carbs, a

berries, honey and a glass

Full-Time

is becoming more and more

good source of protein and

of orange juice

Recovery needs to start

recognised at all levels.

plenty of fluids. TGP

OR

when the final whistle

Cajun chicken and rice

blows. A nutritious snack

Getting your fuelling strategy right will undoubtedly help to

Emmy currently works

with a bread roll and a

in the changing rooms

improve your match day per-

remotely with players

glass of fruit juice.

followed by a full meal in

formance, affecting everything

across the country, so if

from how far and fast you can

you’re looking for some

run to your passing accuracy

support with your nutrition

and decision making. It really

then please feel free to

can be the difference as to

follow @nutritionemmy

Warm-Up

homemade chicken

whether or not you make that

and get in touch!

This is your last chance

curry with rice, a naan

to top up your energy

bread and water.

fingertip save or get your head on the end of the cross. Get

the 1-2 hours after is ideal.

Chocolate milk and a banana. Followed by

24

FUTSAL

Futsal this then?

Words (pt. 1): Charlie Hyman @bloomsburyfootball

Words (pt. 2): Alicia Povey @lishapovs

Images: Sheena Booker / Gary Mann

PT. 1 Two players who have benefitted hugely from Futsal give us the lowdown on what it’s all about, why they love it, and their hopes for the sport in the future.

First up, Charlie Hyman...

Futsal originated in South America in the 1930s. It has gone from being a sport of the streets to a regulated sport governed by FIFA and UEFA, with World Cups, Euros and a Champions League equivalent. However, it still has the flair one would expect from a South American street sport. Comprising two teams of five, including a goalkeeper, it is played indoors on a hard court with a ball which is essentially a heavier size 4 foot-

ball, meaning there is little to no bounce. The sport has its own 3m x 2m goals and, conversely to traditional five-a-side, there is no ‘head height’ rule. Also, unlike indoor five-a-side, players cannot kick off the walls. Matches are played in two high tempo twenty-minute halves with rolling subs and each team can name a maximum of nine substitutes. Due to the game’s intensity, players rarely play more than five consecutive minutes per half.

My Futsal journey started when I was seventeen at a local team called Pro Futsal. In the subsequent eight years, I have represented University of Nottingham, Baku, Helvecia (where I won the FA Cup and National Futsal Series), England, and have now returned to Pro Futsal.

Pro Futsal, Baku and Helvecia all play in the top division in England: the National Futsal Series (NFS).

I got into Futsal as I had always been a technical eleven-a-side player but was relatively ineffective in games because of my lack of speed and height. Futsal played to my strengths as it is played on a small indoor court where speed of thought and short, sharp movements are more important than pure speed.

Although Futsal is an entirely different sport to football, there are similarities which have benefited me in my coaching endeavors. I am a UEFA B qualified football and Futsal coach and I have developed skills which are transferable over to foot-

26

ball, such as tactics for set pieces – a major part of Futsal, where 30% of goals are scored.

Futsal is one of the UK’s fastest-growing indoor sports and it has grown exponentially since I started playing. Despite Covid-19 and the proceeding funding cuts hampering growth, it is still a much more prominent sport than it was eight years ago. At a grassroots level, coach education has improved, with more Level 1 and Level 2 Futsal courses available and therefore more qualified Futsal coaches.

There are also more local leagues forming and more schools teaching Futsal as it is an attractive ‘all year round’ sport given it is played indoors. At Bloomsbury Football, a football charity I founded in Central London, we offer a range of Futsal sessions to our 3,000 beneficiaries. For our 150 academy players, these sessions are compulsory, such is the importance of Futsal as a development tool for football.

While Futsal is undoubtedly its own sport, it can act as a pathway to professional football. Many South American players, especially, developed technically through playing Futsal. For example, Messi, Coutinho and Tevez all played Futsal prior to becoming professional footballers. Even within England, Max Kilman of Wolves is an example of an English player who played Futsal before becoming a professional footballer.

Generally, Futsal is most popular in areas with high concentrations of South American and Western European people. Given London’s diversity, there are hundreds of grassroots Futsal teams which are set up by people whose heritage stems from a country where Futsal is a mainstream sport.

The top of the Futsal pyramid is the NFS and NFS 2. Below that there are several national, regional and local Futsal leagues. University teams also have their own (BUCS)

leagues and some University teams such as Loughborough compete in the national or regional leagues.

The NFS, where I play, has eight teams which play each other twice over fourteen gameweeks between September and May. Within the season there are also FA cup ties against teams from other leagues.

The winner of the NFS qualifies for the UEFA Futsal Cup (Futsal’s Champions League equivalent) preliminary rounds. My previous club Baku reached the last 32 stage and played Barcelona in 2015.

Last year, the standard home and away format you see in football was replaced by a central venues model. This means that each gameweek is held at a different team’s ‘home’ centralised venue where all eight teams play one match, one after another. I think this is really beneficial as it ensures that games are played at the best venues, the England manager can watch all the games and more fans are encouraged to

' My hope for the future of Futsal is that there is a professional league which is televised, in a similar vein to the development of Netball.' buy tickets for the games as they can watch four matches as opposed to one. Ultimately, this makes the sport a more inviting product for consumers, which in turn will make it more attractive for broadcasters and commercial sponsors.

My hope for the future of Futsal is that there is a professional league which is televised, in a similar vein to the development of Netball.

Once people become more aware of the sport, participation and popularity will increase. This will then lead to a higher demand to watch Futsal and more matches will be televised. Televising Futsal will also help it identify as a sport in its own right as well as being a development tool for football.

I love Futsal because of its physical and tactical intensity, its focus on technical proficiency and, as it is a relatively new sport in this country, I am constantly learning new things. I would recommend it to anybody who wants to improve their technical level, or anyone who has a ‘football brain’ but finds themselves struggling to fulfil their potential on an eleven-a-side pitch. That is the situation I found myself in and I have not looked back since. TGP

PT. 2 Alicia Povey debunks the misconceptions around Futsal - it isn’t just a small-sided version of football, after all...

If you’d asked me when I was eighteen what Futsal was, I would have stared blankly at you. By that time, I had already been playing football for over ten years at numerous clubs and was packing my bags to go abroad to play in Spain for a year. You could easily see that I was deep down the football rabbit hole already. Even during that first stint in Spain, one of the biggest Futsal nations in the world, that blank look would have remained as I hadn’t been exposed to the sport at all.

So, don’t worry - I won’t judge you if you aren’t sure what Futsal is! It wasn’t until I started at the University of Bath that I was fully educated about the game, and even then it wasn’t entirely by my own choice. When I joined the university and started playing for the women’s performance football team, we were

required to take part in a weekly Futsal session, and nearly all of us ended up competing in both BUCS (British Universities and College Sport) football and Futsal as a consequence. Looking back, I was very lucky to get involved at university.

If you take a cross section of UK universities, very few of them offer Futsal to their students compared with other sports, even though the BUCS league is very strong and university is the perfect place to grow

the game. The lack of Futsal on offer is perhaps one of the reasons why the game is often hindered by misconceptions.

One of the biggest misconceptions about Futsal is that a good footballer makes a good Futsal player. I remember one Futsal game for university where we travelled down to Marjons University in Plymouth with a mere five players. Out of those players, none of us were playing first team

football at the time, and two of the team weren’t playing football full-stop. Marjons arrived with a team of twelve football players and were probably thinking it was going to be an absolute walkover seeing the five of us - we were already looking rather tired after setting off from Bath at 4am to make it in time for kick off.

But that’s the thing about Futsal… it’s not football. Despite there only being five of us, we had drilled ro-

" Futsal has given me so much: confidence, quick feet, fitness...but also a second family" tations (in-game set plays) to a T, and while Marjons were trying to play football on a smaller scale, we were playing Futsal as the game is intended. Quick passing, constant rotation and movement of player positions along with involvement of the keeper. Myself and keeper Alice Evans (who now plays Futsal full-time in Italy) even managed to pull off a move we’d been aching to try: Alice made a save, threw the ball the entire length of the court, and I was there to head the ball past their keeper - absolutely golden! The game ended 8-0 and we stopped at KFC to celebrate on the way home. Safe to say Marjons had seriously underestimated the power of playing ‘proper’ Futsal.

I didn’t end up playing Futsal for the entirety of my time at Bath due to time constraints with my degree, but as soon as I graduated I went on the hunt for a team to join. I had moved back to the High Wycombe area and was hopeful that there’d be a club nearby. However, unlike football, where even in the women’s game you’d have a fair few clubs to choose from in most areas, finding a Futsal club was like finding a needle in a haystack. I reached out to a few teams that I knew were playing at the top level (FA National Futsal Series) but the nearest club was over an hour and a half’s drive away, making it an impossibility with a nine-to-five commuting job.

I had almost resigned myself to a life solely of football when I saw a

Facebook post from Reading Royals Futsal Club announcing that they were starting a women’s side. I attended one of the first sessions and loved it. Every week, more and more new faces turned up and we steadily grew from a core group of around six to having nearly twenty-five players signed on. Lots of us had played at university or college, but equally there were plenty who just wanted to give the sport a go, and I’m so happy to say that most of those who came for one session, stayed. We got lucky when the Hampshire FA started a small women’s Futsal development league, so we entered and topped the table before lockdown.

Although 2020 and its restrictions came as a massive disappointment for the team, we didn’t stop working behind the scenes.

The club began the process of applying for us to enter the FA Women’s Super Series - the top level of women’s Futsal in England. We completed all the forms, set out a long development plan and had a virtual interview with the NFS Committee. We ticked all the boxes and were accepted for the season, which was due to start in October 2020. Of course, we were thwarted by another lockdown and new restrictions making it impossible for teams to play indoors. I’m not holding my breath for the season to start anytime soon, and training outdoors has become the norm for most Futsal teams, but I’m unbelievably excited to be playing

top tier Futsal in a Reading Royals shirt, whenever that may be.

Futsal has given me so much: confidence, quick feet, fitness… but also a second family. I’ve never been as close with a football team as I am with the Royals Women.

Similarly, I feel completely supported by the wider Futsal community. We all love the sport, and we all want it to succeed and grow in England. Despite it being a little bit of a headache to find a team, I would recommend Futsal to anybody. It’s so much more than just a small-sided version of football, which is what most people think it is. It is its own fantastic sport, a way of life and, above all, a family which covers much of the planet. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?

Tonight, the Dons are playing at the Eltham Goals’ version of the Camp Nou against a well-organised No Caps FC. The game starts in fairly scrappy fashion, but the Dons’ quality shines through in the end and they run out deserved winners, 7-3 on the night. But even if the cameras and the custom kits weren’t there, I reckon all the Dons would still be rocking up to Goals every week, looking to get involved with some five-a-side. TGP

29

SMALL-SIDED

Words: The Grassroots Post @thegrassrootspost

It’s GO Time At Goals We sat down with Ian McDermott, Managing Director of Goals Football, to find out about the effect of Covid-19 on the world of five-a-side.

It’s been a difficult year, but with forty-three venues across the country, Goals will look to welcome over 100,000 players back onto the pitch in re-opening week.

Hey Ian, thanks for agreeing to sit down with us. It must have been a hectic few weeks for you!

Ian: It sure has, but it’s been a great couple of weeks getting the team back and preparing to reopen and, importantly, seeing the desire our customers have to get back on the pitch. We are now ready to open the gates and let the fun begin. I think we’ve all realised off the back of this year that five-a-side is more than just football, it’s so impactful on both mental and physical wellbeing and we’ve all felt the void.

Haven’t we just. It’s certainly been a strange year but we’re all itching to get back. Goals was a new venture for you last year, wasn’t it?

I: Goals certainly isn’t new to me and my family. My father opened the very first Goals site in 1990 in Glasgow where I used to work and also began playing fives which I still do with the same group of friends.

He subsequently retired and sold the business in 2000, so when the

opportunity presented itself to bring the business back into the family, I jumped at the chance to return to the helm.

So not the start you wanted, then?

I: It’s certainly not been the start I anticipated, but it’s been a great introduction to Goals. It’s been a year of highs and lows but the appetite for small-sided football remained unchallenged between lockdowns.

It’s been fantastic to see the passion for the game that is easily overlooked. Our customers have had to pause their game, but we haven’t.

We’ve taken the opportunity to resurface and upgrade pitches, investing over £750k in the last twelve months to give our players the best possible experience on return.

We’ve further developed our app and website to move towards cashless payment. We’re taking every precaution and every effort to ensure that Goals remains not just your local five-a-side, but the number one provider for small-sided football in the UK. Do you think state-of-the-art facilities will be the new norm for the kids of today? Accessibility for the younger generation has been a hot topic as of late.

I: I’d like them to be easily accessible. Playing football is accessible,

but good football facilities should be, too. We don’t want to compete with local grass pitches, we want to compliment them and we want to ensure that kids have somewhere to go and play safely. Of course, in the current climate, safety has taken a new form and we’ve embraced the changes needed to ensure that we’ve got Covid-secure clubs and activities for our players.

What do you hope to see from 2021?

I: A year of football and hopefully with fans back in stadiums.

We all just want to play. 2020 was certainly interesting, but we have great customers and great staff that have allowed us to weather the storm and cemented our desire to invest and upgrade our facilities to give our players the best possible experience.

Finally, any predictions for the Euros? Will Scotland finally turn up?

I: Kieran Tierney will win the cup single-handedly for Scotland! This year is our year. TGP

31

Opening night at Goals Southampton was more important than just the game.

“It’s great to be back after 4 months. I’ve missed it.”

“Good to run off the beers.

Get a few goals and a few nutmegs in and put a smile back on my face” Images: Alex Daniel @––pictures–of–you–

“ Running again. Blood pumping again.

See your mates again. Even though we lost, AGAIN! Good to be back, clears your head.”

“ Other than FIFA I have no other way of getting that competitiveness” 33

WALKING

Grassroots Photography League: GOALS BECKENHAM

Image: Philip Passey @FCNostalgia74

The end of another Thursday morning training session for the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs (45 and over) who compete in occasional friendlies and tournaments and are coached by former Chelsea reserve player Derek Vaughan.

Pictured: Back Row: Ken Ward, Dorian Watkins, Dennis Fitzpatrick, Stuart Hibberd (C), Derek Vaughan (Coach); Front Row: Jim Finn, Hari Nair (GK), Tony Hooper, Ian Robertson, Bob Holmes

35

SEND US YOUR GRASSROOTS PHOT OGRAPHY TO:

EDITOR@GRASSR

OOTSPOST.UK

& WE’LL PUBLISH OUR FAVOURITE HERE.

WOMEN'S

Words: Tayyiba Yunus @taybs11

Images: Annabel Staff @annabelstaff

Frenford & MSA Women FC Tayyiba brings up to speed on this fantastic partnership breaking down the barriers to participation.

Frenford & MSA Women FC was established in 2018 to encourage women to play the beautiful game and overcome the barriers to participation. It began with a struggle to persuade even a handful of players to turn up to training sessions.

Now, we have two teams and record numbers of players joining the grassroots football scene.

The club was formed as a direct response to the lack of representation in football of local women. Redbridge, home of Frenford & MSA, is one of the most ethnically diverse areas in London. Levels of sporting participation amongst female residents - particularly within our BAME communities - are lower than average, and this was one of the key issues that Frenford & MSA sought to challenge at a grassroots level.

Yasmin Hussain is a player and head coach at the team. She explains how

her challenges in the coaching role differ from other clubs: ‘a large part of it is reassuring players that they are good enough to play, because they’ve not really seen South Asian females at any level of competitive football’. Yasmin stresses that ‘visibility is key’: for Yasmin, being a Muslim coach with a Bengali background has played a central role in directly challenging these perceptions and giving other players the self-belief to join.

Despite our initial struggle to recruit players, we first formed a five-a-side team and joined a local league. Since then, we have expanded. Midweek evening fixtures have become the highlight of the week.

Hanna Ahmed, who has been part of the team since its formation, describes the impact that competitive football has had on her life: ‘It has helped me to implement the skills I’ve learnt in training and develop my communication with my teammates. We’ve come so far and not only advanced individually, but together as an entire team’.

For me, a distinctive part of the club culture is its aim to create a longterm impact beyond our successes on

the pitch. Players are encouraged to complete coaching programs to develop leadership skills and train the next generation of footballers. Girls’ training programmes are a stepping stone to joining the senior team.

Moreover, the recent opening of a 3G football pitch at Frenford Clubs has provided state-of-the-art training and match facilities. This sets up the club for a sustainable future and is another active step towards ensuring that future generations of local girls do not miss out on football.

What started off as small-scale training sessions has culminated in a series of achievements that has seen Frenford & MSA join the Super 5 League, win a tournament at Stamford Bridge, establish two teams and, more recently, venture into the unfamiliar territory of eleven-a-side. Friendships for life have been formed, rooted by a common passion for football. Above all, though, the real achievement and significance of Frenford & MSA is clear: when women are provided with a welcoming, inclusive and accessible environment to play football, it will succeed, regardless of individual backgrounds and abilities. TGP

CHARITY

Words & Images: Amie Cripps @amiloucri

Website: goals4girls.co.uk

Goals4Girls Amie Cripps from award-winning development programme Goals4Girls gives us the lowdown on why, as the grassroots game restarts, their work is more important than ever.

We never thought the day would come when we’d moan about not hearing the following: "Where are my boots?"

"What time is training again?"

"I’ve forgotten my kit. Can I play in my school uniform?"

"Can we play for just another hour?"

"The ball’s flat! Can I have the pump?"

But, over this past year, lockdown has changed the way we all think.

More than anything, it has made us shift our priorities - including those of our Goals4Girls participants.

For our girls and young women, the overwhelming realisation that football is more than just kicking a ball and scoring goals hit them like a ton of bricks when they went into lockdown.

Since our inception in 2013, Goals4Girls has worked non-stop to provide girls and young women from marginalised communities and areas of high deprivation with opportunities to play the beautiful game, as well as access to weekly mentoring and employability schemes.

Working with 400 young people – predominantly from BAME backgrounds – on a weekly basis across London, Goals4Girls is a home away from home for those who turn up week in, week out. A place where eleven- to sixteen-year-olds can be themselves, make long-lasting friendships and explore avenues traditionally closed off to them because of race, gender, class and the intersections of all three.

This is why football will always be more than just football to our participants, and the imminent return of grassroots is a beacon of hope in what’s otherwise been a pretty bleak year for them.

Predicted grades, online learning and FaceTime can now be replaced with cheering on teammates, failing at top-bins antics and picking remnants of rubber crumb from their boots.

In a report published last summer by the Youth Sport Trust, an estimated four million young people in the UK said they'd plan on doing more sport and exercise post-lockdown. And with roughly 60% of girls not meeting the recommended exercise guidelines – there are currently 700,000+ more inactive women than men in the UK, according to Women in Sport – we need grassroots football to return if we have any chance of bucking that trend and getting those four million kids active.

We’d better make sure our balls are fully pumped and our kit bag is well stocked, as it starts with us and our amazing girls and young women on the Goals4Girls programme.

Anyone for a game of footy?

Gosh, it feels good to finally ask that. TGP

37

THIS YOU?

FANS EDITION

Grassroots fans are the most dedicated in the world. That’s a fact.

It’s easy to support a Premier League team. If you have to stand in a hot shower, pep-talking yourself, desperately trying to find the will to go and watch Sadio Mané score impossible goals, on an impossibly perfect playing surface, from your seat in an envy-of-the-world stadium, then you’re probably following the wrong sport. That’s not dedication—it’s a cry for help. Grassroots fans know true dedication. We wake up at the weekend, smile like a big white upside-down croissant, don our finest Antarctic expedition thermals, and trek, through fourteen different types of weather, to our regular seat. I say ‘seat’; I mean ‘place where we stand for two hours, utterly exposed to the elements, politely questioning the lino’s integrity and drinking cups of tea with Bovril chasers’.

If you’re reading this, you’re either a grassroots fan, or you’ve been dragged to a grassroots game by one of these most dedicated followers of football. Look around you and see if you can spot these very particular types of fan.

The Artist Your enthusiasm knows no bounds. The tin foil FA Cup you made for the 119th preliminary round tie last year takes pride of place on your mantelpiece. Your kids sleep in beds without sheets because you’ve covered them all in paint and masking tape to make banners. You’ve had your photo taken with the manager, purely so you could print it and make face masks with the eye holes cut out. The manager laughs uncomfortably when he sees you and your mate wearing them, but they’re scared. Deep down, they are really scared.

The Misery Guts You hate football. Crow landed on the pitch before kick off? That's a bad omen. Right-back wearing number three? That’s bad luck. You’ll say things like “Yes, Kevin de Bruyne has played at a high level and he’s a big signing for us, but I just don’t think he’s cut out for grassroots football...” and “Yes, we’ve won the league, but we were poor for that last five minutes, there. We’ll struggle next season.” Come on, mate, have a cuppa. Everything will be alright.

League: ALL OF THEM, EVERYWHERE

The Tubthumper

You’re saving up for a real bass drum. A nice one, decorated in the team colours. Until then, though, that nice plastic bucket will do, and you will rally the troops as best you can.

You’ve never been seen without the bucket.

Neither bucket nor tubthumper can exist without the other. Hedgehogs die without their parasites, just as you would simply evaporate into the ether if anyone ever took your bucket.

You are a social pariah.

Words: Andrew Martin @ajmartin90

Illustrations: Millie Chesters @milliechesters

The Partner You’re amazing. You’re the most vocal supporter at the match, screaming and shouting for the full ninety minutes whilst looking after a baby in a pram. You’ve been seen to lift your child out of the way of a bad tackle near the touchlines while simultaneously remonstrating with the ref. You do all of this without uttering even a hint of a swear word.

You are a grassroots hero.

The Home Counties Mourinho You provide incessant tactical analysis to all around you. It is all absolute drivel.

You’ve never even finished a season on Football Manager. Gary Smith is not “the false nine this club has been crying out for,” and Amy Abbot is not a “regista” - she is a midfielder - nothing more, nothing less.

The Probably-Too-Dedicated Fan You rearranged your wedding because it clashed with an end-of-the-season dead rubber. “We can get married any time, but we’re only playing Basingstoke away once, this season. No brainer.”

The Radio Operator

The Wise One You’ve been here since Day One. You’re stoic. You exude wisdom only attainable through age and experience. You’ve witnessed things that other grassroots fans couldn’t imagine. You’ve seen a dog score a goal, you’ve seen the groundsperson play in net, you’ve seen a sinkhole suddenly open up in the middle of the pitch, you’ve seen an eagle swoop down and carry the little winger away as a meal for its babies.

Nothing shocks you. You just love the atmosphere, and the comradery, and the mud. You are the very soul of grassroots football. TGP

You stand stock-still and silent for almost the entire game, earphones in, radio contraption from the early 2000s in your pocket. Occasionally you will pipe up with, “Olimpik Sarajevo just gone 1-0 up against Radnik Bijeljina.

Penalty, apparently.” You’ve never seen a look of real interest on another person’s face.

39

SMALL SIDED: POWERLEAGUE

SMALL SIDED: POWERLEAGUE

MEN'S

League: North Berks League Division 2 – English Premier League

Interview: Mike Backler @backlermike

CHARLIE AUSTIN: THE KING OF KINTBURY RANGERS (RESERVES)

Images:

Website:

Alamy

www.your-move.co.uk

43

Charlie Austin is supporting Your Move’s campaign to reward 100 grassroots teams across the country with new kits as the amateur game restarts. We were lucky enough to grab some time to chat all things grassroots.

“ We weren’t at the level to get sausage & chips. It was a Twix and a packet of crisps from the service station, mate.”

Charlie Austin’s route into professional football is a well-publicised one. At twenty years old, he was working as a bricklayer and playing for ninth-tier Poole Town in the Wessex Premier League. Early mornings and hard work in the week, with training and travel to matches around that. For many of us in the grassroots world, that is our lives. And with football being largely removed over the last two seasons, it’s the best version of those lives.

Something he sympathises with massively. But then, he’s always been a champion of grassroots football and the role it’s played in helping him fulfil a fantastic career at the top level.

“I live in Hungerford and there’s a great club there in Hungerford Town that gets 300-400 through the gates every game, and that has just stopped. It affects people massively. And you don’t realise how important it is until it’s not there every week.”

Charlie’s an affable chap. He’s relatable not just because of his story, but because of his personality.

The loveable rogue. He’s not afraid to offer an opinion on the ills of the game and his heart is in exactly the right place. I remind him about a goal he scored against my beloved Charlton eleven years ago and he remembers every part of the game. He just loves playing and scoring goals - every one matters, and people love to see that.

There’s a nice story from when he’d finally made it as a professional: he was warming up at Carrow Road in front of 25,000 and the away Swindon Town fans (his first professional club) began to chant his name, reducing his grandad to tears. Football runs through the family, and especially at a grassroots level.

Fearless: Charlie Austin breaks our Editor’s heart with a thumping header

“My grandad and my dad played for their local side, Great Shefford. From about the age of four, a football has just been in front of me. I’d go watch my dad’s side and be around that.”

At fifteen, though it may have felt like the end of the road after being released from Reading’s academy, it was actually the beginning of a grassroots career that would propel him onto bigger things. He decided to go and play men’s football for Kintbury Rangers Reserves in Division Two of the North Berks Football League. A team ran by his uncle, Darren Angel, brother of ex-Everton player, Brett. It’s the fourteenth tier of men’s football.

To put this into context, eight years later, he finished fourth-top scorer in the Premier League behind only Sergio Aguero, Harry Kane and Diego Costa.

“I loved it. It was about getting back to playing without the pressure. Just getting back out there and playing without judgment. And it was men’s football so I had to learn fast. I was fifteen. Especially ‘the dark arts’.

People leaving a bit in and sticking it to you off the ball.

I really, really enjoyed it.”

Does he think that grassroots football has an important role to play in supporting young players that are released from academies?

“Yeah, it’s everything. Everything. It’s about getting back that self-esteem and falling in love with it again and playing with your mates. Rediscovering why you fell in love with it in the first place. Look, every man

“ It’s everything. It’s about getting back that self-esteem and Above: Return to Poole Town for a charity match in aid of MND sufferer and former teammate Andrew Culliford

and woman that has gone on to do well in the game started in grassroots football. I just wanted to get out there and play and score goals. You have to retain that belief in yourself.”

And was it sausage, chips and beans after the game?

“It wasn’t even that! We weren’t at the level to get sausage and chips. It was a Twix and a packet of crisps from the service station, mate. But no, I loved every minute.”

After that, it doesn’t quite work at his hometown club Hungerford, but as the family moves south, everything clicks at Poole Town.

“I got that hunger back. It was a new place and I didn’t know anyone, so I had to prove myself. I’d started to take it seriously and be a lot more professional.

And we had a good side. Tom Killick was the manager who’d been a serious player in non-league - he’d won the FA Vase with Wimborne. We had players there that I still don’t know how they didn’t go pro.”

Right: From Kintbury Rangers to scoring the winner at Old Trafford

Forty-eight goals in forty-two games tell its own story.

And it was off to the big leagues. Where he didn’t exactly hang around and was prolific at Swindon and Burnley before reaching the Premier League with QPR. Surely playing men’s football from fifteen as opposed to playing academy or under-23 football served him well?

“100%. You learn so much. You toughen up. You just have to play. I worry these days that kids coming through just aren’t ready for it. They’ve only ever played on carpets. The other week we played at St Andrews and, to be fair, the pitch was terrible, but a lot of us are used to it; we’ve grown up playing on them and you just get on with it!”

I mention that there seems to be a fearlessness to Charlie Austin’s game that stems from his time in the lower leagues.

“I’d say fearless is the word, yeah. I just know that at whatever level and whoever I’m playing against, I can

falling in love with it again and playing with your mates.”

score. It’s arrogance, but it’s a controlled arrogance.

You have to back yourself.”

It’s a mindset that has served him brilliantly and continues to do so. And it’s a story that shows, whether you’re passionate about grassroots football or the professional game, or somewhere in between, there are touchpoints in there that you can relate to. One thing is also for sure: he has in no way forgotten where he came from.

So are there any budding footballers in the Austin household? As women’s football is on the rise and opportunities improve, I ask him if his daughter has shown any interest.

“Yeah, she plays in the goal in the garden. At school.

With her mates. Whether she will be into it or not, in the future, I don’t know. I don’t mind! I just love to have football around the house. It makes people happy. It brings joy. But I absolutely love that it’s so open

now and that everyone can get involved. It’s great to see how things are changing.”

And finally, with Your Move giving away 100 kits to grassroots teams, has he ever played in any absolute stinkers?

“Ha, yeah definitely. There was this one at Wickham as a kid. It was kind of burgundy with a bit of blue. It was horrible. And about four sizes too big. Probably a hand-me-down from the older lads. It’s a good project.”

“Look good, play good, innit.” TGP Your Move, Official Communities Supporter of the EFL, are giving away football kits to grassroots teams at www.your-move.co.uk/kit.

45 45

MARY & THE League: Kent County Football League

Words: Ryan Matthews @rpmatt93

MENACE Community, passion and freshly painted loos: the story of Peckham Town FC South East London, credited as the ‘Concrete Catalonia’ in the footballing press due to its uncanny production line of high-quality talent, is enjoying a real moment in the sun. Current alumni lighting up the elite level include Jadon Sancho, Joe Gomez and Emile-Smith Rowe, the ‘Croydon De Bruyne’, as Martin Tyler likes to consistently remind us.

Then there are the originals: the ‘Peckham Beckenbauer’ (Rio Ferdinand, for the uninitiated) and Ian Wright. This is an area steeped in football pedigree.

But what about the lower tiers of football? Something is stirring in Peckham, spearheaded by former England captain Mary Phillip. The Grassroots Post went to investigate.

What do you think of when you think of Peckham? Only Fools and Horses? Rooftop mojitos at the Bussey Building?

Well, whatever you [i[think you know, think again. This is a community. A strong, multifaceted and vibrant part of South East London with a community club now at its beating heart. Peckham Town FC, known fondly by the fans as ‘The Menace’, was founded in 1982 by Bryan Hall (aged thirteen at the time). A progression through youth, Sunday League and Saturday football followed over the next thirty years, including multiple league and cup wins. The first team now plies its trade in the Kent County League Premier Division, and most recently celebrated a club first: winning the London Senior Cup in

the 2019/20 season. Not only was this a landmark for the club, it was also a historic moment for the manager of the first team, Mary Phillip, making her the first female manager of a men’s team to secure silverware.

“Winning the cup last season, both from a football and social regeneration point of view, has helped to positively establish the club, the town and the young people as part of a hotbed for talented football players,” said Mary. “For me, personally, it was a grand achievement.

I know we have challenged for the title over many years and to win it in my first season despite not being able to complete the season has definitely put it in my top ten.

We trained hard as we didn't manage to play any friendlies in the run-up to the final, which was testament to our collectiveness and achievement.”

This interrupted season is the elephant in the room for all at the grassroots level of football - something that Mary is well aware of. “With the constant stop-start, it's hard to juggle as manager. I've won the London Senior Trophy, which was amazing, but I've still not completed a league. We as a club have to look out for our players’ wellbeing alongside our supporters and ourselves. We encourage the players to keep themselves ticking over, but training by yourself does not get you ready for the team challenges. The guys stay in touch, post their training and challenge each others’ times. On a lighter note, they run quizzes and radio raves.”

Images: Rob Avis @avis–action–images

This togetherness is relevant, even more so at the moment. We were lucky enough to get down to a match before the curtailment of the season and witness it firsthand. The community spirit is evident, from the players through to the coaching staff and the volunteers at the Menace Arena. This is a proud and principled club. Club Captain Nicky Meta put it plainly: “Peckham Town FC is my local club. A family club. A community club. We have the biggest fan base and we have a vision, and I’m honoured to be the Captain of a club going in the right direction. Since winning the London Cup, we have broken crowd records and the club has had so much exposure in the news and on social media.’’

47

This pride is shown at the ground. There is a real buzz in the air as the fans file in (in a socially-distanced fashion) to the booming sounds of both of the Only Fools and Horses theme tunes over the PA. The match is also an important event for the club and the community at large.

On the anniversary of the murder of Damilola Taylor, the club had invited his father Richard Taylor OBE and Football Manager legend Cherno Samba to speak at the unveiling of the club’s banner supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. This was a joint partnership with the Damilola Taylor Foundation and their Hope 2020 Campaign, alongside the Rio Ferdinand Foundation. Hope 2020 is a campaign shining light on the positive contri-

butions of young people, inspired by the philosophy of the public health approach to reducing violence affecting young people.

There is a marked difference in feeling with this campaign compared to more ‘one size fits all’ efforts at showing solidarity. It feels, and is, personal and local in the way only a truly community-minded club can be.

Mary agrees: “Peckham Town has always taken a holistic approach to its community initiatives and as the manager of the football club I have been instrumental in the planning and welcoming of our community partners.

One of the football club's founding priorities was what we call social regeneration. The club was set up to help create both youth and intergenerational participation in sporting opportunities, giving hope and lasting benefits to its members and community.”

As for the game? A veritable feast of goals for the paying punters at the Menace Arena. Peckham played Stansfeld (O&B) FC off the park in a 5-0 demolition job. Goals were spread between Bryan Villalba (2), Joe Thomas, Herve Mbongue and Marcus Black. The team, set out by Phillip in a fluid 4-3-3, put on an exhibition of passing and creative football which, in truth, could have resulted in more goals. The record crowd of 203 were suitably impressed, as were the guests present, with Cherno Samba remarking that he must’ve been the lucky charm for the team. We aren’t going to disagree with that!

Peckham Town FC has battled adversity, not just related to the pandemic. Over the past couple of years there have been numerous cases of vandalism, both on the training ground and at the Menace Arena itself.

These sorts of events happen all too often at the grassroots level and, particularly during the pandemic, this was hard to take for those running the club. The club and those surrounding it stood firm, however. In the weeks leading up to the game we attended, the club hosted a number of volunteer days where community members were asked to chip in, from cleaning up the vandalised parts of the ground to repainting the clubhouse toilets. Club Development Manager Duncan Hart spoke to us about this. “The vandalism has been

' A strong, multifaceted & vibrant part of South East London, with a community club now at its beating heart'

happening for over a year now. It’s just so frustrating.

We have to waste time and money to constantly clear up and fix things. I just don’t understand why these people are targeting a volunteer-run football club. As we always say, ‘Menace Life Ain’t Easy!’”

Duncan also shared his thoughts on how the club is coping currently and how they are preparing for any resumption of footballing activity. “We are looking forward to getting cracking again. We’ve not played a match since October. Football means so much to everyone at the club - players, volunteers, coaches, parents and supporters. It has been a tough time mentally, and we hope that football can bring back some joy to everyone in the community.”

And at its heart, this is what grassroots football is truly all about. Community. Togetherness. A shared purpose. The pride in Peckham shines through in everything that is done at this club. Mary Phillip agrees: “I would encourage everyone to get involved in grassroots football because it's a fantastic way to get involved in your community. For me, grassroots is the

heartbeat of football...it's where your love of the game starts. It's hard work, but being able to give back and help a next generation through is so rewarding. At Peckham Town we are a voluntary-run club, so you know that everyone involved at the club’s heart is 110% behind the club’s ethos, from our youth section all the way through to the senior men's. With it being Peckham Town and me being a homegrown girl, it makes it that little bit more personal and rewarding.”

Mangetout, indeed. It appears that the only way is up for Peckham Town - a team with a strong community ethos, managerial pedigree and an engaging and exciting style of play. Only time (and COVID restrictions) will tell how far this team will go in the near future. We in particular have our fingers crossed that at this relaunch, the club will recapture their form, continue to find record crowds and hopefully finish a season under the leadership of Mary Phillip. Who knows where this club could go. This time next year, Rodney… TGP

49

MAN v FAT FOOTBALL

so what’s it all about?

MAN v FAT Football, launched in January 2016, is the men’s weight loss programme taking the UK by storm – and it’s got even bigger plans for 2021!

MAN v FAT has helped men in the UK shed almost 270,000lbs in excess weight over the last 5 years, through accountability, guidance and support.

With over 80 league locations across the UK, there will most likely be a MAN v FAT league near you and plenty of like minded men who are all keen to get into shape in 2021, too.

You don’t need to be Messi or Ronaldo, but just be keen to work as part of a team to achieve your weight loss goals.

You’ll score bonus goals for losing weight, so even if your team gets beaten on the pitch, you can still turn around the overall score!

Once signed up, you will be placed into a team of 10-12 men that compete each week against another team in their league to see who can score the most points and climb the table to be crowned the MAN v FAT champions!

MAN v FAT members receive weekly support from their league coach, teammates and wider MAN v FAT community in achieving their goals.

You also get full access to The Other Room Virtual Gym so members can get their training done at home, along with access to our online Mental Health Wellbeing portal Silvercloud.

SIGN UP TODAY! Want to join? You can sign up by visiting www.manvfatfootball.org today – use the Find A League function to find the league closest to you!

Want to find out more? Drop the MAN v FAT Player Support Team a line on football@manvfat.com and they’ll be able to help.

/manvfat

@manvfat

/manvfat

WALKING

51

Words: Rachael Mutch

COUNTRY WALKING Coach Rachael Mutch introduces us to the WFA England Women’s over 50s walking team

Growing up, I always had a football near me - I was obsessed. I couldn't find a girls’ team in Liverpool back in the early ‘90s, so I decided to try out for the boys’ team instead. I played with my two brothers in the same team for about two years and I think this really helped develop the physical side of my game. All of a sudden, women’s sides were popping up all over Merseyside and I decided to join Bootle Girls who were playing in a competitive Sunday league. From then on, I played for various teams until I found my home: the wonderful Liverpool Feds. They are such an amazing team. The set-up is brilliant and they have age groups from Under 8s all the way up to Open Age. I played with them until about three years ago, when I decided it was time to hang up my boots.

Coming from an eleven-a-side background, I found the concept of Walking Football a little hard to get my head around. Until I played it, that is. It’s a workout not only for the body but the brain, too. Trying to ‘not run’ is something that is terribly difficult when a ball is rolling away from you at speed.

I first got my taste for the game back in 2019 at the Dick Kerr Women’s Walking Football Tournament. I play in goal, so it wasn’t that different from five-a-side at first, but when I eventually managed to play outfield, I realised my brain would just not tell my feet to walk!

I was having to concentrate so hard on not running that I felt lost on the pitch. Following the tournament, though, I was contacted by a WFA Walking Football coach and was asked to trial for the new WFA England Women's Walking Football teams. I was too young to play, which made me smile; I had recently retired from eleven-a-side because I thought I was too old.

01

One thing led to another, and I’m now the coach of the Women's Over 50s team. This is where I have realised what a blessing Walking Football is to those who play it. Speaking to my players recently, they told me so many things that they can credit to the game of Walking Football, from building their confidence to helping them focus and drive their ambition.

The WFA England set-up is great. The women’s sides have only just been created, but they have already played an international against Guernsey where they ran out 2-0 winners.

As a game, the funding is minimal and players have

to pay for travel to international games, so the commitment to the team is huge. I think more funding should be made available at the grassroots level to raise the profile of the game and thus feed into the higher, more competitive leagues.

To play the game well, you have to get into a technical frame of mind. Weight of the pass and movement off the ball becomes much more crucial in this type of game. As the sport is also minimal contact it allows the opportunity for all genders to play in mixed teams, which I believe adds another dynamic to the game. The benefits are enormous, both physically and mentally.

But of all the things I have noticed, one stands out: the smiles on the players’ faces. They are so happy to have a way back in. To be able to play the sport they love, whatever their age.

Here’s what some of the Over 50s WFA England Women’s Walking Football players had to say:

02

03 01. DEE

READE

BIRMINGHAM LADIES WALKING FC ‘Walking Football has given me back the buzz in my life which had been missing since retiring from eleven-a-side football. There’s such a great team spirit and camaraderie amongst new found friends.’

02. LORRAINE

ROBINSON

BIRMINGHAM LADIES WALKING FC ‘It gave me a way back into football. A great bunch of ladies and management. Keeps my mind ticking. I love football.’

03. JUDITH

DARCY

ARSENAL WALKING FOOTBALL TEAM 'Walking Football keeps me healthy, both physically and mentally. It has opened new (dressing room) doors - I have made lots of friends from all walks of life, and being part of a team gives me a great sense of belonging. Football has a unique bond. At my age (fifty-eight) I might be in injury time, but I still dare to dream. I love playing football and I want to play for as long as I can - until the final whistle! Walking Football allows me to do this, to play the sport I love.’

04. TRULEY

GRIFFIN

WFA OVER 50S ENGLAND TEAM & BIRMINGHAM LADIES WALKING FOOTBALL TEAM

‘I’ve played football from the age of six in the street, then after playing for lots of clubs including Birmingham City Ladies, I stopped at the age of thirty-eight. I couldn’t watch Match of the Day. Years later, my friend introduced me to Walking Football, and I could not believe I was thinking like a footballer again. Being part of football at the ripe old age of fifty-two is unbelievable, as is sharing the whole experience with a great group of people. The beautiful game reunites us all.’

04

53 05

07

05. JACQUI

WHEATLEY

GUERNSEY WALKING FOOTBALL CLUB ‘Walking Football provides me with fresh air, great exercise, competition and new friends. The joy of rediscovering the game you have loved but thought you wouldn’t enjoy again is magical.’

06. KAREN

06

DARE

SHIPLEY SUPERVETS & HORSHAM HOOFERS ‘I didn’t get the chance to play football as a youngster as there weren’t any girls’ teams nearby. I stuck to playing football in the street with my brother and his friends. I only got into football as a coach when my son was eight and later became a qualified referee but I thought my time as a player was gone. It was only when I saw an article on the Crawley Old Girls that I plucked up the courage to go along and play. From there, my confidence grew and I joined two men’s Walking Football groups, developed more as a player, grew further in confidence and began to realise that football is something that I’m actually decent at. As we get older, it’s easy to lose confidence as our physical abilities diminish, but Walking Football provides a new challenge that older people can take on. I’ve met loads of new people, my skill level has increased, I have areas where I can work to improve and it gives me new goals in life to achieve and score!’

07. HELEN

NOCK

HADLEIGH STROLLERS & BEDFORD LADIES ‘Walking Football was my opportunity to play the game I have always loved. My generation was one where girls played netball and hockey, whereas football was for the boys. It's ironic that I had to wait until I was fifty to start playing. Representing my country is the icing on the cake.’ TGP

E-SPORTS

Surrey FA Launches First Ever e-County Cup The e-County Cup will look to provide

will all be livestreamed on the Surrey FA

provides an opportunity for those within

grassroots clubs, players and vol-

YouTube channel thanks to the charity’s

our community to stay engaged with

unteers with a chance to show their

partners, Capital Content.

football and take pride in representing

gaming skills and bring pride to their

Over eighty players aged 14+, repre-

their clubs and local area where Covid-19

senting a total of over fifty grassroots clubs

has put a hold on grassroots football. We

affiliated to Surrey FA, signed up for the

have seen some friendly competition to

way, sees both male and female players

competition, with fixtures exclusive to Play-

determine which players have the honour

compete against each other in a manner

Station gamers. Future editions of the Cup

of representing their clubs. Clearly, we are

unique to the esports format and not pres-

could see participation extended to Xbox

disappointed that we are not seeing live

ent in the traditional on-field competitions.

players or even broken up into age groups.

grassroots football taking place during

club and community.

The competition, which is now under-

The Cup kicked-off in February, start-

Commenting on the launch of the

this national lockdown. However, esports

ing with preliminary rounds, and will run

competition, James Chadwick, Head of

provides a level playing field for anyone

all the way to the live finals which are set

Marketing & Partnerships, Surrey FA,

to get involved in football – and perhaps

to be held at Surrey FA’s Meadowbank

stated, “We are excited to be leading

some will even be inspired to pick up a

Football Ground HQ on 16 May 2021.

the way by entering into the world of

pair of football boots and get active as a

The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final

esports and hope that our e-County Cup

result of the Cup.”

TGP

DEVELOPMENT

Referee, Coach & Player Surveys Support New Strategy Responses also contribute towards inclusion projects Referees, coaches, managers and

sections discussing elements including

equality action plans can be refreshed.

players have a new opportunity to

development programmes as well as

They will also help to develop future

play a crucial part in future strategic

an equality audit. The audit will help

football inclusion projects and assist

grassroots football projects in Essex

to better understand how the County

in completion of an equality profile of

by completing a short online survey.

FA can tailor services and meet the

stakeholders. TGP

The Essex County FA are current-

needs of local communities. Feedback

ly consulting with key stakeholders

is anonymous and it takes just a few

To complete the surveys, please visit

across the game to help shape a new

minutes to complete the questions.

www.essexfa.com. Players, referees and

three-year strategy up to 2024. This

Inclusion is a crucial part of existing

coaches aged under 18 should complete

survey process, accessible via the links

and new strategies and the data col-

the survey alongside a parent/guardian.

below, will help inform about localised

lected in these surveys will continue to

New information is also shared on Twit-

football priorities in Essex.

evidence underrepresented groups not

ter by @EssexCountyFA and by search-

participating in football, ensuring that

ing for ‘EssexFootball’ on Facebook.

The short surveys are split into

REFEREES

Words: Trevor Booking

Illustration: Millie Chesters @milliechesters

55

!

R E W O L B E L T WHIS

OR T RE V I N G : K BO O

Trevor* is an up and coming referee who each month will blow the whistle on what it’s really like to take control of grassroots games...

Pre-season training is not something anyone looks forward to. With amateur football set to return, I’m sure that many players won’t be bothering to indulge in a second burst of it just to get through the remaining weeks of the season, but us referees are duty-bound to get ourselves ‘match fit’ ahead of the restart.

I’m fortunate enough to be on the skinny side and I try to have the stamina to keep up with play as well as the ability to sprint when needed. I’m also adept at getting out of the way of wayward passes and avoiding the dreaded slap of the ball on a cold thigh.

Of course, not all my fellow refs are the same.

Lockdown has seen many of us gain a few pounds and the remainder of the season will see numerous matches under the control of the ‘centre circle ref’. This species likes to run a game with their mouths and even though they won’t always be close to the action, they will claim to have a ‘great angle’ when challenged.

And the ref who is on the larger side will always be challenged.

From my experience, the man in the middle who can keep up with the game will gain the respect of the players a lot quicker. There’s nothing better than when a player appeals for a foul, turns to shout at the ref and you’re standing right next to them. Small wins, and all that…

So as not to dispel any myths about refs taking themselves too seriously, yes, I do have a pre-match routine. I’ll always come armed with bananas, Jaffa Cakes and Jelly Babies to keep my energy levels up, and as a young linesman I diligently snacked on these in the

dressing room next to refs who had picked up boxes of McNuggets on the way to the match.

Probably (well, definitely) the most embarrassing element of being a referee is the pre-match warm-up. Do you need to do one? Yes. Does it give the players and spectators something to take the mickey out of? God, yes.

Much like the players, the match officials have differing levels of commitment to warming up.

Most will attempt ‘the shuttles’ between the touchline and the 18-yard box, covering running forwards, backwards (a key skill for any ref), crabbing (side to side) and the dreaded ‘grapevine’; this is where the uncommitted or uncoordinated ref will call it quits. I’ve seen one lad fall on his face trying to get his legs around this one and the players didn’t let him forget it for ninety minutes.

For some refs it’s not a matter of fitness, but rather an age thing. We still have plenty of veteran refs who couple the old-school Sergeant Major approach to discipline with the sartorial look of big collars and saggy shorts from when they first ran the line in the 1970s. These heroes of Saturday and Sunday mornings may not be the most mobile, but their commitment remains essential to football at amateur level. Next time they wave play on after you’ve been clattered from behind, try and take a breath. Think about just how many grassroots games couldn’t have been played without them over the years.

And you wouldn’t shout at your grandparents, would you? TGP

* not his real name.

WOMEN'S

Words: Abi Ticehurst @abifrti

Images: Andrew Batt / Liz Abraham-Molloy

MORE THAN A GAME

Abi Ticehurst shares her story on how football helped save her from the most devastating time of her life.

57

I’m not your typical football fanatic, for the simple fact that I didn’t grow up in a household where it was on the TV every week nor did Saturday mean a trip to a stadium home or away. I became a more avid, albeit armchair, fan as I entered my teen years and had always thought I’d like to play football. I had however been put off by the distinct lack of welcome I, unfortunately, experienced by a team on the first day I went to try-outs when I was just fifteen. Then life happened - sixth form, uni, work - and the idea of playing took a backseat. I continued to follow football but never thought I’d end up on the pitch.

The thought that I might like to play still flickered ever so gently in the back of my mind now and then, and whilst scrolling aimlessly through social media one day, an ad popped up for a brand new women’s football team starting up in Crowthorne. I thought to myself, ‘yeah, why not, I’m new, they’re new, I’ll give it a go’. I would have to wait until April of the following year before the team would begin training but I was already excited. I told my Mama immediately and, as always, she was enthralled at my joy and encouraged me to be patient: April would come around in no time.

Soon, December of that year arrived and the world around me came crashing down, torn apart by the most devastation I have ever felt. My incredible Mama had succumbed to the horrible disease that had taken over our lives. She passed away that month, snatched from my family by the most unrelenting disease that had plagued her for the past four years: cancer. Life has never been the same for me since. The following few months were a real blur and it was just about taking things one day at a time and trying to adjust to the idea that she was no longer here.

April finally arrived and I’d virtually forgotten about the idea of joining a football team, but the same ad appeared once more on my timeline and I was reminded of how excited I was the first time I’d seen it. My Mama would’ve been rooting for me to go. She was and always will be my number one supporter.

Curious yet tentative, I turned up to the first session and loved it. There were just three other girls and they were friendly and welcoming. The session hadn’t even finished before I’d convinced myself to turn up again the next week. Football training became an hour every week where I could switch off from the hurt I was feeling and just kick a ball about with the girls. Most of the squad had played football for years and some together for other teams. Being new to playing meant I wasn’t even sure I could kick a ball, let alone play ninety min-

utes on a Sunday, but the team were so incredibly supportive and encouraging that I continued to turn up.

The start of the season rolled around and we’d just about got a team together and secured our place in the local league. That first game I played, I was utterly terrified. The pitch seemed enormous, I still wasn’t convinced I knew my positioning or if I’d get a touch of the ball, but all I could think was that Mama would be so proud. To be brutally honest, we scraped our way through the season. We could barely make a team most weeks and injuries plagued the squad, but despite this, I, we, still turned up to training and match days every week because the team had bonded and nothing beat that Sunday afternoon feeling, even if we were getting thrashed regularly.

We didn’t have a single point to our name as the new year rang in, but we remained determined as ever to play and we were finally rewarded with a point on the board in January. It made it all the more sweeter having just reached the year mark since Mama’s passing. Then, the pandemic hit and the world came to a halt, football included, and with that so did the team. It was officially folded by the club in July and I wasn’t sure what to do next. I felt a little empty again. Football had become a staple of my week and a much-needed escape.

But lo and behold, I’d stumble across another ad on social media recruiting players, and in August 2020 I found myself lacing up my boots on a dusty recreation ground in the middle of Bracknell.

I knew that I was back in my happy place for those few cardinal hours a week once more. The camaraderie amongst the team is to be admired: when that dreaded date crept in once more in December and I posted on my socials, having never mentioned the heartache I feel to them, many of the girls shared kind words and it cemented my love for football that little bit more. Every time I step foot on the pitch, I take a brief moment to myself to reflect and think about how proud Mama would be of me taking the leap of faith to join a team and all I have accomplished in my footballing escapades since.

In a time as uncertain as this, you just have to look to social media these days to see the impact football can have on people’s physical and mental wellbeing.

There has never been a more poignant moment, for the grassroots community especially, to come together metaphorically at least and support one another in our beautiful game. So when I hear people say, ‘football, it’s just a game, isn’t it?’, I implore them to look a little closer to home, acknowledge the existence of their local club, and see that it's so much more. TGP

SMALL SIDED: POWERLEAGUE

SMALL SIDED: POWERLEAGUE

THE BEST PLACE TO BUY YOUR KIT Available to teams of all levels and size Easy Online Kit Builder Club Shops Available For All Clubs Club Members Receive 10% Off Boots Number 1 For Choice Express Delivery Personalisation Experts

www.prodirectsoccer.com/l/teamwear

MEN'S

Words: Mike Backler @backlermike

Images: Stuart Harper @stuart–harper

INDUCTEE #1:

GODFREY BERKO

TEAMS:

PADDY’S FC, FC BOCA, NEW BARNET LEAGUE:

BARNET SUNDAY LEAGUE One thing we don’t quite do well

weather conditions and give your best.

enough in the UK is to make a song

We feel it’s about time we started making

and dance about those who have given

a record of some of the UK’s finest

great service to the game, at all levels.

servants of the grassroots game and

In the US, every high school, college,

rewarding them for their efforts.

university and amateur team will have previous players, coaches, managers and

First up, Godfrey Berko.

volunteers enshrined on the walls. People who left their mark. Through longevity,

The Barnet Sunday League Records

consistency and achievements. But there

team did some sterling work and found

is no glamour in grassroots football. There

out that Godfrey, thirty-five, had scored

just has to be a desire to turn up in all

132 goals in 161 games in the last ten

61

" He is a great advocate for why we love this sport, & will continue to lift it and those within it for many years" years. And probably a lot more if records

game deserves. Godfrey, you’re a class

went back further. But more importantly,

act, and I wish you every success for the

beyond the goals, a lot of people had

coming seasons. Keep raising the bar

a lot of nice things to say about him.

and setting new goalscoring heights!”

Starting with the manager who gave him

Daniel Sandford (Manager,

his debut in the league:

Paddy’s FC)

“I can’t speak highly enough of Godfrey

Even his opponents don’t have a bad

as a person and a player. A manager’s

word to say about him!

dream, Godfrey was a top player for me at Paddy’s. He had all the attributes

“Godfrey always scored against us. Most

you’d want in a striker: strong, blister-

of the time out of nowhere. One game

ing pace and an eye for goal. He put

we were cruising 3-1 in the Cup and in

fear into opposition defenders. Despite

the last couple of mins he scored two,

his stature on the pitch, he’s also a

dragging us to extra time! He’s a quality

gentleman, a quiet man, but one of class

player. I tried to sign him a few times but

and respect who was well-liked by the

he’s one of these players who’s more

but also to know of his great personal

squad. Godfrey would never let you

than a player, he is his football team -

qualities too. He is a true gentleman,

down. When we “retired” the Paddy’s,

plus he’s a really nice guy.”

listening to everyone within his team to

deciding to move on, Godfrey was one

Alex Clayton (Manager,

help lead and drive them on, and he is

of the few players we wanted to join us

Zenit St Whetstone)

always positive with his views towards

at Boca. They of course were delighted to have him and I know he went on to

how the game should be won. To put it Teammates were just as complimentary...

bang in bundles of goals for them. I’m

short, like all great players of this game, Godfrey serves to elevate those around

so happy to see what he’s gone on to

“To play alongside Godfrey is not only to

him, and for me personally, I enjoyed

achieve, setting scoring records and

witness his uncanny agility and ability to

finding one of his many line-breaking

receiving the plaudits and respect his

go past a player like a man half his size,

runs with a well-timed pass. He is a

Interview: Mike Backler @thegrassrootspost

IN HIS WORDS: Tell us about when you fell in

I've been involved in grassroots

love with playing football?

football for most of my life and

I fell in love with the game as soon

what stands out for me are the

as I played at the age of five. I

lasting friendships I've formed

remember being one of the last

with some of my teammates and

players to be picked for teams

opponents. For me, that feeling on

during my early primary school

a Sunday morning, come rain or

years and I vowed to change that. I

shine, knowing I've got ninety min-

practised at home any opportunity

utes of game time, coupled with

I got, and as I got better, my pas-

playing and competing against so

sion grew. For the rest of primary

many wonderful individuals, can't

school, I was always one of the first

be beaten. Celebrating a good win

to be picked.

in the pub with my team is something I took for granted, but with

Tell us about your grassroots

what we've all lived through this

career? Any highlights?

past year, it is something I sorely

My career in the Barnet Sunday

miss and can't wait to do again.

League started in a strange way.

I turned up at Summers Lane in

What does it mean to be

Finchley in 2011 expecting to try out

inducted into The Grassroots

for Alexandra Palace after respond-

Post Hall of Fame?

ing to an ad looking for players. They

I am extremely honoured to be

didn't turn up, so I asked to join in

recognised for my achievements.

with another group playing there.

When I played my first game in

This was Paddy’s FC and I went on

the league, I had no idea I'd still be

to play for them for three seasons

active ten years later. I'd like to thank

before they unfortunately folded.

all my teammates over the years,

My highlight from a team

because without them I couldn't have

perspective was getting to a cup

achieved what I have done. It is a

semi-final with New Barnet a

privilege to even be considered, so

great advocate for why we love this

few years ago. Unfortunately we

to be inducted fills me with immense

sport, and will continue to lift it and

couldn't get over the line and win

pride. Thank you! TGP

those within it for many years. Thank

the trophy.

you Godfrey!”

On a personal level, finishing as

Adam Stapleton (Teammate at

top goalscorer in Division One of

FC Boca & New Barnet)

the 2016/17 season has to be my proudest moment. But I'd trade that accolade for a league or cup win!

What do you love about grassroots football?

EVERY ISS INDUCT SOM UE WE’LL EONE TGP'S HALL O ELSE INTO F FAME. — GOT SOMEO NE Y NOMINATE? OU’D LIKE TO EDITOR@GR PLEASE EMAIL ASSROOTSP OST.UK

SMALL SIDED: POWERLEAGUE

SMALL SIDED: POWERLEAGUE

COACHING

THE COACHES CLINIC

Words: Abigail Mills @missmills97

affirmed my dedication to the game. The thought of playing beyond the confines of my local estate with the boys that I had grown up with was a pipedream, carefully concealed in the deepest

From bumps and bruises on the estate to Championship rings in the States.

recesses of my heart.

Having spent my first season of non-competitive football with a local boys’ team at Clissold Park on Saturday mornings, there remained little proof of football being more than just an outlet and a pastime. At that point, Eni Aluko was the only direct

Abigail Mills spent her youth career with Arsenal and Chelsea and went on to captain Chelsea Under 21s to league success before setting sail to the States. There, Abigail studied at the University of South Alabama, winning two championship rings in three years with the NCAA Division 1 institution, and has most recently become the Director of Coaching at a local team.

This month, Abigail takes our Coaches Clinic and reflects on her inspiring journey from the grassroots game in London.

representation that I had to aspire to in the realm of female football, and the dream of one day rubbing shoulders with her seemed far-fetched. (I was wrong, and I’m so thankful that I was!)

Unbeknownst to me, an invitation to a football clinic at Highbury Fields School held by the former Arsenal and England Ladies captain, Faye White, served as the catalyst for the most humbling and horizon-broadening journey that a ten-year-old could only dream of. I distinctly remember Faye pulling me aside and asking, ‘would you like to play for

ABIGAIL:

Arsenal Ladies?’. As I am pretty sure that I blacked

I grew up in North London, merely a

swer was a resounding ‘YES’. Soon after, I put pen

stone's throw away from the rumble of

to paper for my first love: my childhood club.

out at that moment, I can only assume that my an-

Highbury stadium and within eyeshot of the Emirates. Football laid its claim on

After just shy of a decade of playing at the top

my heart well before I'd even had the chance

flight within my age bracket, I ventured out to

to oppose it. The trajectory of my journey through

the States. Three years and two championship

football - from humble beginnings to champion-

rings later, I have graduated from my alma mater

ship rings overseas - is one that still beguiles me

and I am now pursuing a Master’s degree whilst

whenever I take a moment to reflect on it.

fulfilling the role of Director of Coaching for a local soccer team, paving the way for the next

As is the case with many, my love for the game

generation to succeed at the grassroots level and

was birthed on the streets of London, with make-

beyond. The places I’ve been, the people I’ve met

shift goals, worn-out balls, trips underneath the

and the person I have become are all anchored

neighbours’ cars to retrieve a stray pass and an

in the soil of grassroots football, and for that I am

ever-evolving list of cuts, bruises and niggles that

eternally grateful.

TGP

67

THE DRILL:

The beauty of this warm-up is that it requires absolutely no equipment, bar a handful of footballs. Utilising the eighteen-yard box, this progressive drill does a good job of ensuring physical readiness for play, as well as incorporating elements of communication, spatial awareness and tact.

11

7

11

7

11

7 8

8

8

4 4

3

9

9 6

10

10

5

01

4

3

9

1

MOVEMENT / DYNAMIC STRETCHES

02

6

10

6

5

5

2

3

2 1

INTRODUCING THE BALL

03

2 1

POSSESSION

PHASE ONE: NUMBERS

PHASE THREE: BALLWORK

PHASE FIVE: POSSESSION

Prior to starting the drill, assign each

Introduce four balls and ask the players

The drill now evolves into a possession

player with a number in ascending order,

to pass them through the group in

game, where the even numbers form

according to how many people you have

number order. Allow a trial run for the

one team and the odd numbers form

on your team (e.g 1-16). This will be need-

team to find solutions to the problems

the other. Non-directional, within the

ed for the later phases of the drill.

that will inevitably arise, before adding

confines of the eighteen-yard box, five

the conditions of a two-touch-limit and

consecutive passes = one goal, ten

90 seconds on the clock.

consecutive passes = three goals. The

PHASE TWO: JOGGING & STRETCHING

winner is the highest-scoring team with-

Get the players moving on a light jog

PHASE FOUR: REVERSE!

(approx. 50% pace) and periodically initi-

At the coach's discretion, the "RE-

ate a different dynamic stretch every 90

VERSE" command will require players

PHASE SIX: PROGRESSION

seconds. Once you have worked through

to complete the pattern in reverse order,

Introduce a two-touch limit. Three to four

the core muscle groups, increase the

still with the two-touch limitation. If the

high tempo rounds will have the team

jogging tempo to 60, 80, and then 90%

ball strays beyond the eighteen-yard

warm and technically ready for the rest

movement, adding a change of pace and

box, hits another player accidentally,

of the session!

direction on the coach's command.

or if someone takes more than two touches, the entire team is to perform the "5 & 5 punishment" (five sit-ups, five push-ups). If the team successfully completes the pattern in under 90 seconds, decrease the amount of time allotted.

in three minutes.

March

—

April

2021

CAN’T DO THE LEAGUES & THE GOALS WITHOUT THE FOOTY, CAN WE? THESE ARE THE EARLY SEASON...

MOVERS + SHAKERS

BUT WITH IT ALL COMING BACK, WE PROMISE THAT THIS SECTION WILL BE BACK NEXT MONTH.

DO SOMETHING GREAT & YOU MIGHT BE IN IT…

League Tables

/

Top Scorers

/

Unsung Heroes

League: Edmonton & District Sunday Football League

Words: Ewan Flynn @flynnewan

Illustration: Millie Chesters @milliechesters

MY GREATEST GAME WIZARDS FC V HARINGEY ATHLETIC, 2008

Matthew Berou was a Wizards FC institution. We had played alongside each other in school and Sunday League teams for as long as I could remember. A fellow Harry Potter enthusiast, Matt had backed me when I suggested our magical team name upon joining the Edmonton and District Sunday Football League.

He was an outstanding rightback who loved defending. Very much of the old school, his boots were always black with minimal design gimmickry. Matt viewed the term 'wing-back' as a dirty bastardisation of the noble art of defending he had practised his whole life.

If he ever crossed the halfway line, Matt resembled a learner swimmer who had somehow found himself in the deep end when the wave machine was switched on. He would frantically back-pedal to the shallows of our own half.

While Matt’s instincts played a massive part in our defensive solidity, it limited his chances for personal goal-scoring glory. Whenever we won a corner, Matt was stationed on the halfway line to ward off any counter-attacks. In the hundreds of games we had played together, the name Matthew Berou had never appeared on the scoresheet. This particularly irked Matt; season after season, he lovingly compiled a meticulously colour-coded spreadsheet recording the details of every game we played.

Essentially, the only way he could ever score would be from a penalty.

It would need to be in a game where

we were so emphatically ahead that we could risk Matt taking it.

This scenario had actually dawned three years previously. In a match where we were seven goals to the good, the ref pointed to the spot. I used all of my authority as captain to manoeuvre Matt into position. I must confess that this came from a sense of curiosity as to how he would approach taking a spot-kick as much as it did from benevolence towards my oldest friend. On that occasion, Matt scuffed his shot so badly that the ball bounced about eight times during its anaemic twelve-yard journey from penalty spot to goalkeeper's hands. It seemed Matt was destined never to score a goal.

Then, finally, the circumstance arose again: in injury time of an Edmonton Division 2 game against Haringey Athletic, when the points were already in the bag, the ref blew for a penalty.

Immediately a cry went up from the touchline where manager Andy stood. "Let Berou have it!"

Matt stepped forward with the confidence of someone who had spent the intervening three years practising in his bedroom for this very moment. He clinically dispatched the ball into the bottom corner of the net, sparking wild scenes of celebration where everyone in an orange Wizards shirt, subs and management piled onto the pitch and on top of him. This caused much bafflement among the Haringey Athletic players who just wanted to get home for their Sunday dinner.

Matthew Berou was christened BeRooney and was never allowed anywhere near a penalty ever again. TGP

Buy Ewan’s book 'We Are Sunday League' on waterstones.com

SEE YOU NEXT MONTH Massive thanks for giving us a read.

Issue 3 will be exactly where you found this one from April 30th.

Want to stock the paper for free in your grassroots football venue?

Or got a grassroots story that needs telling?

Email us on editor@grassrootspost.uk.

Issue 02: Editor: Mike Backler

Design: Alex Mertekis

Sub Editor: Lucy Mertekis

Words: Clara Heffernan, James Cronin, Alicia Povey,

Images: Stuart Harper, Sheena Booker,

Charlie Hyman, Tayyiba Yunus, Amie Cripps,

Gary Mann, Alex Daniel, Phillip Passey,

Andrew Martin, Ryan Matthews, Emmy Campbell,

Rob Avis, Andrew Batt, Liz Abraham-Molloy

Rachael Mutch, Trevor Booking, Abi Ticehurst, Abi Mills, Ewan Flynn

Illustrations: Millie Chesters

Special thanks: John David Eager from Barnet Sunday League, Luke Redding from Reddico, Chris Swoffer, Jack Cox & Dan Tunna from The FA, Oli Brierley from Kitlocker, Kirsty McManus from Goals, Ian Doughty, Drew Smith from Powerleague, Danny Taiedy from Footy Addicts, Scarlett Smith from EFL, Duncan Hart from Peckham Town FC, Dan Clark & Matt Hudson from MAN V FAT, Chris Evans from Essex FA, Jacob Bellheimer from Middlesex FA, James Chadwick and Marcus Tyrer from Surrey FA, Matt Moore from Your Club Subs & Matthew Fletcher-Jones from Wales.

We work with a number of partners who not only enhance the grassroots game but also support us in our endeavours to give amateur football and the stories within it the coverage they deserve. We’re a free paper and, without them, we would not exist.

• Goals Soccer Centres:

goalsfootball.co.uk

• MAN V FAT:

manvfat.com

• Bloomsbury Football:

bloomsburyfootball.com

• PRO:DIRECT:

prodirectsoccer.com

• Kitlocker:

kitlocker.com

• The FA:

thefa.com

• Footy Addicts:

footyaddicts.com

• Essex FA:

essexfa.com

• Joymo:

joymo.tv

• Middlesex FA:

middlesexfa.com

• Powerleague:

powerleague.co.uk

• Surrey FA:

surreyfa.com

• Your Club Subs:

yourclubsubs.com

TW: @GrassrootsPost

IG: @thegrassrootspost

FB: @thegrassrootspost

Stream on.

Stream your games and sell tickets to your fans.

Limited Offer To celebrate the return of grassroots football livestream for free for the first 3 months with the Joymo Share app.

Sign up using the code:

PlayOn Sign up at arena.joymo.no/subscribe or find out more at joymo.tv