The Grassroots Post

WOMEN'S

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SMALL-SIDED

...& FUTSAL!

LONDON & THE HOME COUNTIES EDITION

JULY 2021

FREE!

VOL. 01 ISSUE 04

A NATION INSPIRED

PLUS

:

YOUR IMPROVE TS O G R A S SR O !

B U CL 8 from p3

NOW IT’S TIME FOR PRE-SEASON SHOW RACISM THE RED CARD

2020/21 ROLL OF HONOUR!

VETS: IT’S THE FUTURE!

CROYDON WFC: BACK IN BUSINESS

SMALL-SIDED

Website: footyaddicts.com

Footy Addicts: Euro 2020 What a summer. What a celebration of football. Fifty-one matches across thirty-one days, in eleven cities, with Italy crowned the winner at Wembley Stadium in London. While it’s been taking place, representatives from the competing nations in the capital have been logging in to Footy Addicts, finding a game, turning up and getting involved. The country and the city is ablaze with football fever and Footy Addicts can facilitate you getting involved. Wherever you're from, whatever your ability. There is a game for you.

TURKE Y Yusuf Erdogan Archbishops Park

WALES Bilal Kabdani Evelyn Grace Academy

FINLAND Danny Taeidy Harris Academy, Crystal Palace

HOLLAND Alex Van Oudgaarden Rocks Lane Chiswick

SCOTLAND Michael Elliott Archbishops Park

PORTUGAL Tania Mateus Phoenix Academy

HUNGARY Tibor Goldis Ark Putney Academy

CROATIA Henry Gasparic Docklands Powerleague

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FRANCE Leo Domenech Archbishops Park

SPAIN Adrian Moya Mile End Leisure Centre

GERMANY Andre Jock ers Westway Sp or ts C

entre

SWEDEN Wiktor Antczak Archbishops Park

BELGIUM Marcel Abana Archbishops Park

DENMARK Has Benchekh Whitechapel Sports Centre

ITALY Davin Gritti Paradise Park ENGL AND Gem Atkinson Brixton Fernda le

Footy Addicts is open and everyone can join.

Just download the app and get involved.

HELLO 4

It’s still very raw.

What an exhilarating, yet conflicting summer. Hard to imagine a sports tournament that has invoked such an all-encompassing range of emotions, especially as an England fan. Freedom - to enjoy with friends and family, warmth - at seeing fans in stadiums, pride - at seeing a socially conscious, humble and diverse set of young men giving their all on the pitch, elation at those two second half goals against Germany at Wembley, anguish - in the semi-finals, a familiar despair in the final, and such shame and embarrassment at the behaviour of some on that Sunday, and the racist abuse of three brave and brilliant young black players. A sad, unforgivable end to a wonderful summer.

I can never speak for those that have had to endure such abuse throughout their lives, but it's made me even more determined that our little publication will always celebrate the diversity in our beautiful game at grassroots level. It will always represent everyone, both in our coverage and our contributors, and I believe we’ve managed to achieve that again in this Issue.

We also have ex-profession-

al player Curtis Fleming from Show Racism The Red Card speaking to us in our regular piece about these issues and where we go from here.

To the positives. The England team. I know there will be many reading that do not follow them, but as a paper that covers grassroots football in London and the South East, it’s intrinsically linked to the grassroots game in this country.

They inspired us. They looked like all of us, and behaved like we all say we would if we got to pull on that shirt. By giving it everything. The way they conducted themselves, they were role models. And I’m excited to see what that leads to, in terms of a spike in participation, and in much-needed funding for

grassroots clubs and pitches nationwide. I for one can not wait to get back out there for pre-season and have one last hurrah with my Vets side on a Saturday, and I'm fully ready for the inevitable hamstring strain after thirty-five minutes.

For most, it seems, pre-season is already well underway and it’s been brilliant to see supporters at grounds, friendly tournaments and teams training together on social media.

We’re all desperate for a sense of normality and an uninterrupted season. Time to dust ourselves off, get out there and keep striving to improve ourselves and our clubs, and the game we love.

Mike Backler, Editor

RACISM IN FOOTBALL

Interview: The Grassroots Post @thegrassrootspost

STATE OF PLAY:

SHOW RACISM THE RED CARD Tayyiba from The Grassroots Post sat down with former Middlesbrough and Republic of Ireland defender, and patron of the charity Show Racism the Red Card, Curtis Fleming, to discuss their work, his experiences of racism in football and what can be done to combat this stain on the game and society.

Tayyiba: Tell us about Show Racism the Red Card (SRtRC) Curtis Fleming: SRtRC is an educational charity and its purpose is to tackle racism. We provide anti-racism workshops and help children, teachers and also workplaces to understand the effects of racism and what they can do to address it. It’s been around for twenty-five years now and since its establishment we have made huge strides in tackling racism, using football as a vehicle for change.

I have been involved with SRtRC since its first year. It was founded when Shaka Hislop, who was playing as goalkeeper for Newcastle at the time, was racially abused by youths at a petrol station. When he turned around and was recognized as a footballer, the abuse stopped and they asked him for his autograph instead. Shaka contacted Ged Grebby (the founder of Stand Up To

Racism) regarding the incident and had a chat about how footballers can be used as a tool to tackle racism.

This discussion led to the formation of Show Racism the Red Card.

T: SRtRC has a focus on using high profile footballers in its films and promotional campaigns. What impact does this have?

CF: Football is a hugely watched sport and it is only getting bigger.

When we have high profile footballers getting the message across that racism is unacceptable, it has a massive effect. These footballers are role models to football fans and in particular to children. I saw Chris Hughton play for Ireland as a kid. He was a young black player who played in my position. When I saw him play, I thought, I can do that too. That is the effect that representation has, so it is extremely powerful to use figures like Marcus

Rashford and Gareth Southgate to raise awareness. These individuals have also either experienced or witnessed racism within football, so are able to highlight these issues and help to create change.

T: How was your experience growing up?

CF: I was born, grew up and went to school in Dublin. I was the only black person amongst four hundred students at school. There were no other students who looked like me and it remained like that until my brother joined two years later. As a child, I think you’re oblivious to the colour of your skin until you start getting comments directed at you. I remember walking home across a bridge from one estate back when I was ten. An older man directed racial abuse at me. I was only a kid and it scared me, the amount of venom he said it with.

It hit home that I was different. To this day, I vividly recall the animosity and hurt I felt. This one incident drives me every day to change attitudes.

When I started playing professional football in the '90s, I was a target for abuse. Comments and racist rhetoric from the stands became the norm and I eventually accepted that it was something I had to get used to. There was no one to report it to – if you wanted to keep playing, the only option was to get used to it. Personally for me, I felt a change in the culture of football supporters when stadiums became all-seated as it became very difficult

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"Racism within stadiums is far less common now but social media has become the new home for racism in football" for groups to gather and gain momentum for racist abuse. It made it more difficult for them. Racism within stadiums is far less common now but social media has become the new home for racism in football.

T: How has racism in football changed in the twenty-five years since SRtRC was established? Has there been improvement?

CF: I think there has been a lot of progress in the last twenty-five years.

Back in the '90s, a lot of the racist rhetoric at the time was acceptable.

Monkey chants were acceptable.

At the time, players didn’t come out and make statements like they do today, because racism was just something you had to take on the chin. Players also didn’t want to speak out because it could have implications on their careers.

The biggest development for me is that people are no longer afraid to speak about racism. People aren’t afraid to discuss why it is unacceptable that players like Raheem Sterling are applauded after a good performance, but racially abused after a poor performance. A big part of that has been the George Floyd murder and the Black Lives Matter movement, which has created a more open dialogue about racism. Footballers taking the knee is also very positive as millions of people are watching these games. I love seeing the knee being taken as there would’ve been no chance of it happening a few years ago, and now

we have an anti-racist message being broadcasted just before kick-off at games with a huge and international audience.

It’s without a doubt a positive change that these conversations are happening at every level of the game. But it’s important not to get complacent. Football reflects a cross-section of society and although physical abuse has declined, social media abuse has escalated.

T: Going forward, what are the ambitions of SRtRC? CF: It is fantastic that there are so many initiatives and ideas coming out within football to improve inclusion and counter racism, but we need to see them being put into action. Organisations like the FA need to deliver on these ideas and we need to see this on the ground. For me, grassroots is where it all starts and things will improve when we see inclusion in every area. SRtRC T: As you mentioned, football is will continue to run our education facing a huge battle to root out rac- programs, particularly for young ism from social media platforms. people, and we want to keep growWhat are the main challenges with ing. We have done a lot of work in social media and what do you changing perceptions and we hope think can be done to combat the to continue to use education as a abuse received by players? tool to tackle racism. TGP CF: Social media organisations tend to be vague when it comes to For further information about how you racism in football and they do not can get involved in supporting SRtRC, go do enough to prevent racial abuse. to www.theredcard.org.

There is no doubt that these companies have to make a stand and be held accountable.

The social media blackout was good to see but I don’t think it has been strong enough. There needs to be a tougher stand, such as refusing to use these platforms until more is done. I also think identifiable accounts will help to ban offenders. It’ll mean people can no longer be anonymous and their identities can be publicised to show what the racists in our society look like. It’ll make it difficult for these people to come back onto social media and repeat the same offences again.

A SLEEPING GI

After twenty years of looking back at an illustrious and trophy-f This is the resurgence of South Lon d

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WOMEN'S

IANT AWAKES

illed past, Croydon Women FC are finally looking to the future. don’s greatest women’s football club Words: Amie Cripps @amiloucri

Images: Gem Atkinson @dropsofdiamond

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If ever there’s been a story that embodies a phoenix rising from the ashes, it’s Croydon Women FC. During their heyday, the Trams won the FA Cup twice and were crowned league champions three times. Six of their players represented England at the 1995 World Cup, and before Henry, Vieira and Bergkamp made it cool, Croydon Women FC enjoyed an unbeaten run in their 1999 campaign. Hardly surprising when their roster boasted the likes of Hope Powell, Pauline Cope and Debbie Bampton. All members of the English Football Hall of Fame.

The South London team dominated the women’s game for a number of years before disbanding in 2000 and forming Charlton Athletic WFC - a merger at the time that was shrouded in controversy due to the nature of the Premier League side’s forceful takeover.

Still, in the years to come - before yet another controversial Charlton Athletic moment in 2007, the disbandment of their women’s side Charlton gave us the likes of Casey Stoney, Katie Chapman, Eniola Aluko and managerial maestro Matt Beard. All greats of the women’s game. Greats who certainly have Croydon Women FC to thank a little for laying the foundations to some of their successes.

So what prompted the return of the South London legends?

Theft.

A heartless burglary prompted a grassroots call to arms to bring back

one of the best teams to ever grace the women’s football scene.

A couple of years ago, Croydon FC were broken into, and while taking note of what had been stolen, several trophies and plaques were discovered. Every single one of them belonged to Croydon Women FC. Committee member Jason Casey talked me through the moments that led up to the reformation of Croydon Women FC. “At Croydon FC I was helping out where I could at the club, running the shop, things like that. We were a very small, close-knit team at Croydon FC, made up of maybe ten volunteers, and over the years we’d experienced quite a few break-ins.

It was during a team meeting following a major break-in, where quite a lot was stolen, that we realised how many trophies we had from the women’s team twenty years beforehand. We spoke about maybe putting all the England shirts we had from players like Hope Powell on the wall,

creating some sort of celebration of it all, but then we started talking about putting together a women’s team.

“At the time, my daughter Lucy was also at Crystal Palace, and she’d been talking to me about Palace not having an Under 18s girls’ team and asking which team she could join. I told her I’d speak with the club secretary Paul (Fleming) to see what we could do.”

The wheels were set in motion.

And so, a year before the pandemic struck and put an end to grassroots football on a global scale, Croydon Women FC was reformed.

They spent their maiden season at Under 18s level in the Surrey County Women and Girls League, but were successful in their application to play in the Greater London Women and Girls Football League (GLWFL) as an open age team last year. For the time being they play their home games at Club Langley in Beckenham but have every intention of returning to their beloved Croydon when the time presents itself.

As with all grassroots sports, funding has been an issue for the club. But like all grassroots clubs, the heralded pub quiz has had its part to play, not just in raising some much-needed funds but also in providing a chairperson.

Croydon Women FC’s chair Emma Bowell explains: “I got involved with the club towards the end of last season where I found out about them by chance, really! They were advertising a match I couldn’t go to, so I started following them on social media to find out about future fixtures.

Not long after that, I saw they were having a pub quiz to raise funds and I decided to go along.

“I've always been interested in football,” continues the twentynine-year-old civil servant from Croydon. “I’m a big Chelsea men’s team fan and a few years ago my dad - who is also the club photographer got an email saying Chelsea Women were playing and tickets only cost £3.

I’ve had coffees that cost more than that! So we went along, and I absolutely loved it. It was such a good atmosphere, and you’re watching world-class players in these tiny stadiums so you feel really connected to them. From then on, I really got into the women’s game.”

Emma initially started life at the

club offering support to players regarding their welfare. Someone the players could talk to about issues and concerns on and off the pitch.

When asked to describe her role as chair, we both settled on the term hodgepodge, as she really is a Jack of all trades (and a master of all of them, by the way).

" A heartless burglary prompted a grassroots call to arms to bring back one of the best teams to ever grace the women’s football scene" Top Left: Captain Megan with number one supporter: Nanny Carol Left of Pic: Croydon WFC are blessed with some amazing volunteers in Chair Emma Bowell, and Club Secretary Paul Fleming

“It's a bit of a hybrid role; I do some social media before games, thinking about the strategy of the club and where we want to get to in the next five years, the things we need to have in place to do that, coming along to support the games and training … things like that!”

When asked about Croydon Women FC’s future plans and ambitions, she told me sustainability was key.

“Our immediate aim for the future is to solidify where we are now.

We were an Under 18s club last season, so it’s about making sure we have what we need in place to help our players grow and develop.”

This is something club secretary Paul Fleming also believes in: “My main ambition really is to ensure the club is stabilised over the next couple of years. This is the first season in an open age category, and just making sure that continues is important. Potentially opening up to other age groups is part of our indicative roadmap, but sometimes it’s easier said than done. Attracting players, trying to find facilities for those players and gaining financial backing.

There’s always risk involved in setting up a new club or a new age group.”

Listening to Paul, it’s clear how much careful thought has gone into ensuring Croydon Women FC isn’t a token gesture. Paul’s list of duties as club secretary also made me realise how little work I do: “As Club Secretary I organise kits, training sessions and make sure pitches are booked. I also pay the ref, make sure we have

players available, sort their registrations, deal with the league, the local FA … so not a lot really!” jokes Paul.

Paul’s love of the game stemmed from supporting his own daughter as she grew up playing football. “My daughter started playing at primary school. She played for the school team and then a club. I started getting involved in the admin side of things from when she was eleven until she retired at sixteen.” Paul’s all about providing footballing opportunities for players in Croydon and the surrounding areas. He’s also a huge advocate for women working in football, and wants more women involved in the club at every level - something that fellow committee member Jason is also keen to address.

“If you look at one of the best women’s teams in the country at the moment, they’re managed by a woman. Emma Hayes. Look at all the progress England made when Hope Powell was in charge. It’s important to us to have women help us to run the club. We need more women working in football.”

Jason continues: “We have high hopes for some of the girls in our squad. A lot of them are on their way to university, or they’re already studying. Some want to be sports journalists and are working towards degrees in media studies and broadcasting. Our captain is doing an accountancy apprenticeship, and we’re looking for her to support us with our finances.” With that being said, player development is very

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" After only an afternoon with the team, I’m already blocking out my Sundays to go and support the club" much at the core of Croydon Women FC’s inspirational work.

“We did well in our first season as an Under 18s team last year: we finished fourth,” explained Crystal Palace and Croydon Women FC’s coach Len Nadison, whose daughter Casey also plays for the Trams. “The idea is to try and get ourselves back to where the old Croydon used to be, and to try and create that opportunity for the younger generation.

We want to put Croydon back on the map, and encourage more players to come and join. The more we grow as a team, the more the community grows as a team.”

After only an afternoon with the team, I’m already blocking out my Sundays to go and support the club.

The family environment they’ve created in such a short space of time - shoutout to captain Megan’s biggest supporter and sideline hero Nanny Carol - is why we all grew up loving the game. And with fans already in Holland, I’ve no doubt that it won’t be long before we see Croydon Women FC 2.0 adding their own pages to the annals of women’s football history. TGP

League: ALL OF THEM, EVERYWHERE... BUT IN ITALY

Words: Andrew Martin @ajmartin90

Illustrations: Millie Chesters @milliechesters

Zitti e Buoni: An Italian Affair Sure, they won the Euros, but do they care as much about grassroots football in Italy?

Are they any good? Andrew Martin learnt the hard way that yes they do, and yes they are.

Summer football tournaments are the best. That’s a fact.

Hazy afternoons, mild dehydration, Baddiel, Skinner, The Lightning Seeds and entire nations bound together by an irresistible, sweaty sense of hope.

All of that was taken away from us last year – there were bigger things to worry about. Andrew Martin took the lack of football worse than most, though. Couldn’t handle it. Spent his last two grand on a month-long inten-

sive course to teach English abroad, purely so he could have a kickabout in Italy. It was a stupid idea. We asked Andrew to explain what was going through his head.

It started with a man called “Mimmo”. It’s short for Domenico, apparently. Met him through my flatmate over a custard-filled croissant and a cappuccino. Big Roma fan despite having been born and raised in Puglia, almost 300 miles southeast of the capital. He

told me, as he tried in vain to prevent his custard from unceremoniously freeing itself of its pastry bonds, that he and his pals played football at least once a week at a nearby sports complex, and maybe he could pull some strings to get me involved. Yes, I thought, this is why I’m here.

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I waited for the text. It came a full week later. “Hi Andrew, I’ll pick you up from home around 19:50 to play football. Do you need something?”

Not sure what he meant by that last question. I said no, just in case. He spent the car journey playing down the standard of his mates’ footballing ability, making sure I knew that this was just a friendly kickabout. “That’s absolutely fine,” I said. My European summer of football begins now.

I say “summer”. It was late September by the time I got to Italy. I was about to turn thirty, I hadn’t played football for six months, the humidity made me feel like I was living in the Eden Project, one of the angriest thunderstorms I’ve ever witnessed had begun lashing out in all directions, the surface was too flat for studs, yet too slippery for indoor shoes, and these blokes had played football together every week for the last twenty years. The omens were all there. I did not heed them.

I decided I was going to start fast.

I was at least ten years younger than most of the other players, and I thought that would probably mean I could just run past everyone and they’d never catch me. As it turns out, six months of barely moving will do an absolute mischief on your stamina and I almost threw up after that first sprint. Also, in case you were wondering, everything you’ve heard about the Italian attitude towards the art of defence is true

– time after time, they showed me down the outside, forcing me to use pace, rather than trickery, to beat my man. They knew exactly what they were doing. They could see me turning purple, see the arteries stretching in my neck, see the rivulets of sweat running into the rain on my face to form awful little waterfalls. Twenty minutes in and I was actually worried for my own wellbeing. A teammate looked at me imploringly: “difendiamo insieme, Andrew!” (“we defend together, Andrew!”). I couldn’t remember how to say “I’m afraid I can’t, mate. You see, I think my lungs are about to come out of my mouth.” And it wouldn’t have mattered anyway, because I wasn’t capable of speech by that point.

It only got more humiliating: about forty minutes in, the ball fell to an opposition attacker (who held a remarkable likeness to the great Antonio Cassano, who is also from Puglia... It could’ve been him, for all I know). I sprinted at him to put the pressure on, with the ball falling from the sky. He saw me coming, met the ball like an old friend and nutmegged me with his first touch.

I just stood there, soaking wet and humiliated. The next time he passed me, he slapped my backside, turned round, winked and laughed knowingly which, in Italian, English, and every other known language on Planet Earth, means, I have absolutely done you there, son.

' The next time he passed me, he slapped my backside, turned round, winked & laughed knowingly which, in Italian, English, and every other known language on Planet Earth, means, I have absolutely done you there, son.'

And he had.

Sadly, I never spoke to Mimmo again. A strict national lockdown soon followed and I ended up becoming friends with Stephen Hawking’s ex-butler who now runs a little baguette and crêpe shop in Southeast Italy, but that’s another story for another time.

I just about managed to get home for Christmas, singing polka tunes all the way home with John Candy and his band in their little van (that last part isn’t true). I’d been in Italy for three months and managed to play a grand total of one football match.

The main thing I learned from my time in Italy is that you can’t force the European Championships. Sometimes, you just have to be patient, or in the words of current Italian Eurovision champions Måneskin, “zitti e buoni” – shut up and be good. TGP

VETERANS

Words: Raymond Peart @independent–vets

Images: Jack Osborne @jackosb1991

INDEPENDE Independent Vets are the classic example of how, contrary to times gone by, all of us can ex

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ENT’S DAY perience a football rebirth after thirty-five and beyond.

Time and again we are hearing from Vets teams that are enjoying the time of their footballing lives once they reach the once-dreaded age of thirty-five. The Veterans scene is flourishing, with players returning to play with mates from yesteryear and falling back in love with football for all the same reasons they did as a kid.

Independent Vets are no different. And you only have to experience their joy on a cup final-winning Saturday to know that it’s the same feeling, whatever age and whatever level. Raymond Peart, the team’s manager, tells us about the club, why it’s important for a club’s youth teams to have a Vets section, their history and what it meant to bring the Beckenham Hospital Cup home in front of an “electric” atmosphere!

RAY: Independent Football Club was created in 1988 by Barry Gordon as a youth football club with a focus on player and personal development.

At first, Independent only had one age group as Barry tended to focus on one group and stay with them up until they reached Under 16s or the team reached a natural end. After the break up of his second successful team, Barry became frustrated with the politics of youth football and decided to take a break from running a team to play grassroots

football with friends. After a while, that desire to begin coaching again soon led to him forming a new team and this time he had a vision to create a club with various ages all developing at the same time. With his reputation growing, it wasn’t long before professional clubs began to take notice and now scouts from all over the UK are regularly attending club games looking for talented players. To date, the club has produced numerous players who have turned professional, with at least four having played in the Premiership and in international football.

While Independent has produced many talented players, not all have what it takes to go into the professional game. Many have gone into men’s grassroots football, which is an area that Independent has tried to fill the gap with by having a men’s team, but it never really stuck. In season 2020-21, London South United B joined Independent to become the club’s first Vets team.

While the season started with two defeats, we finally got the ball rolling with a last-minute winner in a 2-1 league win over the new London South United B team, with the hope that this would be a sign of things to come. Unfortunately, Covid-19 once again disrupted the season and we finished up in fourth place.

Once the enforced Covid suspension of grassroots football was lifted, Vets football was back and we were playing cup competitions.

Having entered the London Cup and the Beckenham Hospital Cup, we began the restarted season in excellent form, winning our first game back 8-0.

In the BHC we were in good form and won games against ASIRU 8-0, South East 8-1, Stansfield 3-1 and a 6-2 semi-final win against VCD, our previous final opponents. Unfortunately, we lost in the quarter-finals of the London Cup, losing 4-2 to West London Old Stars, so our focus now was on finishing a season with some silverware in the one competition we remained in.

The BHC cup final against Segas presented an amazing opportunity to win our first piece of silverware under our new club Independent, so there was a real excitement about the day from the off. The players got to the ground and everything seemed in place for us to achieve our goal, but once the game got started there seemed to be a lack of drive and we were slow to react to everything within the game. After twenty-five minutes we were 2-0 down and playing poorly.

The second goal seemed to give us a lift and on the stroke of halftime we managed to pull a goal back through a header by Nels. We went into the half-time 2-1 down, which was fortunate as our goalkeeper made a fantastic save to keep the score at 2-0.

After some strong words at halftime and a change of personnel, the

" With a minute left, the ball fell to Nels on the edge of the box, who controlled it and drilled his shot into the top corner, sending the crowd wild!"

team came out going downhill in the second half with much more intensity and were looking far more dangerous than the first half. We created three or four good chances but just couldn’t get the equalising goal, and against the run of play Segas had a gilt-edged chance to make it 3-1 - but again, our goalkeeper Mel produced an outstanding reflex save.

With thirteen minutes left, our leading goalscorer got into an altercation over the placement of a free kick which led to him being sinbinned for ten minutes. It seemed like a lost cause. With time running down, we entered the final seven minutes of the game, still searching for an equaliser, and we had a goal ruled out for a foul on their goalkeeper, but still we kept pushing. With four minutes to play, their keeper made an error, allowing our striker to play the ball into an empty net. 2-2!!! In the celebrations we managed to make the sub to bring our leading scorer back on and

pushed for a winner. With a minute left, the ball fell to Nels on the edge of the box, who controlled it and drilled his shot into the top corner, sending the crowd wild!

As they pushed for an equaliser of their own, our centre-back intercepted a pass and sent a through ball to our forward, who ran the length of the pitch (very Geoff Hurst, this) to get on the end of a sweeping counterattack to score from four yards and confirm the win: 4-2!

At the final whistle, there were cheers of joy and our first success as Independent Vets. With parents from the youth club and some of the youth teams there, it was an amazing day and the atmosphere was electric.

While some may downplay the importance of grassroots football and especially Vets football, for others this may be the only chance to experience winning a trophy through football. After the season that we had had, this was an amazing experience for us. In grassroots

football it’s not only about winning - it’s about enjoying the game with friends as you pick what team you want to play with. Most of the time you end up in a team with your friends, and for us older players this may be the last time we experience days like that, so it’s something to appreciate more than ever. Our Vets team is more than friends, we are a family, and to be able to share the day with them and the individual families that all came out to support us was something we will all remember and enjoy for a long time.

Hopefully it all starts again in September when the Vets season is back in full swing, with a full season of league and cup football. And for anyone who thinks it doesn’t matter, I would say watch the final video which will be available on YouTube and tell me that that wasn’t an exciting game of football!

It was, it bloody was. TGP

19

Every night down at Goals, you've got the chance to stride on to the Wembley turf and put things right.

Get yourself down there.

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the delivery of fun, safe and inclusive

en’s and girls’ football benefits at a local,

through a combination of live webinars,

sessions and games. These skills will

grassroots level for years to come.

e-learning, on-demand resources and

then be built upon in the Introduction to

community groups where learners can

Coaching Football course. TGP

As part of their legacy, Southampton will launch clear and accessible oppor-

chat and share ideas with other coaches

tunities and programmes for women

who are taking the course.

and girls to play football and progress.

The Playmaker Award will be promoted

It costs £160, and includes ongoing support from England Football for

Book your place on Introduction to Coaching Football course via essexfa.com today.

to encourage women to take a first step in coaching football and an increased number of FA-qualified female coaches and referees will be deployed where they are most needed to support the

Surrey FA Help Launch Football Team for Men Affected by Baby Loss

growth of the game for women and girls.

These pledges will lead to fifty primary

Leading UK stillbirth and neonatal

FC team will be launched in Guildford.

and secondary schools offering equal ac-

death charity Sands and Surrey FA

This will be the latest addition to the grow-

cess to football for girls in PE lessons by

have teamed up to give men affected

ing network of Sands United teams that

2022. Double the number of FA-qualified

by the death of a baby a new way of

are rolling out across the UK.

female coaches and referees will officiate

receiving support through football.

on the pitch, with 500 more women playing football in Southampton’s most deprived wards by creating sustainable

Sands oversees and supports a UKwide initiative called Sands United.

With its roots within local commu-

Surrey FA and Sands are now recruiting a volunteer team manager to help run Sands United FC Guildford. The team manager will receive advice and

nities, Sands United teams are a safe

support in getting set up and recruiting

space where anyone affected by the

team members from Surrey FA and

Football Development Officer, Flo

death of a baby, but particularly men, can

will have the full support of the charity

Lunn, is Southampton’s Legacy Lead

come together through a love of football

Sands in helping local bereaved men

overseeing the delivery of the legacy

or other team sports to offer one another

cope with their loss. TGP

programme. Flo said: “We want to

companionship through a shared under-

use the inspiration of the Lionesses to

standing of their unique journey through

Anyone interested in managing the

create a generation of female players,

grief. The players also commemorate

team can find out more about the role at

referees, coaches, volunteers and

their babies' all too brief lives by proudly

sportingconnect.com/countyconnect/

spectators from all communities to en-

displaying their names on their home

jobs/sands-united-fc-team-manager-

gage with football in the city of South-

and away shirts.

in-guildford or by emailing sands.unit-

recreational football opportunities.

Hampshire FA’s Women & Girls

ampton before, during and continuing long after the tournament.”. TGP

The partnership between Surrey FA and Sands means a new Sands United

ed@sands.org.uk or ashley.gumbrell@ surreyfa.com.

POWERLEAGUE

Words: Mike Backler @backlermike

Images: Alex Daniel @–pictures–of–you–

These Guys Saw It First We went to Powerleague Vauxhall and the Black Prince Trust to meet a gleaming piece of prestigious international silverware and a charity doing some extraordinary work in the local community.

“We are so lucky,” begins Laura Foster, Community Programmes and Partnerships Manager for the Black Prince Trust. We’re minutes from meeting the Henri Delaunay Trophy on its tour in the days leading up to Euro 2020. Which, for someone like me, is pretty cool. But Laura isn’t referring to that. There are bigger things at play here.

“Lambeth Council decided to change

who run their netball teams from the site,

the site from a school in 2011 and hand

to the sort of engagement that you can

it over to the community, to build a really

see with Street Soccer, that is much more

great facility for the community to take

hands-on and holistic. So once you have

part in a wide range of sports, not just

that engagement, you can bring in work-

football, not just basketball.”

shops on leaderships, respect. All sorts of

Laura continues: “To try and engage

pathways. As we also have the classroom

the immediate community in what is quite

space, we can offer people opportunities

a deprived area. High population but very

in coaching, refereeing,” Laura explains.

urban. The trust was commissioned to

“All the sports have various avenues

run the site and to have various social

and outcomes. There are those that

impact outcomes and a real broad range

have gone on to work here as advisors,

of offers. From eight to eighty-plus years

tutors and sessional staff working ons-

old and great links with local schools.”

ite. I know it sounds like a utopia, but it

Upon our arrival, on unfortunately the only rainy day in early June, the brilliant

really is an amazing place!”

The trophy arrives in the iconic Regal

charity Street Soccer are hosting a Euros

Court accompanied by an entourage,

quiz in one of the Black Trust’s class-

but it’s the Basketball Court that is actu-

rooms. The lucky chosen kids are baffled

ally pretty breathtaking. Like something

by questions about Oliver Bierhoff and

from a college basketball film, it’s a

Golden Goals before heading out to play

special facility. That such a facility is free

in a few energy-charged small-sided

to the community is incredible.

for it. They are all members of the site.

games on the Powerleague pitches.

“There’s that perception that if some-

It’s no surprise that UEFA have

thing is free, it must be sub-par or shoddy.

and also to involve the parents. They’re

decided to stop here. Having played

And that’s not true here. This place

excited too! We want them to spend the

many times at Powerleague Vauxhall,

comes with amazing facilities, partners

day here and create lovely memories.

a group of pitches in a heavily built-up

and coaches,” Laura remarks.

We don’t want people to feel like they

part of Lambeth but with views of the

“Today has been lovely. We can

“It’s brilliant that we’ve been chosen,

are just a photo. There’s a quiz, there’s

Houses of Parliament, it exists as a sort

engage through sport and schools, but

football, there’s food and, of course, the

of embodiment of London. These are the

to be able to phone all our clubs and say

trophy - that’s a part of it.”

areas that are a hotbed for young talent.

we’ve got this opportunity, that’s great.

As we all know, football didn’t

However, I had no idea of the social im-

We have had to choose people to be a

quite come home this year. But for

pact of the Black Prince Trust next door

part of it but that’s part of the process

these kids, they’ll never forget the

and what a very special place it is.

here. We tell them that this is your site. It’s

day that the Euro 2020 trophy came

about respect and taking responsibility

to theirs.

“We have everything here. From those

TGP

WOMEN'S

Words & Images: Liam Newman @hashtagwomensfootball

League: The FA Women's National League Division One SE

ALEX BAILESS:

25

THE HEART OF HASHTAG A devastating diagnosis called time on Alex Bailess’ blossoming career, but she’s shown the strength and positivity to flourish in a new role “I was at work and I just cried in the toilets for a bit. I didn't even think about any actual medical concerns or how this could affect my future – the only thing I worried about was football.”

After the abrupt and disappointing end of a null and void 2019/20 season, the return of football ahead of 2020/21 was supposed to be a time of immense excitement for players up and down the country. None more so than Alex Bailess.

Having been club captain for AFC Basildon of the women’s fourth tier, Bailess and her teammates saw their fortunes change overnight in April 2020 with the news of a merger with online sensation Hashtag United to become the Tags’ new women’s outfit.

Following years of financial frailties behind the scenes, the stability and exposure offered by the merger was a dream come true for Essex’s most successful women’s club. Then, just six days before the club’s first fixture, Bailess received the gut-wrenching news that her dream was over.

At just twenty-six, the left-back had been forced to hang up her boots for good due to a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle.

“I told my partner and my parents, then Jason [the team manager] – that was the order it went in,” says Bail-

ess. “I was dreading telling the girls because this meant it was for real: no more football, no more Hashtag.”

Cardiomyopathy is a condition that hinders the heart’s ability to pump blood, particularly during intense exercise. Marc-Vivien Foé and Fabrice Muamba are just two high-profile cases that show the devastation the condition can cause, while Barrow’s Lewis Hardcastle was forced to retire after his diagnosis in early 2021.

Sadly, Bailess needn’t look far to see the potential trauma of the disease. In 2019, her cousin tragically died from the condition aged just twenty-one. The family tragedy had struck without any prior warning of health complications. Given the disease’s hereditary nature, Bailess soon underwent medical examinations.

“The charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) was invaluable in helping me and my family access cardiac screening,” explains Bailess. “Obviously, things were delayed due to Covid-19. It took about two years to get an actual diagnosis which included being referred to different specialist hospitals, particularly as this type of cardiomyopathy isn't very common and needed a specialist cardiologist.”

While she hoped that her career could continue, the prospect of

not being able to end things on her own terms circled overhead throughout 2019/20.

“Of course, when the thing you love doing most in this world is threatened, it plays on your mind.

But you try not to think about that.

“After initial investigations, I was advised to stop playing football until I had a certain diagnosis; but this wasn't good enough for me, so I carried on playing for another season. I then had a repeat MRI scan of my heart which had already shown some progression in the scarring.

So, I kind of knew what was coming during pre-season but I just kept going. Looking back, it might have been better to find out before the pre-season fitness started – I could have got away with that!”

Despite her acquiesce, the former defender concedes that the timing of her sudden retirement was “just devastating and to be honest still is to this day.” She continues: “I was so, so excited to play in my kit for the first time and to lead the team out as captain.

“I really tried to be the face of the team, to get us that exposure we needed and demonstrate why we deserved to be the first ever women’s side for the super successful Hashtag United. To never get to play was a nightmare. For a long time I felt like

I was grieving the loss of football, and I guess my life as I knew it. I still haven’t cleared out my football bag from the last match I played in.”

Alex is an NHS respiratory physiotherapist and admits that letting go of her playing career has been tough. “Being a footballer is part of my identity,” she says. “For example, I had told colleagues at work about Hashtag and a lot of people know me as a footballer. Doctors would even introduce me to patients as this to build rapport. Continuously explaining that I couldn’t play anymore just felt so sad every time I had to repeat it.

“Even now, it feels silly to be so sad over a hobby. But when it has been part of your life since you were little, it feels like so much more than that.” Almost a year later, she is now at peace with the situation and reflects on her career with happiness and pride.

Having started out, like many girls in a pre-London 2012 era, at a local boys’ team, Bailess was scouted for Leyton Orient Academy before later transitioning into senior football, eventually becoming club captain of Basildon. “Playing football has definitely given me opportunities that I never would have had otherwise,” she says, citing playing at Wembley Stadium as a magical moment.

Bailess also cherishes the friendships formed with “a huge variety of people from all different walks of

life”, as well as the on-field success of winning the Development League.

Somewhat peculiarly, the sudden end to her final campaign is something she philosophically proposes may have been for the best, confirming that it is “something I’ve spoken to Jason about at length. He suggested that when you know something is ending then you start to focus on, ‘that's my last home game’, ‘that's my last away journey’, ‘my last goal’ (jokes,

I never score!), then if things don’t go your way it becomes unenjoyable. So, maybe that would be worse.

“I do really wish I'd got to play in our County Cup final that year and lifted the trophy as captain, but it got delayed due to Covid-19. That would have been a moment to remember!”

One silver lining for the former full-back, however, was that she could fall back on the support of her team and the possibilities that had

27

" For a long time I felt like I was grieving the loss of football, and I guess my life as I knew it. I still haven’t cleared out my football bag from the last match I played in" emerged on the back of joining the Hashtag United brand. Over time, it has become the source of solace that has supported her transition into the next phase of life.

“In some ways the timing of the Hashtag merger probably made it harder because I was so excited about playing for them and being the first women’s club captain,” says Bailess. “But now I understand that it has opened up many more doors for me to be involved with the media side. Spencer and the team have definitely made me feel welcome and pushed for me to be a part of that, which I'm very grateful for.

“In the first training session that I wasn't able to join in with, LP and Stampy [media gurus at Hashtag] came down to film. Although I was sitting on the sidelines feeling sorry for myself, they started chatting to me about how, actually, this was the perfect opportunity to become the media representative for the women's side, particularly as I know the girls so well and they weren't used to being on camera. “[They said] it would be good to have someone that can bring that side out of them and it's definitely paid off. Is this a good time to plug my football training and gameday vlogs?

Check out my YouTube channel!”

Bailess has quickly settled into her media duties at the club, providing matchday social media content as well as her vlogs. While her first year on the sidelines was al-

most as fitful as her final playing season, those disruptions haven’t damaged her enthusiasm.

“I’m actually loving it!” she explains. “Sometimes when I’m just sitting watching, I still feel so gutted that I’m not playing but I force myself to get the camera out as a distraction and I always end up enjoying watching the footage back.

“The girls have been so good at letting me shove a camera in their face because they know that it is keeping me going. I still have a lot to learn but I’m getting there; I can now definitely appreciate the time and effort it takes to edit quality videos.”

While coaching is something that Bailess has had offers to get involved with, and is “more than happy to help out when needed” with the club’s youth teams, she admits that a more permanent position won’t be on her radar anytime soon. She clarifies: “I just want to be around my team, having a laugh with the players and supporting them on the pitch. So, I'm loving my role at the moment.

“Someone asked me if all we do at football is laugh and talk about food because that seems to be the basis of most of the vlogs and the answer is yes. We work hard on the pitch and play hard off it – this is what I want to show others, particularly those who don’t know much about this level of women’s football, and younger girls working their way up.”

It’s a unique position that Bailess currently finds herself in, and one

that she clearly relishes. An army of online fans affords a “super important” opportunity to showcase the highs and lows of women’s grassroots football like never before.

“At this level, female footballers are still having to travel a long way and give up a lot of time for games whilst still working full-time. Sadly, a lot of female players have to retire as other commitments have to take priority,” she observes. “I think it's good to bring attention to the amount of time and effort that the girls put in.”

While no longer able to contribute on the pitch, the club captain’s importance during its first year cannot be overstated. Both Bailess and the Tags will enter 2021/22 in high spirits. She proclaims that they “will be aiming for promotion next year. I can’t wait to see the girls continue to raise the standard.”

Asked about what she’d say to other players in similar situations, Bailess’ advice is clear: “Think about the bigger picture. That's all you can do really. When I was first diagnosed, I asked if I could play just one more year.

My consultant told me to think of it that my cousin had left me the gift of knowing about this before it was too late. That was enough for me.”

She concludes: “If you need some time away from sport to deal with it then take it. But, ultimately, focus on the future and find another way to get your football fix!” TGP

SMALL SIDED: POWERLEAGUE

SMALL SIDED: POWERLEAGUE

SMALL SIDED: POWERLEAGUE

Powerleague AD

SMALL SIDED: POWERLEAGUE

Powerleague AD

FUTSAL

ProFutsal London becomes Bloomsbury Futsal Britain’s top Futsal Club joins forces with North London charity Bloomsbury Football ProFutsal London, 2021 National Futsal Series finalists, will become

Futsal on a much bigger scale in London.”

The structural foundations of the

an entity of the North London charity

organisation ProFutsal are set to benefit

providing the best football experience for

from is described by Kurrant as “one of

young players in the capital: Bloomsbury

the biggest grassroots infrastructures”.

Football Foundation.

The reliability, quality and expertise of

Powered by their visions of social

Speaking on the announcement,

Bloomsbury’s extensive task force already

Hyman exclaimed that “Jon and Juan

cohesion, equality of opportunity and

working to provide their plethora of

[Tapia Owens, First Team Manager], who

sporting excellence, the charity uses the

programmes will be, for Kurrant, the

currently run and manage ProFutsal, are

power of football to improve the lives of

best support that Futsal can ask for in

incredible and have amazing knowledge

young people by offering sustainable

order to drive the success of the sport.

and expertise in coaching Futsal and

programmes that support active lifestyles,

But maybe the most impressive, and

we feel that Bloomsbury as an organi-

promote positive impacts and pursue

simultaneously the most important com-

sation have the infrastructure to support

full potentials. Through holiday camps,

ponent of Bloomsbury’s infrastructure,

them. Supporting Futsal in growing an

school, open and foundation sessions,

especially for wanting to lift the level of

incredible programme, providing a better

a “Bears” session (for eighteen-months

provision of Futsal in the capital, is how

service, increasing awareness and ele-

to six-year-olds), girls’ and pan-disability

the charity operates.

vating the sport of Futsal, which is still a

programmes, as well as their own acade-

Kurrant continues: “The model that

niche sport in this country. Building both

my, Bloomsbury ensures every child has

Bloomsbury has [means that] there’s no

participation elements but also the elite

the opportunity to play football irrespec-

barriers to people playing. There’s a fixed

pathways for young players to progress

tive of their ability or financial circum-

rate for people who can afford it, but if

through into Youth teams, Development

stance. And now, Futsal joins that list.

you can’t afford it, there are 50%, 75%, or

teams and First Team - both for boys,

full bursaries. That means we’re not leav-

girls, men and women.”

Launched six years ago and founded by former Arsenal Academy player and

ing out players who could really benefit

Aberdeen professional, Jon Kurrant, Pro-

from Futsal and be exposed to something

ambition to not only propel the sport of

Futsal encompasses Under 6s to Under

quite exciting in England. People who

Futsal into a household name, but also

16s and a highly elite adult pathway. Their

don’t make it in their football, or don’t

for the newly-named Bloomsbury Futsal

Under 18s Development team play at the

have the skillset to make it at the elite

club to double its weekly participants

second-highest level of Futsal in England,

Academy level, have a massive opportu-

of 200 in eighteen months, to build an

and the First Team - which has seen

nity to do so now with us in Futsal.”

equally elite women’s set-up both at

seven of their players including Kurrant

For that reason alone, the amalga-

The partnership is part of a wider

Academy and First Team level, and to al-

capped by the National side - are one of

mation is extremely exciting, but for

low both First Teams within three to five

two mainstay teams competing for the

Bloomsbury’s CEO and Founder Charlie

years to be paid for their performances

National Futsal Series title, despite only

Hyman, it’s particularly special for an-

on the court. TGP

running the courts for four years.

other reason. Hyman has been involved with Futsal for a number of years and is

To kick off the start of the accessible pro-

Kurrant explains: “It's gotten to the

himself a ProFutsal London player, too.

vision of Futsal promised by the partner-

point where ProFutsal London is huge

It means that the already familiar tried

ship, Bloomsbury Futsal is hosting FREE

and is ready for better and bigger infra-

and tested relationship of Kurrant and

drop-in sessions every Wednesday 15:30

structure, and Bloomsbury can support

Hyman now suddenly becomes prolific

- 17:15, for school years 6-11, at Westway

that and deliver our objectives to expose

on an entirely new level.

Sport & Fitness Centre, W10 6RP

COACHING

THE COACHES CLINIC

Words: Nick Bearham @N–Bearham

THE SESSION: SWITCHING PLAY IN A WHOLEPART-WHOLE PRACTICE Whole-part-whole is essentially a match, then training and repeating the match. It is a great style of practice to use, especially when you may have players arriving at different times, so you are able to start the session with different formats - 2 v 1, 5 v 4, 7 v 7 - until everyone is at training. In its simplest form, whole-partwhole translates as match-training-match, but how you link the parts is key. This session focuses on switching play so the first whole (match) should be set up more square than rectangle which will limit the amount of vertical passing options. Therefore, the space to attack is in wide areas, encouraging more horizontal passes, so we can move play from the left side of the pitch to the right and vice versa. Depending on the number of players, you may use a 35m x 30m area, but I would encourage you to experiment, as long as there are a lot of moments where the players can switch play. You may need to add some team challenges to condition the game, such as “you can only score once your team has switched play”, or “every switch your team executes is an additional goal”.

When using whole-part-whole the key is to have four or five “parts” planned as you may notice that the learning coming from the whole may be different. When switching play it might be that you focus on the long passing or a central player - perhaps a centre midfielder or centre back - receiving the ball

To date, football has taken me on many exciting journeys, with time spent coaching in six countries across four continents, from America to Sri Lanka and China. My journey into coaching football started very similarly to many others, playing on muddy, uneven park pitches, the true home of grassroots football. It was there that I fell in love with the game and always wanted to stay in it. Coaching was the answer and I sought out opportunities to coach the junior age groups at my local football club while I progressed onto achieving my UEFA B License, taking on any new challenge that came my way. In my decade-plus affair with the game I have learnt a variety of transferable skills, the most key being how to adapt; being able to dive into those back pocket ideas and change on the spot.

to execute the switch. In the part I have planned, the session will continue with the game theme in the form of the six goal game.

The area to use for the “part” activity is the opposite of the whole and is more rectangular, with goals positioned

35

as illustrated. Depending on what you

going to force play forward towards the

want to achieve in the part practice,

central goal; therefore, incentivising the

Once you have achieved the learning

you could use dribbling gates posi-

wider goals so that a goal scored there

from the part (training) section, you will

tioned centrally or wide, which would

is worth two goals will encourage play

need to revisit the whole (the second

encourage different outcomes. You can

to attack the wide areas. I really enjoy

match). You should use the same whole

create dribbling gates, or the goals, by

using this practice because it recreates

from the start of the session, which will

simply using cones, or you can go old

realistic situations, boosts ball speed

allow you to expose the players to the

school with jumpers for goalposts! With

and is a game so it can be really com-

same challenges they faced, but now

the focus on switching play I would use

petitive. The part will also expose differ-

with the skills gained from the part

smaller 2m x 1m goals wide of a central

ent switching opportunities: combining

along with the knowledge and confi-

goal. It is to be expected that players are

with the central player, a direct pass, a

dence to switch play. TGP

WHAT YOU NEED IN YOUR KIT BAG:

switch through the unit behind play..

1) Whiteboard

2) Coach’s Eye

You don’t need a fancy whiteboard - a

With everyone nowadays having a

clear one does the same job. In your

smartphone or tablet, the Coach’s Eye

session you will have people who all

app is a great addition, available for only

learn in different ways, so using a white

a fiver from your app store. You can

board to show the different areas you

record action that happens and use the

will use and the different movements

app’s tools to draw lines and highlight

to help the players succeed will be an

areas, as well as using the slo-mo func-

effective learning tool. A small one that

tion and drag wheel to move through

fits in your backpack will do the same

the action at your own pace. This allows

job as a large tactics board that you

players to re-watch their execution in

expect to see on a changing room wall!

detail straight away.

League: Southern Sunday League

Grassroots Photography

Image: Matt White @matt–cafc

A real team effort on a Sunday morning at Clapham Common as men go up on shoulders, and nets go up on goals. Let’s play football.

SEND US YOUR GRASSROOTS PHOT OGRAPHY TO:

EDITOR@GRASSRO

OTSPOST.UK

& WE’LL PUBLISH OUR FAVOURITE HERE.

37

38

REFEREES

Words: Trevor Booking

Illustration: Millie Chesters @milliechesters

!

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...

Even though he’s now Italy manager, clad in a collarless grey marl jacket with trusted lieutenant Gianluca Vialli by his side, Roberto Mancini still referred to a potentially uncomfortable fixture as being like a “cold, rainy, windy Wednesday in Stoke”.

Years later, the scars remain, and for referees at any level there are certain types of fixture and locations which come with a heavy dose of trepidation.

Occasionally, sight of the appointments list will be met with a groan or a sigh, although not always for the reasons you might think.

Officiating local leagues which cover a large area can simply be a logistical challenge. You wouldn’t want a ref who lives down the road and drinks in the same pub as the home side, which means often you’ve had to get up early to travel down and then struggle to find the ground along country lanes, all while knowing that your Sunday lunch is more likely to be a Sunday supper. And if you’ve had to get there by public transport, let’s just say that there’s an increased chance of an early yellow card or two.

On the other hand, it doesn’t take much to get the ref in a good mood. A hello, a cup of tea and a warm dressing room on arrival always go down well and those on the touchline can play a positive part, too. Most referees like a bit of friendly banter with those who have also given up their time for grassroots football. Unfortunately, banter can tread a fine line.

There are many “Stokes” which over the years have gained a reputation for creating a hostile atmosphere.

This can be because of the behaviour of players, coaches or spectators and, yes, officials do share incidents that they’ve had to deal with at certain clubs. I can’t speak for all refs (as they don’t know I’m writing this), but these venues give me a bit of an extra buzz before the game. You know you’ve got a challenge ahead and you want to do your best, including not letting a club’s reputation or the atmosphere affect the balance of your decision-making.

In recent years, I’ve enjoyed seeing the rise of women’s football and taking charge of more female matches. Not long ago, being allocated a women’s game was seen as easy money thanks to the lack of backchat from players and coaches, but as the standard has increased, so has the competitiveness. Today, women’s football can often present the biggest challenge in terms of game management and you’re quickly on first-name terms with the captains!

Most refs can deal with the Stoke scenarios and many are even more up for that kind of match. Cold and wet are par for the course in English football, yet there is an element of the Potters cliché that rings true. I hate knowing that I’m heading to a ground where the wind plays as big a role as the players. A swirling wind usually ruins the match and tests the patience of all concerned. In the rare moments the ball is on the ground, all sense of timing a tackle can go out of the window, and I can be in for a busy ninety minutes. Give me a cold, wet, wind-free Wednesday in Stoke any time. TGP * not his real name.

FOCUS ON:

PRE-SEASON

It’s tougher than ever at grassroots level.

Which brands and products can lighten the load, help your club be sustainable and improve your grassroots experience?

• WEARABLE TECH

• HYDRATION

• COMMUNICATION

• T EAM MANAGEMENT APPS

• C OLLECTION OF SUBS

• SPONSORSHIP

• LIVESTREAMING

• TEAMWEAR

FOCUS ON: PRE-SEASON

Interview: Steve Piggott @thegrassrootspost

Five Nice Techy Bits Your Grassroots Club Needs Steve Piggott’s been running teams for nearly twenty years, so he knows about the management and mis-management of a grassroots football club or two.

Here, I’d like to put forward five

team through every season. Nobody

obvious human errors, but is it giving

great bits of tech your club admin

really knows why they do it but they

technology in football a bad name? Is

should be using to save time, heal

are true heroes of grassroots football.

technology really killing the game?

the pain of repeating themselves

Technology in football. VAR, Hawk-

I like tech, but mainly off the field of

every week and to bring in the mon-

Eye, 3D, Player Cam have all had

play. I have been involved in running

ey from the same players you have

their fair share of controversy in the

teams for nearly twenty years, ever

been chasing every season.

professional game. Perhaps VAR more

since my first year at university in the

than most. Just getting a proper Ref-

early ’00s, looking to improve the effi-

- I may have already lost you. The next

eree Assistant is, for many grassroots

ciency of the administrative side of the

few pages are brilliant, though - they’re

teams, class. More often than not it’s

game. Helping the clubs I’m involved

all about those important pre-season

a p***ed-off or still p***ed substitute,

with look and feel more professional

products. But, before you turn the page

or someone’s grandad who can’t quite

for their members. Searching for and

I ask one favour: please pass this arti-

keep up with play, trigger-happy with

using technology that actually helps

cle onto that person in your club whose

the flag but only when the ball has hit

speed things up, my search has uncov-

legendary effort goes unrecognised;

the back of their net.

ered a load of handy tools that means

If you aren’t a club admin, I apologise

1

the one doing the thankless tasks every week. The person who gets your

VAR is meant to support football using technology to clear up those

football admin doesn’t get in the way of, well, life admin.

PLAYERS NEVER KNOW ANYTHING PRE-MATCH...

of team admin across a load of different sports, simply and easily.

I guarantee it will save you time – hours if not days every week.

You may be lucky, but in my

Match details don’t get lost in a

experience players at grass-

WhatsApp thread of memes and

roots level think football is just a

stories and you can plan your

case of “turn up and play”, like a

training session accurately; you

kickabout when you were twelve.

always know in advance that

They don’t appreciate the hassle

someone is off to their cousin’s/

of asking a squad of twenty, “are

stepdad's/sister’s wedding and

you available this week?”, “can

you can plan for it.

you make training?”, “do you know

Of course, no piece of tech-

where the game is?”. All of these

nology will stop players turning

questions are going through a

up late, but it will reduce the

team admin’s head every week,

number of excuses they have at

twice a week. I have recently

their disposal. With Spond, all the

started using Spond, and it’s a

information you put in well ahead

game changer. This completely

of the match day is there in the

FREE app covers every element

app, 24/7. Genius.

2

41 COLLECTING MATCH SUBS...

3

Quite easily the most hated job in any team is collecting money for subs.

There are a few apps out there that offer a way of paying, including Spond, Slate, FA Matchday, etc. I have actually been bypassing these and using card readers directly since 2015. I originally started with iZettle and I’m currently using SumUp. I promise you, these are money makers. Why? Players have nowhere to run when paying their subs. Even if they don’t have cash or they have lost their card, they will always have their phone on them. These readers accept contactless, as well as Apple and Google Pay, so players with smart watches can pay through that.

You can even email them a receipt! It is all linked directly to the club bank account so you can print off or download an easy report to see how many payments you have collected.

4

REGISTERING PLAYERS...

Running a trial? Signing a player for the season?

Gathering their information in one place is a nightmare. Rather than a load of emails, WhatsApp messages or entering data from some dodgy handwriting, Google Forms allows you to collect all the information for free directly into a spreadsheet. You can create a nice looking form with the club branding on it and the questions you need answering and then just share a link. All of the answers will be automatically populated into a spreadsheet for you. You can even use add-ons to create pre-populated reg-

5

istration forms for players to sign and get an email notification when someone enters their details.

KEEPING YOUR SUPPORTERS UP TO DATE...

SHARING WEB LINKS...

You have got Insta mastered. Your tweets are being quoted. Your

Sharing event information or news ar-

content is killing it, but sending an

ticle on social media is tricky, and even

email still looks a bit, well, crap.

adding a long web address to a poster

Sometimes you need to get a

or flyer looks terrible. You also never

private club-related message out

know how effective your poster has

to your members and WhatsApp

been or how many people have visited

and DMs won’t cut it. An email to

your site from it. Here is where URL

your players or registered parents

Shorteners come in handy. Register for

may seem like overkill and time

a bit.ly web address and you can even

sapping but it's important to send

personalise the link to make it easy

official reminders and club news-

to remember. The best thing is that

letters. There are some incredibly

your bit.ly account tracks the clicks or

powerful email tools out there and

visits to that link. The other thing that

If you are using direct debit payments

a favourite of mine is Mailchimp.

many people have got used to now are

for your annual fees, then GoCardless

It is free for up to 2000 contacts

QR codes; there are loads of free QR

is fantastic at managing payments

in your audience and allows you

Generators online, too.

for you. It will even retry a payment

to create a professional looking

request if the direct debit is missed.

email through an easy drag and drop template system. It also

In the main, these handy tools are

Naturally they all make their money

lets you know who has read it

free, readily available and proven bits

through a small % fee on all of these

and how many clicks you have

of technology used across a wide

payment methods, which you can

had. You can even personalise or

range of industries beyond football.

always charge on to the player for con-

segment and tag contacts to send

Technology used at grassroots level

venience. If you swallow the few pence

emails directly to them alone. It

isn’t killing the game - it’s saving it.

per transaction I guarantee you will save

also manages your database of

hours every week chasing £5 or £10 off

contacts and keeps you GD-

If you ever need any help with these or

players who forgot to go to the cash

PR-compliant. Say goodbye to the

you have more tools to share, get in touch

point and your club income will improve.

mass email bcc.

at steve.pigott@cause-effect.co.uk.

FOCUS ON: PRESEASON

Words & Interview: The Grassroots Post @thegrassrootspost

Website: www.joymo.tv

Joymo x Benhurst United

Orpington & Bromley District Sunday Football League side Benhurst United FC recently partnered with Joymo to live stream their matches over the internet. What started as a way to allow a former player who relocated to New Zealand the chance to continue watching from afar has now become a key part of the enjoyment shared by the squad.

Joymo is the fast-growing grass-

with revenues being channeled back

any issues or finer nuances of our game,

roots streaming platform that has

directly to the teams and clubs.

for example set pieces. We have a very

announced partnerships with the

Benhurst United Chairman, Joe

young squad and intend to use Joymo to

likes of the Lancashire FA and the

Mosley, explains how the partnership

look back at the game and develop and

Northumberland Football Leagues

with Joymo came about and why it’s

analyse our play.

in recent months.

now a key part of the club's match day routine.

Through innovative technology -

How have you found live streaming your matches so far? What are the

including a dedicated recording app

What inspired you to start live

main benefits?

(Joymo Share) and an over-the-top

streaming your matches?

JM: Live streaming has been great!

streaming platform (Joymo Arena) -

Joe Mosley: We wanted to be able to

We were slightly nervous at the start

Joymo’s pioneering live video streaming

look back at our games and see the best

that signal might be an issue but we

platform enables players, teams and

goals, the chances, and where we could

have found everything to be okay on

clubs, at all levels of competition, to

improve. We also had one of our players

that and so we have really enjoyed the

broadcast their own matches and

move to New Zealand and wanted

benefits. It’s been great to have friends

events directly to fans.

him to be able to watch from across

from around the world able to watch

the world. We primarily use Joymo for

along with the game and we have

per game, competition or event or offer

games, but hopefully in future with spe-

already captured some truly special

longer-term “season ticket” passes,

cifics in training where we can highlight

moments on camera.

Joymo users can charge supporters

43

What have players made of having

Milne FC in our first game streaming.

always stop but it’s really easy and adds

your matches filmed? Any nerves, or

Having the lads run over to the camera

so much to the game.

is everyone keen to have their best

and celebrate together was great

moments captured on film?

to see. We’ve had some goalkeeper

Does streaming your games

JM: I don’t think there were any nerves

howlers in there too, but we try not to

add to the overall experience

really, just happy for somewhere to run

mention those!

of playing for Benhurst Utd?

to when we score. We spoke to the

JM: Definitely! It adds loads to the

lads beforehand and they were more

Was it difficult to set up and

game. Being able to share the game

than happy to get the games on film,

how do you find the filming/

with the world and watch it back is in-

especially if it means we can watch back

sharing elements?

valuable really and being able to have

ninetieth-minute winners.

JM: Not at all! Just downloaded the app

a laugh about the funniest moments

and we were ready to go. Really not

with the guys after adds so much to

much to set up at all.

the enjoyment. TGP

on the fact that your games are

Do you think more clubs at a grass-

You can follow Benhurst United’s

available live online?

roots level will start live streaming?

progress and receive updates about

JM: Not much, really; we had mentioned

JM: I think so, I certainly hope so. If you

the club’s live streamed fixtures via

it to the other teams just to check they

love grassroots football like I do, those

@BenhurstUnited on Twitter and

were okay with it but they didn’t have

brilliant, hilarious moments that can’t be

@benhurstunited on Instagram.

any issue with it.

put into words can now be captured on

Have you had any feedback from opposition players/management

camera. It's great.

Any standout moments or

For more information about Joymo and to understand what Joymo can do for

shockers that you are happy

What advice would you give to

(or not) to have on film?

clubs thinking about giving live

JM: We had an eighty-seventh-minute

streaming a go?

winner caught on camera against Inter

JM: Go for it! If you don’t like it you can

your team please visit joymo.tv.

FOCUS ON: PRE-SEASON

Interview: The Grassroots Post @thegrassrootspost

Website: www.snapsponsorship.com

How Do Grassroots Clubs Generate Sponsorship?

Many teams and clubs have been lost to the pandemic, so it couldn’t be a more crucial time for grassroots clubs and business owners to find a way to thrive through sponsorship. We spoke with Mark Covington, CEO and Founder of SNAP Sponsorship...

Tell us a bit about SNAP

So, in 2019 we went multi-sport and

second being with our members and

Sponsorship, how did you come

despite a small setback in the way of

then finally new business.

to be and what inspired you to

Covid-19, managed to gain amazing

start the platform?

traction in other sports, particularly

larly for larger clubs, it’s impossible

I started SNAP whilst volunteering at

football. Where we are now working

to know who is lurking in the ranks of

my local club. We were undergoing a

with nearly 50% of the county FAs, it’s

our audience. Maybe someone started

big clubhouse facelift and needed a

been amazing to see football welcome

a new side-project in lockdown and

cash injection to get the work done.

SNAP with open arms.

is looking to increase sales, or one of

At the same time, I was working for a

Regarding our members, particu-

the mums in the under 9s is high up

company involved in the construction

What advice would you give to

in corporate, you just don’t know. By

of the 2012 Olympic site and I saw

volunteers when starting out with

putting forward a well thought out

first hand how sponsorship was being

sponsorship? Or, just picking it back

sponsorship proposal (or SNAP Page)

carried out there and thought we could

up after a year's hiatus?

we have a good opportunity to show

learn something from this. I noticed

Funnily enough, we actually just posted

our members that sponsorship is more

that, at my club, year on year we were

a blog about this. My first bit of advice

than just a donation and could actually

having to go out to new businesses

would be to re-engage with your exist-

help their business.

because we weren't managing our

ing sponsors. In the last year, different

sponsors right and they left as fast

industries have been hit in different

about is adding value to our audience

as they came. Furthermore, we were

ways, so sponsors' business objectives

with business they will actually want to

spending a fortune on print to produce

may have completely changed. My

hear from. This is as easy as looking at

sponsorship brochures which weren’t

suggestion would be that you ask your

your monthly direct debits and spending

gaining us that much traction.

sponsors “As we emerge from the pan-

habits, seeing where you spend your

demic, how can we help you?”. Retain-

money, and the likelihood is that your

founded SNAP to run the sponsorship

ing an existing partner is easier than

members spend their money in similar

of the club, we ended up quadrupling

securing new ones and I think there’s

places. Local mortgage brokers, energy

the sponsorship portfolio and retaining

often a tendency to want to secure new

providers, local garages, greengrocers,

those sponsors. We quite soon real-

sponsor after new sponsor, when really

butchers, estate agents and solicitors.

ised that the issues we were having at

the emphasis should be on retention

Your members already spend their

our club weren’t isolated to our club,

and the potential up-sell, reducing the

money at these places but probably all

but it was actually a national, probably

churn of our partnerships and deliver-

at different and competing businesses. If

even global issue.

ing on our sponsors investment. Which

you as a club are able to bring on these

leads me on to my next point:

sponsors and show them, if they’re seen

Myself and another club member

We made the SNAP platform with the 200,000+ grass roots sports clubs

When it comes to securing new

With new business all we need to think

to be supporting the club the likelihood

in mind and quickly had success in

sponsorship, SNAP likes to refer to

of the members switching to them rather

Rugby Union, securing 10% of all

the three pillars: The first being an

than using a competitor are higher. Par-

the grassroots clubs in the country.

upsell to our existing partners, the

ticularly if the sponsor offers members a

47

' It has been a good experience! The first platform we've used to get ourselves out there in terms of sponsorship. You've helped us, giving us tips and ideas on how to increase the probability of getting sponsorship... You've helped with our wording to seem more enticing to sponsors."

small incentive such as a 5% discount. It’s

management service to ensure no club,

really that simple, but how you position

league or team is left behind.

yourselves to these businesses is crucial.

Sponsorship isn’t an ask for some quick

What are the benefits of sponsor-

cash, it’s showing that you are willing to

ship for both sports clubs and their

work with the business to ensure a long-

local businesses?

term mutually beneficial relationship.

Sponsorship of grassroots clubs by local businesses remains a marketing

How have you designed the platform

investment and therefore needs to be

to make it streamlined and efficient

justified like any other expense. It is a

for volunteers to use?

really cost-effective way of achieving

SNAP does away with the need for a

the same results as multiple campaigns

costly printed brochure and in addition

across multiple channels. Buying print,

to the obvious cost saving, allows clubs

digital, sampling activations and the

to be really flexible and reactive. Op-

rest separately would be far more ex-

Douglas St Louis,

portunities can be updated or changed

pensive than in a sponsorship package.

West London Futsal

quickly to make the most of competi-

In the context of grassroots sport

tions, mini festivals or charitable events

and local businesses sponsoring teams

which pop up quickly. At the same time,

and events gives those businesses

' SNAP Sponsorship has provided us with a professional, streamlined and centralised page to list our commercial opportunities, leading to the sale of additional pitch side boards and generating traction with new leads for county partners."

the platform auto-updates meaning

positive exposure. This can lead to

there’s no danger of double selling, if

increased sales, heightened brand

something is purchased by a sponsor,

awareness and customer loyalty.

George Wells, Middlesex FA

it disappears to the outside world but

What you, your team and club get out

stays within the back end for clubs to

of having a sponsor is obvious: money,

add activations or tasks against.

goods or other material help, and strong-

SNAP’s social sharing tool allows volunteers to get their sponsorship to

er links with your local community.

Sponsors will most often contribute

market using their own channels. We

financial means that can be invested

have thought of the words for them, de-

in uniforms, travel costs, equipment

creasing the need for the volunteers to

etc. But there’s also the less obvious:

have previous sales experience, and by

one of our clubs, Woodham Mortimer,

using social media we are bypassing

being a one team club, they really

potential gatekeepers. Going straight

want to increase their membership

to the hands of a potential sponsor or a

size. A priority for them is growing

member of their marketing team.

their junior membership. Woodham

We have created a negotiation and

secured a multi-million pound freight

' With the help of SNAP we have identified the different opportunities and assets on the platform and started to promote them using the automated tools. We got two sponsors almost straight away. These people exist that want to help you, sometimes its just about highlighting that opportunity!"

contracting tool which makes it easy

company as a sponsor and it was

to professionalise and formalise any

obvious from the outset that this com-

potential partnership. Once the deal is

pany wanted to be involved in projects

signed, any tasks or activations go into

that benefit their employees and

the management system. Here we can

local community. The team at SNAP

assign tasks to the right member of the

advised them on how to leverage that

committee for the job as well as stay

relationship effectively. Woodham

on top of what’s needed to make the

went back to them with an idea about

sponsorship relationship run smoothly.

running free cricket taster sessions for

Andrew Jenkin, AM Soccer Club

In addition to the tech side of things,

all employees’ children and relatives.

every SNAP member gets their own

Helping meet the sponsors objec-

account manager, a human being at the

tives of being involved in community

end of a call or email. We understand

projects while also helping Woodham

that not every club has tech-wizzes and

grow their junior base. And that's

although SNAP is as easy to set up as a

what sponsorship is about, all parties

facebook page, we provide the account

benefiting.

TGP

WOMEN'S & MEN'S

Words: The Grassroots Post @thegrassrootspost

Images: Clapton CFC @claptoncfc

INCLUSIVE & INSPIRATIONAL WITH FOTMOB: In each issue, FotMob - the livescore app - are sponsoring a feature on inclus

THE CLAPTON COMMUNITY

51

Website: fotmob.com

ive and inspirational grassroots stories and assisting in their development by providing equipment vouchers to these special football clubs.

Collective action, serendipity and a whole load of shirt sales.

Clapton Community FC is a shining example of inclusivity and fighting spirit in grassroots football.

THE CLUB BELONGS TO YOU & ME As the crow flies, just two miles separate the Old Spotted Dog Ground in Forest Gate and the Olympic Stadium in Stratford. The difference in scale and spend is stark, but the OSD is also the home of Clapton Community FC. It’s a non-league club known for its anti-fascist, anti-racist, anti-homophobic and pro-feminist values.

Clapton CFC is owned and run by its members who, through their own guile and skill, have managed to acquire their spiritual home, the Old Spotted Dog Ground – the oldest senior football ground in London. It’s an amazing story of how a community came together, built a club and bought the ground freehold all within two years.

As one supporter, Sukhdev, declares: “it’s a story that, if you invented it, would be unbelievable”.

the members and supporters to make

no outside funding and based on the

back in 1877 when Clapton Football

This extraordinary story starts way

a stand and boycott the home games

energy and creativity of the members.

Club was formed. You may not know it,

at the Old Spotted Dog Ground. After

but it has a major footprint in English

a season-long boycott, the supporters

not the end of Clapton CFC’s remarka-

football. It is one of the oldest clubs in

held a meeting and decided to form

ble story. Last year, the original Clapton

England and the first English club to

a new football club called Clapton

FC ground, the Old Spotted Dog, was

play in Europe, beating a Belgian X1 7-0

Community Football Club. This club

repossessed by its landlords, giving

in Antwerp in 1890. Walter Tull became

was to be inclusive, member-owned,

Clapton Community FC the rare oppor-

one of the first outfield black players

and run as a collective, where power

tunity to bid to secure the freehold of a

and went on to play for Northampton,

resided within the committees rather

ground in London. Sukhdev explains:

Tottenham and Rangers. A permanent

than the board. Right from the start it

“Our members voted to initially bid for

feature of Clapton has been its amateur

was established on inclusive grounds,

the lease, which we won and then took

status and its early history as one of

financially transparent and sought to

the bold decision to bid for the freehold.

the giants of non-league football, at-

create a welcoming environment for its

We reckoned that around £100,000

tracting crowds as high as 20,000. The

members, players and supporters.

would secure it. And here’s the thing –

honours included winning the FA Ama-

“And wow, how the community

we actually had £100,000 in the bank.”

teur Cup five times and was a founder

responded,” Sukhdev recalls. Clapton

member of the Isthmian League which

Community FC now has over 1,700

happened to have £100,000 in reserve

cemented its amateur status.

members and an active core of around

is quite extraordinary. “We’re a mem-

130 people who help to run the club

bers club and we had to decide what

the ninth tier of English football when

on a day-to-day basis. As Sukhdev

kit we’d wear,” says Sukhdev. “We held

they began to attract football fans

explains: “the power is devolved down

a competition to design our away kit,

disillusioned by the commercialism of

through the committees and anybody

open to every member. Our members

Premiership football and the gouging of

can become a member of a committee.

submitted about twenty-five design

fans. As Sukhdev recounts, these fans

And every voice is equal, so listening is

entries. And the winner, overwhelm-

“announced, tongue-in-cheek, that they

a required skill, not an optional extra.”

ingly, was the kit that honoured the

With a new club formed, but with

International Brigades who went to

In 2012, Clapton FC were playing in

were the Clapton Ultras and started to

Amazing as this story is so far, this is

How this group of volunteers just so

make up their own songs, have a beer

no players, no ground and yet lots of

fight against the fascists in the Spanish

in the stands, meet up with and make

energy and commitment, the club rallied

civil war in the 1930s.” Reflecting the

new friends while watching football in a

to appoint a men’s first team manager,

club’s collective spirit, this kit has “No

welcoming and inclusive environment”.

finding players and - more daunting-

Pasarán” on the back - the anti-fascist

What started out as a modest rejection

ly - finding somewhere to play in East

rallying call - along with the colours of

steadily started to attract others and

London. Clapton CFC began the 2018-19

the Second Spanish Republic in honour

attendances at home and away games

season at Wadham Lodge Matchday

of the International Brigades.

grew from the tens to hundreds. Sukh-

Centres at Walthamstow which had an

dev explains: “it was a time when we

auxiliary but overgrown pitch which

good fortune and the power of collec-

started to dream of the possibilities of

the Clapton Community members and

tive action. “We had a kit launch at The

rejuvenating a members-owned club.

players transformed into a usable facili-

Deviant & Dandy bar in Hackney on a

There was a real buzz around Clapton.”

ty, all through voluntary action. The club

balmy August evening in 2018. We had

But at this point the story sours. The

has grown rapidly and now eight teams

optimistically brought thirty of each

“buzz” and on-field success did not

play under the banner of Clapton CFC:

of the home and away shirts to the

translate into a new beginning. The

the men and women’s first teams, their

launch. The shirts sold out immediately

popularity of the team led to rising

development teams, a series of women’s

so we decided to put the shirts online

entry costs, a lack of financial trans-

beginner teams and also the Young

in case more people wanted them. We

parency and blocking of club mem-

Tons team for kids aged between five

expected to sell more than 100 and if

bership. These eventually galvanised

and twelve years of age. All done with

we were lucky maybe 200. But then

" We actually thought it was a mistake on the website. The shirt had gone viral and we got to about £60,000 worth of sales"

But what happened next is a mix of

serendipity shined,” Sukhdev recounts.

It turns out that a tweet of the players wearing their new away kit was picked up by an Irish journalist living and working in Spain, who then re-tweeted it to his many followers. By the next morning,

53

they had sold 100 shirts. And by the end of the day, they’d reached 200 or 300 sales. “We actually thought it was a mistake on the website. The shirt had gone viral and we got to about £60,000 worth of sales in a couple of weeks. And they kept selling,” recalls Sukhdev.

“So we paused sales from September to January, but then in January we reopened the online store and on that first day we sold £148,000 of the away shirt. In one day! That was how much pent-up demand there was and it was from around the world. In total, the away shirt has sold about 16,000. We’re still selling over 100 a month now. We also sold about 1,000 home shirts. We don’t have a megastore or even a store, you can just buy them online or pick them up at a home match. The whole operation is run by volunteers and we don’t subcontract the packing either.

Plus we aimed to make the shirts affordable and we stuck to that principle so the margin is fairly tight. We don’t want to gouge our supporters.”

And so Clapton Community Football Club had the cash to acquire the freehold for the Old Spotted ground, which by then had become overgrown and required another major landscaping effort. But the members rose to the challenge and have transformed it.

When football resumes next season, Clapton CFC will make their glorious return to their spiritual home of the Old Spotted Dog Ground.

Sukhdev’s excitement is palpable: “The first game when we return to the Old Spotted Dog is going to be emo-

55

" Many talk about setting up their own club but very few get the opportunity to realise the dream. We did it together" tional and something very, very special.

sum doesn’t include the donations from

community going to benefit? How are

Initially I wasn’t enthusiastic about a

ticket sales for matches postponed, ei-

we going to work it into the fabric of

new club but I’ve come to realise that it

ther. During that period they also raised

the community?”

was a great idea. It has galvanised peo-

£20,000 for the roof fund to restore the

While the future of the club looks

ple. It has given people agency, skills

leaky clubhouse roof. That’s the power

bright, the ground is in one of the most

and confidence. It has built the basis

of community action, all under the um-

deprived communities in London,

for self-help and mutual aid. Many talk

brella of Clapton Community FC.

devastated by Covid. It also has huge

about setting up their own club but

“One of the great joys is that I may not

levels of overcrowding and has lost so-

very few get the opportunity to realise

be wearing sheepskin, a fedora and have

cial space. So along with the responsi-

the dream. We did it together. It is just

a cigar, but I am a football club owner.

bilities of running the football club, this

an amazing experience and I simply

There are 1,700-plus other owners. It’s

special group of people have another

cannot convey in words what it means.”

allowed us to translate possibilities into

opportunity – to do something good

reality; in London we bought a ground

and make a positive and lasting effect

ton CFC’s members, many of whom

for £100,000. Sometimes it’s designed,

on their community.

are volunteering their time and skills to

sometimes it's serendipity, sometimes

restore the Old Spotted Dog to its for-

there are many things that come togeth-

munity Football Club. It is owned and

mer glory. “If you look at the members

er to make magic happen,” says Sukhdev.

run by the people who truly care - the

This is a feeling shared by all of Clap-

who have put the hours in to get the

“Within a support base, there are a

This is the magic of Clapton Com-

supporters who, day by day, rally

Old Spotted Dog up to shape, how they

lot of skills. There are members with

together to make collective decisions

have reached out to the community and

ideas, beliefs and energy. You don’t

for their club and community. It just

together helped turn the ground into

know what the limits are of your capac-

goes to show that a lot of hard work,

a community space, not just a football

ity to make a difference until you try.

skill, a huge deal of passion coupled

club but a space that will be there for

We had a cause, it galvanised us and

with a tiny bit of luck can transform the

the community seven days a week -

we found the energy too. It’s strangely,

world of grassroots football. We can’t

this is what we want from our club.”

hugely energising. It’s amazing the

wait to see what the new season brings

amount of energy and enthusiasm

for Clapton CFC on their return to the

about Clapton Community FC, I’m a

and goodwill and bonhomie that’s

Old Spotted Dog. One thing’s for sure -

co-owner among members. I feel pride.

generated when something that seems

we’ll be proudly sporting that beautiful

If I go into the clubhouse and it’s untidy, I

impossible becomes possible. We’ve

away kit.. TGP

tidy it up. It’s mine. It’s ours. It’s a respon-

picked up a huge amount of friends

sibility, our responsibility. It’s very difficult

along the way, learnt from each other

FotMob is the essential football app.

to explain what it means to have that

and supported each other.”

Scores, stats, news and more. Get the

Sukhdev continues: “When I talk

sense of responsibility if you’ve never experienced it. It’s an amazing journey.”

The opportunity to be an owner and

As for the next chapter of Clapton CFC, Sukhdev and the other members don’t show any signs of slowing

member of the club has energised the

down. “Ownership also brings with

fans in other ways, too. During lock-

it responsibilities and raises the next

down, supporters raised over £12,000+

set of questions and decisions. What

for a Hardship Fund that was distributed

are we going to do with it? How will

on a first-come-first-served basis. That

we meet the challenge? How is the

app on iOS and Android.

WOMEN'S

League: Sussex County Women & Girls League

Words: Clara Heffernan @clara.heff

THE SEAGALS ARE

Hand-dyed kits, LGBTQ+ solidarity and phenomenal footy. Welcome to the wonderful world of the Brighton Seagals Out of an LGBTQ+ sports event in Brighton in 2018, the Brighton Seagals were born. Since then, the team has been a true labour of love. From a desire to make a community surrounding a passion for football, the team has created an inclusive and open space where encouragement is the goal. I travelled to Littlehampton to catch up with the team and find out a bit more about their journey from one small five-a-side training session to placing fifth in the Sussex County Women and Girls Football League in just over a year.

Images: Sof Petrides @sofpetrides

57

SOARING

58

" The Seagals occupy a place in grassroots football that was previously missing from their league: they champion women and non-binary people not just as players, but as role models and leaders, too" As we sat pitch-side, huddled against the wind on a single picnic table, Justine Thomson (club chair), Corinne Wilson (vice-chair) and Karen Dare (manager) painted a picture of the Brighton Seagals’ origins. Back in the days of large sports gatherings, the players that would become the Brighton Seagals met at a BLAGSS event (Brighton’s LGBTQ+ sports society). Driven by an urge to play competitively, Justine started a five-a-side team. Armed with a pipette from a Calpol bottle, a bundle of Nike shorts and a spare nine hours, Justine and Corinne handdyed their kit “Seagals Teal” (not yet trademarked, but watch this space) to match the Brighton seafront railings. Corinne describes the scene at her kitchen table: “Until two o’clock in the morning, we were dying these shorts in this huge pot with a pair of marigolds on!”

It was clear from the beginning that this team was determined to stand out. A special emphasis was placed on accommodating the whole team when it came to the fit of these kits. “That was something we felt was missing at other clubs; you just get shoved with a bag of kit and whatever is available is what you have to put on,” explains Corinne.

The Seagals’ inclusive ethos extends beyond the team into their wider community, too. From their social media channels, they make sure to celebrate all religious holidays and create content for LGBTQ+

history month, plus they were the first football club in the area to sign the Kick It Out equality charter.

Affiliating with their local eleven-a-side league in the face of Covid presented another challenge for the Seagals. But while everything else seemed to be shutting down, the Seagals were only just getting started. By collaborating with the local youth team to create a pathway for girls to progress, the Seagals managed to form a committee. They soon registered with the FA and were able to secure more financial security. This collaboration proved to be the springboard that has allowed the Seagals to go from strength to strength ever since, even throughout lockdowns, Zoom meetings and cancelled matches.

As a team, the Seagals occupy a place in grassroots football that was previously missing from their league: they champion women and non-binary people not just as players, but as role models and leaders, too. Karen Dare, the Seagals manager, represents a rare sight in women’s grassroots football - a team managed solely by a woman.

Justine describes how the club intentionally focused on providing what women want out of football: “We wanted to be independent; we don’t want to be run by a men’s club where you get hand-me-downs or not much budget … It was really nice to then bring another woman on board as a manager, because

when you look on the sidelines on a Sunday, it’s very rare to see another woman coaching. We’re really proud that we’ve got that.”

Karen reflects on her own management style and how gender impacts on coaching technique, explaining that “attitude, tone of voice, all of that is really interesting.” Justine helps to fill in the gaps where Karen is too modest, describing a manager who never sends a player off the pitch for missing a goal; one who champions encouragement and support over harsh reprimands.

On a more personal note, it’s easy to see that this club provides far more than just a way for the team to stay active and win matches.

Corinne described her initial hesitance to get back into football after a youth team left her viewing football as a chore rather than a passion. After watching an entire training session from her car, too afraid to join in, she finally summoned up the courage to go back and take part.

Another player I spoke to recounts a similar story: “I hadn’t played in twenty years when I joined … I had England trials when I was fourteen and then quit when I was fifteen.

Boys kept calling me a dyke, I was in the closet, I just didn’t want anyone to point at me and call me whatever they wanted. I was terrified to rejoin, but I really just wanted to get healthier and do something I enjoyed, and it’s the best thing I ever did. When I played with these guys,

" Until two o’clock in the morning, we were dying these shorts in this huge pot with a pair of marigolds on!"

that fear just went; they were just so lovely and so supportive.”

It’s clear that Seagals represents more than just a club for enthusiastic players. It offers a pathway back to a sport loved but simultaneously feared by these women. Talking to these players off the pitch about their experiences helped to explain the enthusiasm I was about to witness on the pitch.

The grey and windy afternoon couldn’t deter the Seagals - a phe-

nomenal 4-2 victory over the Rustington Raiders proved that this team is a force to be reckoned with, despite only having existed for less than two years, and demonstrated how they have come to boast the second-best defence in the league.

But beyond some excellent play, the most heartening thing to witness on the pitch was the Seagals’ solidarity as a team. There were no barked criticisms for a missed goal or an unsuccessful tackle; instead, just rally-

ing cries of “We’ve got this, Seagals!”

Playing with an immense calm, Tara Barratt scored an incredible goal and rightfully secured the highly venerated beach spade, signifying Player of the Match.

It was evident that Karen’s ethos of “Calm at the voice means calm at the feet” permeates through the whole team and results in some excellent play. Watching the girls celebrate together, I heard one Rustington Raiders supporter cynically jibe, “it’s as if they’ve won the Premier League.”

Funnily enough, I whole-heartedly agreed. To see the team celebrate together after a well-deserved victory, while it clearly irked some sore losers, was an absolute pleasure.

From their hand-dyed “Seagals Teal” kits to their inclusive and empowering ethos, everything about this club is a result of their passion and determination in the face of limited funds, facilities and a global pandemic. The Brighton Seagals represent the most powerful and inspiring elements of grassroots football - an authentic love for the sport that is driven by team spirit and enthusiasm. TGP

MEN'S

Words: Pranav Shahaney @pranav–11

Images: Alex Daniel @–pictures–of–you–

What’s Happened to Men’s Sunday League?

Favoured by women, forgotten by men: the curious tale of British grassroots football.

61 The last eighteen months may have been a devastating period for the grassroots game, but men’s amateur football has been on a steep decline for the past few decades. With lifestyle changes, a rise in the popularity of video games and the growing number of five- and seven-a-side all weather pitches, the beautiful game as we know it has been on the wane.

The Football Foundation is a charity that, over the past nineteen years, has planted the seeds to grow grassroots football. They have worked closely with passionate people in communities up and down the country to deliver sports projects worth over £1.5 billion. Their spokesperson Rory Carroll spoke with The Grassroots Post to discuss the challenges of Sunday League and the grassroots game.

“The last fifteen to twenty years has been a challenging period for traditional eleven-a-side Sunday League football. You’ve seen increasing popularity amongst formats like five-a-side and other football events played on smaller grounds. There’ve been a lot of informal kickabouts and Futsal matches, which has led to the declining interest in signing up for eleven-a-side Sunday League sides,” he said.

He also spoke about the busy lifestyles of people now compared to the last few decades. In his opinion, due to long days at work, men prefer going back to spend time with their families rather than committing to training a certain number of hours every week.

“Even committing to ninety minutes has now become a challenge for men’s players. Nowadays, we see a lot more friends just turning out and playing for an hour in a nearby open space rather than playing in leagues with high stakes,” said Carroll.

Paul Nilson is the founder of Team Oasis, a charity in Liverpool which offers juniors and seniors their first step into the amateur game. Their work off the field, especially throughout the pandemic, has been remarkable. Nilson’s charity provided food to the underprivileged and ensured that they had an enjoyable festive period. Having done this for several years, a number of the people they’ve helped have turned to the beautiful game and enjoyed success both at the amateur and the professional level.

In his view, another thing that’s held back the amateur game is the growing popularity of video games amongst the younger generation. As a player since the eighties, Nilson did not have these distractions to deal with and dedicated certain hours of each day to playing football outdoors.

“Simple things like FIFA, Football Manager, and other PlayStation games have had a massive impact on people in their early teenage years. They now prefer to play online with their friends rather than going out on a cold Saturday morning,” explained Nilson.

“Earlier, there were a number of Sunday League clubs founded based on their nearby pub. Almost every pub had their own team. I can only speak for South Liverpool but now less than ten percent of the pubs are functional and very few still have their team in place.

Add to that, several youth clubs and academies began to shut, and that only led to the decline of footballing activities in a particular area.”

Based on a 2015 study commissioned by the FA, 2,360 grassroots teams had folded within a three year period spanning from 2012 to 2015. Nearly 200,000 players below the age of sixteen had dropped out of the game entirely. An independent researcher who has often been commissioned by the FA believes that the number now is close to 350,000.

Nuneaton & District Sunday League has seen a fifty percent decline in the number of teams participating in the men’s game over the last fifteen years. In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, there were six divisions in the NDSFL, and now that number has halved with fewer teams per division.

The league secretary Glyn Watkins has acknowledged that it’s a massive problem and the pandemic is expected to make things worse, but he remains optimistic as there have been a couple of new teams enquiring to participate next season.

“Yes, Covid-19’s not been ideal for the game and definitely not at our level. But, there’s been a massive decline in the past few decades. I attribute it to the costs, pitches in certain places, and generally to people not having the time. Earlier every factory had a football team. Now no factories, no football,” said Watkins.

However, while the popularity among men has significantly reduced, there’s been a meteoric rise in the number of women getting involved in amateur football. It is the fastest-growing category in terms of grassroots sport, according to the Football Foundation.

Watkins believes that there are a number of reasons for it, but believes that broadcasters have played a massive role in making the sport more accessible.

“The rise in the women’s grassroots game has a lot to do with television. Now, with the Lionesses and WSL, there’s publicity. The women’s game has been there for a long time but has never been as popular. Schools are encouraging it more than they used to.

“I also believe that the FA is doing a very good job promoting it at all levels. Women referees too, are now in the limelight and more of them are getting into not just the women’s game, but also the men’s.”

Football Foundation’s Carroll also explained how football is now being seen as a women's and girl’s game too, rather than just something men play. Adding to that, the amount of money that’s being put into it has made

61

" Earlier every factory had a football team. Now no factories, no football" it a viable career prospect for girls who love playing the sport.

Carroll said: “Another factor that must be considered is better changing room facilities. Rather than dressing up in the car park, they now have good dressing rooms, which makes things a lot better. The Football Foundation is making sure the quality and infrastructure are there to maintain this appetite for the national game.

A scheme called Grow The Game has been started on behalf of the FA which provides £1500 for every new women’s or disability grassroots team to help them with the costs of assembling a team. They’re also helping individual players come together with like-minded women who want to get involved in the sport.

The FA has launched similar schemes to ensure that men’s grassroots football maintains its numbers, but it’s an uphill battle. The shoddy pitch conditions all over the United Kingdom have played a massive role in the declining popularity, so the Football Foundation has been investing in a new generation of natural grass pitches and providing support and advice to the main groundskeepers through initiatives such as Pitch Power and Football Foundation’s Groundskeepers Community.

“The idea behind these schemes is to root in the technical expertise of former players and current professionals, maintain the playing conditions and also create facilities that can make Sunday League more appealing to people in the modern world. We’re working towards giving them better experiences than high-powered gaming consoles or sophisticated attractive gyms would give,” said Carroll.

Team Oasis’ Nilson believes that the culture of Sunday League clubs needs to be changed. He believes that the idea of having clubs that served as second families is what led to the popularity of the grassroots game, and with everything available on devices, it is a massive challenge to tackle.

“Clubs need to be a bit more inspiring as teams and do more for their players. They must build a relation-

ship, a family culture, between the players, parents and owners. They have to be a little adventurous and plan social gatherings rather than just meeting each other for training and matches,” he said.

“It’s easy to, but you can’t always pass the buck to the FA. I think they’ve done a good job. Where they can come in is to conduct more local and national level tournaments. Maybe increase the prize money so players have an incentive to play and win.”

Covid-19 is another factor that has led to the dearth of the grassroots game. The pandemic hit grassroots football the hardest as the FA announced a staggering number of job losses to fill the £300m void caused by the lack of income over the summer and the 20/21 footballing season. 124 posts were reportedly made redundant, with fifteen of these being coaches that have yielded a generation of competitive national sides across all age groups in both the men’s and women’s game.

Save Grassroots campaign group spokesperson Kenny Saunders spoke in no uncertain terms about the challenges facing the English game. “We’re in a fight for our life and I foresee decades of problems ahead of us,” he said. “Many of our sponsors were impacted by the pandemic and the growing lockdowns have led to us not being able to deliver the content we were committed to. It’s probably the biggest crisis in our history.”

FA spokesperson Chris Swoffer told The Grassroots Post that the association will invest approximately £45m into grassroots football during the 2020/21 season and also committed £1m towards either free or reduced affiliation costs for grassroots football clubs.

Other grants have also been made available since the pandemic hit, but clubs at the bottom end of the pyramid are looking for more during these uncertain and gloomy times. It remains to be seen whether the grassroots scene changes once there’s more clarity in terms of a post-Covid-19 world. TGP

ROLL OF HONOUR 2020/21

THESE LOT HAVE GOT TITLES TO DEFEND NEXT SEASON....

64

2020/21 ROLL OF HONOUR

London, Surrey, Sussex TITLE:

WINNER:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

BARNET SUNDAY PREMIER BROMLEY & CROYDON CHRISTIAN PREMIER CAMDEN SUNDAY LEAGUE HACKNEY & LEYTON LEAGUE ISLINGTON MIDWEEK LEAGUE MACCABI GB SOUTHERN LEAGUE METROPOLITAN LEAGUE WIMBLEDON & DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE AMATEUR FOOTBALL COMBINATION LEAGUE ARTHURIAN LEAGUE CHISWICK & DISTRICT SUNDAY LEAGUE HARROW SUNDAY LEAGUE GREATER LONDON WOMEN'S FOOTBALL LEAGUE LONDON SENIOR TROPHY LONDON JUNIOR CUP LONDON SUNDAY CHALLENGE CUP LONDOND SUNDAY CHALLENGE TROPHY LONDON SUNDAY JUNIOR CUP LONDON VETERANS CUP CAPITAL WOMEN'S INTERMEDIATE CUP CAPITAL WOMEN'S JUNIOR CUP

Highgate Albion St Mary's West Croydon Badu CIC F.C Mile End Baiteze Dover Castle London Bears Grand Athletic Exeter Old Boys Old Hamptonian Old Carthusians Shire United Hammersmith Town Walton Casuals Ladies FC Elmstead Ten Em Bee Grand Athletic MIlldean FC Selhurst Sunday West Fulham Vets New London Lionesses Sport London E Benfica

• • • • • • • •

SURREY FA FLEXIBLE LEAGUE GUILDFORD & WOKING ALLIANCE PREM NORTH GUILDFORD & WOKING ALLIANCE PREM SOUTH KINGSTON & DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE SURREY COUNTY INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE (WESTERN) FARNHAM & DISTRICT SUNDAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE LEATHERHEAD & DISTRICT SUNDAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE SURREY & HANTS BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Wandgas Ladies Worplesdon Phoenix Tongham Hampton Town FC Hersham Overton United Veterans Barnes Eagles Seniors University Strollers

• SUSSEX SUNDAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE • BRIGHTON, WORTHING & DISTRICT LEAGUE • SUSSEX COUNTY WOMEN'S AND GIRLS LEAGUE

Castle Sports First Lancing United First Hastings Utd

65

2020/21 ROLL OF HONOUR

Hampshire, Berks, Bucks, Herts & Essex TITLE:

WINNER:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

HAMPSHIRE SATURDAY VASE RUSSELL COTES CUP HAMPSHIRE SATURDAY VETERANS CUP HAMPSHIRE FAITH CUP HAMPSHIRE MIDWEEK FLOODLIT CUP HAMPSHIRE SATURDAY PLATE HAMPSHIRE SATURDAY TROPHY HAMPSHIRE SUNDAY PLATE JOHN WARD SUNDAY SENIOR HAMPSHIRE SUNDAY VETERANS HAMPSHIRE SUNDAY VASE HAMPSHIRE SUNDAY TROPHY HAMPSHIRE WOMEN'S SENIOR HAMPSHIRE WOMEN'S TROPHY

Harvest Sholing FC Bush Hill Vets A B & C St Peters Winchester City Youth Testlands Brading Town Portswood United A Fawley RBL Overton United Test Valley Spartans Fareham United Portsmouth FC Eversley and California

• • • • • • • • • • •

AYLESBURY & DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE MILTON KEYNES SUNDAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWBURY SUNDAY LEAGUE NORTH BUCKS & DISTRICT LEAGUE THAMES VALLEY WOMEN'S COUNTY LEAGUE THAMES VALLEY PREMIER THAMES VALLEY WALKING FOOTBALL LEAGUE UPPER THAMES VALLEY SUNDAY LEAGUE EAST BERKSHIRE FOOTBALL LEAGUE MILTON KEYNES VETERANS LEAGUE NORTH BERKS LEAGUE

APBS FC Bosco FC First Cottage Inn Great Horwood Woking Ladies Finchampstead Oxford United WFC Greater Leys Yellow Singh Sabha Slough MIlton Keynes Irish Veterans Berinsfield

• • • • • •

HERTFORD & DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE WEST HERTS SATURDAY LEAGUE BERKHAMSTED SUNDAY LEAGUE EAST HERTS CORINTHIAN LEAGUE HITCHIN SUNDAY LEAGUE HERTS ADVERTISER SUNDAY LEAGUE

Westmill The Engineer FC Focus Allenbury's Vita FC Skew Bridge First

• • • • • • • • • •

CHELMSFORD SUNDAY LEAGUE MID ESSEX FOOTBALL LEAGUE ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER LEAGUE ESSEX VETERANS LEAGUE HUTTON ESSEX OLYMPIAN LEAGUE BRAINTREE & NORTH ESSEX LEAGUE ESSEX SUNDAY CORINTHIAN LEAGUE ESSEX SUNDAY FOOTBALL COMBINATION SCEPTRE SUNDAY LEAGUE THURROCK ASSOCIATION SUNDAY LEAGUE

Priory Sports Harold Hill FC Gas Recreation Old Boys Buckhurst Hill Braintree Iron Sungate Red Star Walthamstow Owl Sparks

2020/21 ROLL OF HONOUR

Middlesex, Kent & Hampshire TITLE:

WINNER:

• • • • • • • • • •

MIDDLESEX SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP MIDDLESEX PREMIER CUP MIDDLESEX INTERMEDIATE CUP MIDDLESEX JUNIOR CUP MIDDLESEX GEOFF HARRISON JUNIOR TROPHY MIDDLESEX SUNDAY PREMIER CUP MIDDLESEX SUNDAY INTERMEDIATE CUP MIDDLESEX SUNDAY JUNIOR CUP MIDDLESEX SUNDAY JUNIOR TROPHY MIDDLESEX VETERANS CUP

Hanwell Town FC St Panteleimon Spartans Youth Adult Kulture Klub Athletic Old Hat FC Takers FC The Vine Larkspur Rovers Reserves Hampton Terriers Middlesex Wanderers

• • • • • • • • •

ASHFORD & DISTRICT LEAGUE BROMLEY & SOUTH LONDON FOOTBALL LEAGUE CANTERBURY & DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE HERNE BAY & WHISTABLE LEAGUE MAIDSTONE & MID KENT FOOTBALL LEAGUE ORPINGTON & BROMLEY DISTRICT SUNDAY LEAGUE SEVENOAKS & DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE THANET SUNDAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE THANET & DISTRICT VETERANS LEAGUE

The Fountain Old Roan Littlebourne Monument FC East Malling SE Dons Nomads Association Dolphin Kings United FC Tankerton Slayer

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

KENT VETERANS CUP KENT WOMEN'S CUP KENT INTERMEDIATE CUP KENT INTERMEDIATE CHALLENGE KENT WOMEN'S PLATE KENT JUNIOR CUP A KENT JUNIOR CUP B KENT JUNIOR CUP C KENT SUNDAY JUNIOR TROPHY KENT SUNDAY JUNIOR CUP KENT SUNDAY PREMIER CUP KENT WALKING CUP OVER 60S KENT WALKING CUP OVER 50S

Crayford One Bell Dartford Lordswood Reserves Farnborough Old Boys Guild Glebe Ladies Greenways Aces The Bull Selhurst SA Royal Southwark Blendon FC No Chatham Town Sundays Bexley Maidstone Utd

• SOUTHAMPTON SATURDAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE • CITY OF PORTSMOUTH SUNDAY FOOTBLL LEAGUE • MEON VALLEY SUNDAY LEAGUE

Whiteley Wanderers Milton Rovers Dingle Rovers

SHARPSHOOTERS OF THE SEASON We’ve been trawling through the data across many leagues and competitions throughout the season and we’ve managed to come up with two prolific goal-getters

to win our Sharpshooters award for the 2021/22 grassroots season.

We’ve had the pleasure of following the goalscoring exploits of Guru Nanak’s Aman Kaur all season, with the striker featuring in our last two issues and being unrelenting in finding the net. Aman didn’t cease fire in the South East Counties League, and despite Laura Buntini of Barking

hitting a whole heap of goals in the Essex County League, Aman finished up on top with thirty-three goals. An incredible haul in a disrupted season.

The Southern Sunday Football League has the honour of being the league in the South East with the most teams involved. One hundred clubs compete across ten divisions, and from that Matthew Drage of Sporting Continental scored the most goals.

Thirty-one, in fact, from just eleven games. A proven goalscorer at semi-professional level, he was one of those to turn his attention to Sunday League, with Saturday football largely curtailed, coming out firing after lockdown. Included in this was eight goals in a week with five and three against Southside United and Crayford Athletic respectively.

Congrats to Aman and Matthew.

Loving your work. TGP

UNSUNG HERO OF THE SEASON Here is our unsung hero of the season Jason Casey making notes for the match report for Croydon Women FC for the local newspaper, while he takes on the privilege of running the line. This is just after he’s been assisting with the coaching pre-game.

Jason is a committee member of Croydon FC and a champion of women’s football. Well, actually, like us, he’s a champion of all grassroots football and a true grassroots hero. He not only warmly invited us to watch the Trams play, offering us advice on parking, train and bus travel, but he also distributes The Grassroots Post among the local community to several venues. Thank you, Jason. TGP

WOMEN'S

Words & Interview: John Eager @john–eager

Not surprisingly, his family had this to say: “Always great to win something, but it means twice as much winning something with your big brother. And when you’re on Slim’s team, whether it be a cup final or a five-a-side in Center Parcs, you usually do win!”

Frankie Maitland (Highgate Albion player & brother) “He used to come and watch me play for Highgate as a young kid and all he ever wanted to do was play for Highgate. So to see him turn into Mr Highgate Albion, and to see where the

INDUCTEE #3:

club has gone, makes me very happy.

IAN MAITLAND

My grandson now is playing as well, so three generations have now played for the club; it’s in our blood!”

Nigel Maitland (former Highgate

TEAMS:

Albion player & dad)

HIGHGATE ALBION FC

Ian has certainly had greater success than any other player in the club’s history, and with a twenty-two-year

LEAGUE:

BARNET SUNDAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

(2011-PRESENT),

HENDON & DISTRICT SUNDAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE (1999-2011)

association with Highgate Albion, trophies have naturally followed his career, winning five league cups and two In each issue, we celebrate a player who de-

Middlesex Cups during the club’s time

serves to have their grassroots career up in lights

in the now-defunct Hendon & District

by inducting them into The Grassroots Post Hall

Sunday Football League. Upon joining

of Fame. For Issue 4, it’s Ian Maitland.

the Barnet Sunday Football League in

In the upper echelons of the football pyramid,

2011, it took Highgate a couple of years

one-club men and women are becoming rarer and

to settle, but they were soon back

rarer. But on the Sunday league scene there’s no

to winning ways with Ian captaining

opportunity for a couple of years in a sunnier climate,

them to five league cup wins and four

and you’ll typically find that players will see out their

Premier Division wins.

careers with the same club.

One such player is Mr Highgate himself, Ian Mait-

The most recent win shows Ian’s longevity as a player: this season, during

land, who has played for Highgate Albion since he

a stop-start Covid-hit season, a thirty-

was sixteen years old. He made his debut way back

eight-year-old Maitland led his team

in 1999 and is still playing and captaining the side

to a league double of Premier Division

in 2021. It’s a family affair for Ian, with his dad, Nigel

and Senior Challenge Cup, where his

Maitland, playing for the club for a number of years

team saw off the likes of Rising Ballers

before him. Younger brother Frankie has also played

and Takers FC.

for the club, with the brothers winning the Middle-

One man who knows a thing or two

sex Cup together in 2006. But more recently, this

about Ian Maitland is current manager

season, Ian’s son Charlie Maitland made his debut

Adam Shahein, who has been Albion’s

for the club, playing and scoring for Highgate Albion

manager for eight years and prior to that

Reserves in May 2021 in front of his proud dad.

managed against him:

69

Images: Louisa Hutchinson @louisahutchinson.photo

“I’ve known Slim for about twelve or

leader, the leader of this magnificent

thirteen years. We used to play against

club, and a great captain. He started as

him and he’s a very good player. Always

a forward for me and has now moved

gracious in defeat or victory. Always

into centre-back in his later years. He

a gentleman. I had a lot of admiration

is probably the biggest influence in the

for him when we won the league at

club, playing-wise. His goal record for

Highgate one day and he came into the

the club over twenty years has to be

dressing room to congratulate us and

at least a minimum 350 goals. He’s a

have a beer with my team. Everyone

fantastic footballer and he’s got a great

had a lot of respect for him from that.

brain and is really good on the ball, and

“When I folded my team, he

understands when he’s called upon

approached me to come and join

what needs to be done to win for the

Highgate. I got on well with him from

team. Off the pitch he’s a brilliant friend,

the start so I decided to do it. And then

he’s like a family member. We get on

from that next season we went on a

well and I’m sure we will be working

winning run with Highgate - I think it

together for a long time in the future.

was seven seasons in a row of winning

Hoping to win more trophies together!"

cups and leagues together. He is a great

Adam Shahein (Manager since 2013)

IN HIS WORDS: Tell us about when you fell in love

final day out or the evenings out with

with playing football?

lads that usually follows. Of course the

I fell in love with football from watch-

Sunday socials after the games with the

To be included in the Hall of Fame would

ing the old man and going to see

lads are also what it’s all about.

be a massive honour for me - like I say,

Arsenal back at Highbury. Football is

I’ve just always cracked on naturally and

my only release, always has been.

What do you love about

played every Sunday morning without

Although I have always been a lad

grassroots football?

fail because I love the game. But to be

that’s played plenty of Saturday

Grassroots football is an opportunity

recognised for such achievements and

League football, I have always turned

for everyone to be involved. I’ve always

to have something in writing and get

up every Sunday. Sunday League has

liked to play the best and highest I can

recognition socially and media-wise

always been my passion and I was

be with Sunday league. I am absolutely

would be a great accolade and honour

always loyal to it. I am gutted that I

honoured and privileged to play with a

for me. I respect everyone I have played

am no longer a young nut and can’t

club like Highgate where I have made at

with and against and I still think I’ve got

still do the things I used to do!

least 500 appearances, winning plenty

another couple of years in me, so long

of trophies under various managers over

may the trophies continue! TGP

Tell us about your grassroots career?

the years, where I have made various

Highlights of my career have always

friendships at the club and there is such

been playing on a wet Sunday winter

a massive social network. I love all the

morning. I never really liked the summer

lads. I dread the day where I have to

days where the pitches are too hard.

hang up the boots and at thirty-eight

Main highlights would of course be win-

years old I still think I have another cou-

ning the trophies, from Middlesex Cup

ple of years left in me.

wins to winning back-to-back doubles over the past three seasons, and let’s be

What does it mean to be inducted into

honest there is nothing better than a cup

The Grassroots Post Hall of Fame?

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

VETERANS

Words: Mike Backler @backlermike

Illustration: Millie Chesters @milliechesters

MY GREATEST GAME THE BATTLE OF FORSTAL ROAD: AYLESFORD V DEFIANCE, KENT VETERANS CUP, 2019

You know when you drive past a football pitch and there’s a grassroots game in full flow? Have you ever thought about the odds of seeing a goal in that fleeting five seconds? Or even a key bit of action. A flashpoint.

Anyone whose route had taken them down the Forstal Road and past the Aylesford Recreation Ground on that wet November morning would have been very unlucky not to see something. It had everything.

Aylesford Vets had been formed a few months earlier. A few lads starting to creak on a Sunday morning joined up with those that hadn’t kicked a ball in years. Still, we found ourselves in the last sixteen of the County Cup, drawn against an established team from Charlton, Defiance Vets. Inclement weather, bog of a pitch, cup tie with your mates, underdogs. This is why you play, isn’t it. Our main striker, who his teammates won’t mind me saying, scores A LOT of our goals, was struggling to make it due to childcare issues. I popped him on the team sheet anyway. You never, never, know.

Lo and behold, we raced into a 2-0 lead, then 2-1, before finishing the half comfortably 3-1 up. The second half had all the bearings of watching England in a major tournament game. Leggy, unable to retain possession, dropping further and further back. The quagmire of a pitch taking its toll. Chasing shadows. Cramp everywhere. 3-2, 3-3.

Defiance had their peckers up. With the very near last kick of the game, our keeper “Big Game” Bill Biss made a remarkable stop to keep us

in it. Into extra time we go, desperate for reinforcements.

And they arrived. Our striker Ashley “Goals” Russell appeared on the sideline, much to the fury of the opposition, who seemed to think it was a tactic of ours to not play our best player for ninety minutes. You know, to keep it interesting. With me burying the fact that I’d received an email earlier in the week from Kent FA saying there would be no extra time in cup ties due to fading light, and with the opposition still irate, the whistle sounded on an extra time that was just wild.

With just five minutes to go, Defiance’s mittened striker buried a beauty from a tight angle and set off on a lap of honour round the park, hounded by his elated teammates. We sank to our knees. Nothing left in the tank.

A heroic last-ditch tackle from our full-back stops us going 5-3 down, before one last long ball with a couple of minutes to play. A flick on. A through

ball, and guess who is through on goal. It’s only Ashley bloody Russell.

As he slots it home and wheels away celebrating, back down the pitch, way back down the pitch, I lie face down in the mud. It’s too much.

And there’s more. Much more.

There’s still time for the mittened striker to throw a few haymakers at our defender in pure frustration. Incredibly, he remains on the pitch and deep into a penalty shootout that you can hardly see from the halfway line as it’s so dark, it’s only him that has the chance to win it for Defiance. It’s saaaaved! “Big Game’’ keeps us in it again. At 7-7 we have the chance to win it, and our full-back rifles home.

But why not some more drama? He’s forced to retake. And that goes in as well. Somehow, we’re through.

How did we get on in the quarters? Lost 3-2. 2-0 up at half-time.

But hey, that’s football. It’s a beautiful, beautiful thing. TGP

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

Issue 5 will be exactly where you found this one towards the end of August.

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

Got a grassroots story that needs telling?

Email us on editor@grassrootspost.uk.

Issue 04: Editor: Mike Backler

Design: Alex Mertekis

Sub Editor: Lucy Mertekis

Words: Tayyiba Yunus, Amie Cripps, Andrew

Images: Gem Atkinson, Jack Osborne,

Martin, Raymond Peart, Liam Newman, Trevor

Alex Daniel, Liam Newman, Matt White,

Booking, Nick Bearham, Steve Piggott, Clara

Sof Petrides, Louisa Hutchinson, Clapton CFC

Heffernan, Pranav Shahaney, John Eager

Illustrations: Millie Chesters

Special thanks: Danny Taeidy from Footy Addicts, Raj Murria and Curtis Fleming from Show Racism The Red Card, Emma Bowell and Jason Casey from Croydon WFC, Tobrise from Amateur Footballer, Jack Thompson and Laura Foster from The Black Prince Trust, Drew Smith and Joelle Conway from Powerleague, Kirsty McManus from Goals, Aman Ahmed from Bloomsbury Football, Dan Tunna from Joymo, Lucy Darrall from iPRO, Will Irvine and Sarah Butters from SNAP Sponsorship, Lee Vesey and Shakiel Reid from Vesey UK, Curt Baker from FotMob, Justine Thomson from Brighton Seagals and Matt Fletcher Jones.

We work with a number of partners who not only enhance the grassroots game but also support us n 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 Football:

goalsfootball.co.uk

• SNAP Sponsorship:

snapsponsorship.com

• Discount Football Kits:

discountfootballkits.com

• FotMob:

fotmob.com

• Footy Addicts:

footyaddicts.com

• Essex FA:

essexfa.com

• Joymo:

joymo.tv

• Middlesex FA:

middlesexfa.com

• Powerleague:

powerleague.co.uk

• Surrey FA:

surreyfa.com

• iPRO:

iprohydrate.com

• Kent FA:

kentfa.com

• Spond:

spond.com

• Hampshire FA:

hampshirefa.com

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