The Grassroots Post

WOMEN'S

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MEN'S

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COLLEGE

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VETS

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WALKING

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DISABILITY

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SMALL-SIDED

...& FUTSAL!

LONDON & THE HOME COUNTIES EDITION

OCTOBER 2021

VOL. 01 ISSUE 06

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PLUS :

HOW TO R A LEAGU UN E! P20–2 1

RESPECT IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE REFEREE ABUSE: A CRISIS

LFA: INCLUSIVE & INSPIRATIONAL

FUNDING: IS IT ENOUGH?

GRASSROOTS DERBIES!

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

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KOLA GRAND SPORTS CLUB

After not playing football for a very very very long time and recently moving to Gravesend in Kent, I realised how much I missed the game and started looking for a team nearby. I turn up because I believe that my team Grand Sports Club is a place that stands as an outlet for people of all ages to have a voice, an identity or a belonging that they can call a home away from home while enjoying their sport.

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VLADI LADIES' FOOTBALL ACADEMY

I'm an athlete and I find self-expression through sport. Football is a beautiful game - fast, dynamic, unpredictable - and I thoroughly enjoy being on the pitch and responding to any challenge that comes up in a game. I turn up to express myself, push my limits and hopefully create beautiful chances!

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JAN SPRINGFIELD ROAD FC

2nd of September 2012 was the day I broke my fibula and tibula and I believed I wouldn't play football again. Fast forward to 2020 and a new career in the prison service gave me the opportunity to join the work charity team Springfield Road FC. Not only am I again playing the game I love, we are more importantly raising money for fantastic causes. THIS IS WHY I TURN UP!

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SASHA DEAL TOWN WOMEN

I joined Deal Town Women in June when the pressures of being a student nurse mid-pandemic impacted my mental health. I believed a team sport like football would boost me mentally, physically and socially. The ladies and my manager Martin have shown endless support, fun and empowerment. This is why I turn up.

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JAKE SEFTON PARK RANGERS

Initially I turned up because I wanted to play, get fit and challenge myself and win tackles. Now I have a responsibility to turn up for them, our community and our club members who believe in what we are trying to achieve in bettering ourselves, pushing what it means to be a grassroots community club and representing our area. I turn up for The Rangers.

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HELLO A CONFESSION:

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As the editor of a paper that desperately wants to shine a light on one of the grassroots game’s biggest issues, referee abuse, I have a confession to make. I was sin-binned around a month ago for dissent. I play for and manage a team on a Saturday afternoon that found themselves 3-0 down, and after we clawed it back to 3-2, our striker was brought down for what I felt was a penalty. The referee felt otherwise. And that should have been the end of it. I persisted, asking the referee a couple of times if he could explain to me what he’d seen while the ball was in play.

He rightly continued to do his job in following the ball, while I neglected mine. He ignored me and refereed the ongoing game.

At that point I called the decision “f***ing poor”, and rightly got told to have a sit down for a bit.

I was wrong. On returning to the pitch, I apologised and we shook hands, and I made a point of apologising once more after the game. He felt our striker had left the leg in (which he’s capable of) and we joked about it and moved on. At all times he called it how he saw it and was

professional, and I was not, and in doing so left my teammates to hang on for ten minutes with ten men.

I say this because it’s my overwhelming belief that to turn the tide on the ongoing referee crisis - and it is a crisis that referee numbers are dropping across the country and games are being unfulfilled - it is about personal responsibility and accountability. As players and as manager and as parents. We need to stop looking to County FAs and the FA and the countless campaigns that have very little impact because it’s about us individually.

We need to look at ourselves.

Referees will make mistakes judging moments in real time with no support from assistant referees at an amateur level, no

video replays and usually under the pressure of countless voices that genuinely don’t quite understand the rules. My mistake that day involved me swearing at another human being who loves the grassroots game as much as me, because I didn’t get what I wanted.

We have a problem with anger in this country, and with respect and with authority, and as always these filter through to our national game, on the pitch and on the terraces. We have to manage our teams and coach our children to be so much better, and as with everything, that starts with ourselves. I love the grassroots game, and more than ever, I fear for it.

Mike Backler, Editor

REFEREES

Interview: The Grassroots Post @thegrassrootspost

STATE OF PLAY:

ENGLAND FOOTBALL

As the new grassroots football season kicks off, the FA’s Head of Referee Operations Peter Elsworth and Head of Technical Referee Development Daniel Meeson give their thoughts on the coming season and what’s new in the world of grassroots refereeing.

After a long wait, the new season is finally underway and it has been great to see grassroots referees getting back onto the pitch and doing what they do best. The last eighteen months have been unprecedented, and the refereeing community has shown great resilience as we’ve moved in and out of lockdown. We appreciate this has been a testing time for grassroots referees up and down the country and we would like to place on record our thanks to everyone involved, from match officials to volunteers, for their continued dedication and commitment in helping to keep the game going during this period.

Our Refereeing Department has also been through some change over recent months as we bid farewell to former Head of Refereeing Neale Barry who retired after sixteen years.

Neale led the department through a period of immense change, making a significant contribution to the development and growth of refereeing and he leaves us with a clear direction of travel which we are determined to push forward.

Central to this is a real drive to develop the experience that people can have within the game further through officiating. Match officials play a crucial role in creating a safe and inclusive environment for all participants in football and we are working very closely with the fifty County Football Associations (County FAs) to recruit, retain, support and develop the referee workforce to service the game and give them the best experience possible. Without them, matches simply can’t happen.

We want everyone involved in officiating at grassroots level to feel valued and part of something bigger, rather than just being someone in a black shirt in the middle of a pitch. Closely linked to this is the retention of all referees which is crucial. We recognise there is still work to be done in terms of tackling abuse and this remains a priority as part of our wider Respect campaign. All participants, from players and coaches to spectators, have a part to play in making sure the referee has a positive experience.

To be absolutely clear, we are

fully committed to supporting any referee who is a victim to any form of abuse or assault, and anyone who has a negative experience, whether that’s on or off the field, should speak to their County FA who will provide the necessary support. We’ve also recently launched a Mental Health Champions Scheme for grassroots referees. The scheme is the first of its kind for grassroots match officials in any sport and aims to create an open environment so that referees and everyone involved in the referee community can talk openly about mental health and be supported. We are currently piloting this across nineteen County FAs and look forward to rolling this out further nationally during the course of this year.

We are also pleased to confirm that the regulations around offences against match officials have been strengthened and increased from this season. This has resulted in physical contact against them being treated more firmly and panel guidance changed to encourage gravitation toward the higher end of sanction

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for physical contact or attempted physical contact. The upper end of the current range has now increased to two years (from 182 days) and the recommended entry point has been set to 182 days, prior to consideration of aggravating and mitigating factors.

In addition to this, those serving a ban must complete a mandatory education course before returning to the game. This has never happened before and is something we see as a positive step forward, along with recent new guidelines published by the Sentencing Council which we, along with the Referees’ Association, welcome, providing a higher level of protection to grassroots match officials in relation to sentencing for common assault and related offences.

The future of refereeing is an exciting one as our national sport continues to grow in popularity. Our Premier League and WSL referees of tomorrow are coming through from our Centre of Refereeing Excellence (FA CORE); an emerging and exciting refereeing structure that aims to provide an identified number of referees at a variety of levels with quality training,

education and development opportunities. FA CORE is for those referees who are demonstrating that they have the clear “potential” and “opportunity” to progress in refereeing regardless of which part of the country they are from, their gender or their age, and a perfect example of our collaborative relationship with our colleagues in the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) to unlock potential and build for the future.

For younger referees, the game can provide invaluable life skills, improving confidence, leadership and discipline. It is a world where you learn about how to deal with decision-making in a pressurised environment. It's how to manage lots of people simultaneously. It's about building rapport with people from different communities and backgrounds. Let’s not forget, referees take the lead on the day of a match from the moment they turn up at a ground to the post-match reporting requirements afterwards. These are skills that manifest themselves in leadership and are very beneficial in day to day life, as well as on the pitch.

You don’t need to have your sights set on the top to get involved though.

If anyone is thinking of giving refereeing a go, you can check out our online learning module which will give you a basic understanding of the Laws of the game and refereeing. If you want to go further and gain referee qualifications, there are face-to-face sessions available around the country through County FAs, available to anybody with an interest. Details on how to book yourself onto one of our referee courses can be found on the relevant County FA website.

We would encourage anyone with an interest in the game, no matter your background or ability, to discover more about refereeing. You’ll experience the joys of being in a sporting environment and develop a skill set that will be invaluable throughout your life. What many of our referees often tell us is perhaps the most valuable benefit is actually the friendships you can make and the community you build as a referee. TGP Why not start your journey now at thefa.com/get-involved/referee.

Words: Alex Waite @waiteyal

STAIN

REFEREES

Grassroots football has returned in 2021/22 for what will hopefully be the first full season in recent years. While there has been widespread positivity, unity and gratitude among much of the grassroots community, one topic has received more attention than ever this season: the high levels of referee abuse. Alex Waite takes a closer look at the extent of the abuse and its impact on the grassroots game.

A

E E R E F E R ABUSE

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GRASSROOTS

ON THE

GAME

After two tough seasons of disruption, hearing the phrase “null and void” countless times and utter uncertainty about whether grassroots football would ever return, the 2021/22 season has kicked off in recent weeks and there is a sense of optimism. Thousands of clubs, players, referees, fans and coaches have taken to social media and shared their passion for the grassroots game.

Despite so much unity from the grassroots community, one ongoing issue continue to tarnish the game. Weekly reports of officials facing verbal, physical and threatening abuse, sometimes towards young referees under the age of eighteen, has highlighted the negativity of some corners of the football community.

In response, clubs, leagues, County FAs (CFAs) and referees are speaking out more than ever about the impact of the abuse and how this deepening issue could threaten the future of grassroots football.

ABUSED REFEREES LEAVING IN DROVES

The increasing mistreatment of referees is causing shortages across the country. Leagues are struggling to find enough officials and many in black and white have had enough of the consistent negativity each weekend.

Statistics suggest that grassroots referee abuse has reached a crisis point. Dr Tom Webb and Martin Cassidy, co-authors of the 2020 book Referees, Match Officials & Abuse found that 93.7% of football match officials had been physically or verbally abused during a match.

Their research also highlighted that nine in ten referees said they had been verbally abused, with 59.7% experiencing some form of abuse every two games.

The findings suggest that there is a problem with how referees are treated in amateur football, especially when compared with other sports. For example, around 55% of officials in cricket and rugby said they experienced abuse while in charge of a match.

Recent revelations from CFAs paint a similar picture, which shows the problem is nationwide.

During the opening weeks of the 2021/22 season, some CFAs have gone public to emphasise the true scale of referee abuse and to highlight the knock-on for recruiting and retaining officials.

Firstly, Ross Joyce, the North Riding FA Referee Development Manager, wrote a public letter on September 9 outlining how re-registration of referees was down 31% from last season. A week later, Nick

" Referees are regularly dealing with too many confrontational and sometimes extremely dangerous situations, which is causing officials to take a stand and leave the game"

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Right: Ant Canavan set up the Referee Forum platform to support officials

Dunn, Referee Development Officer for the Kent FA, also penned an open letter and he highlighted a similar downturn this season, with a 24% loss of referees in 2021/22.

Dunn added a further explanation on how a loss of referees impacts the entire football community, with the shortage leading to “approximately 8,000 matches being played without a referee” per season.

More CFAs continue to speak out about rising levels of abuse, with James Pearson and Colin Miles of the Hampshire FA being the latest officers to address participants in their county on September 28. They expressed concern at the “high levels of abuse not only towards referees but amongst players and officials, particularly at youth level”.

These figures paint a stark and unprecedented picture of referees leaving grassroots football. Openness and sharing from the CFAs are not without context either. Joyce and Dunn, in particular, acknowledge how the Covid-19 pandemic played a role in referees leaving the game. But the overriding theme is clear; referees are facing so much abuse that they do not want to remain a part of grassroots football.

ONE ATTACK FROM DISASTER

themselves frustrated in lockdowns and their release was to go down to the local park and shout The level and consistency of at the referee, opposition players abuse is a concern for officials and it was some awful stuff. themselves. Many are speaking “I've seen mass brawls that inout about individual experiences cluded spectators in the Liverpool that confirm how mistreatment County Premier League. Players remains one of the key factors in are definitely fighting each other referees leaving football. more and being aggressively verbal Verbal and physical abuse seems with their own teammates as well to have increased since football re- as officials.” turned after the lockdowns of 2020 But the abuse Canavan has and 2021. Ant Canavan, who began seen does not end at the final refereeing in Cheshire in 2003 and whistle. He has also noticed how created the Referee Forum platabuse that begins on the pitch form to support officials, explained continues on social media posthow he witnessed a noticeable ingame, which has a psychological crease in abuse when people took impact. “The mental health of to the pitch after lockdown. referees that get absolutely slated Canavan said: “When we came and abused is severe. Refs take back from the first lockdown, I that away with them off the field remember there was a markedof play. Players say it’s all forgotly increased vitriol from a lot of ten about on the final whistle, supporters and coaches. People but it’s really not. had been locked up for ages and “You can’t forget about the for whatever reason they found game because you’ll get home and

"The concern is that one punch, kick or push could take the life of an official" there will be tweets waiting there for you or if they’re not directly at you, some of the clubs will be talking about you.”

Nathan Sherratt, a referee in Durham and Managing Director of the Third Team, has also seen instances of physical assault that have impacted him and the players whilst officiating. “I remember being pushed by a coach physically, I remember situations where players have assaulted each other where it’s become difficult for myself. I had an incident where one player assaulted another player and it became a criminal situation. I was working with the police to help them because I was the responsible person in charge at the time and I didn’t have the support to help me as a referee.”

As opposed to the Covid-19 pandemic, however, Sherratt points to another reason for the rise of abusive instances, particularly, homophobia, racism and sexism.

Sherratt, a mixed-race official from an Asian-British background, explains how he has seen more racist and homophobic incidents in recent years after the Brexit referendum in 2016.

“Brexit made a massive difference in the way society has been and society is always reflected on the football pitch,” said Sherratt.

“A lot of racist views are emboldened and people are emboldened to make those views known. The season before last, I was four or

five years into my refereeing career and I’d never dealt with a racist incident before and I’ve probably dealt with five or six since then. It’s not just racism, there’s also sexism and homophobia massively on the rise. I sent two players off last season for homophobic language and, in a season that was condensed by the pandemic, we only refereed for two or three months so to have two red cards for those situations reflects the climate.”

All of these incidents, especially those directed at referees, are so commonplace within the game that CFAs and local leagues simply cannot deal with the sheer quantity of abusive cases on an individual basis.

Will Sanderson, Discipline and Referee Officer of the Kent County League, faced severe physical abuse when officiating as a sixteen-yearold assistant at a men’s game. However, he has noticed a difference between the support he received after he was attacked, compared to when a referee experiences a similar situation today.

“I was assaulted as a sixteenyear-old assistant in 2008. I was asked to sort out an incident and was punched in the back of the head and kicked in the head. After the incident, I received support and care from the FA but there are just too many cases going on out there now to deal with. I had the support that was good enough to make me continue as a referee.”

Sanderson acknowledges how the lack of support for referees facing abuse is leading to younger referees leaving quicker at the grassroots level. He said: “You get left to it unless you seek out support. We have eighteen-year-olds going straight into men’s football and if they haven’t got the tools to deal with some of the abuse, they won’t go back out.”

Having the tools to deal with verbal and physical abuse is almost seen as part of the parcel of being a referee at all levels. There is a near normalisation that links being a referee with being abused in the current climate, which can lead to life-threatening scenarios in the most extreme cases.

In December 2012, Richard Nieuwenhuizen was a volunteer linesman at his son’s match in Amsterdam, Holland. After the final whistle, Nieuwenhuizen was set upon by a group of players, aged fifteen and sixteen, who disagreed with a number of decisions made during the match.

Nieuwenhuizen was punched, knocked to the ground and kicked in the head, and after refusing medical attention following the attack, the forty-one-year-old’s health deteriorated quickly. He eventually collapsed and died in hospital.

In the UK, there have been similar situations in recent years where referees have found themselves in dangerous situations. Satyam Toki, a twenty-eight-year-old referee,

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Below: Nathan Sheratt is a referee and MD of The Third Team which supports referees with resilience and mental toughness

confrontational and that’s where it crosses the line. Even if it’s one person coming towards you in the wrong way it can turn into a pack mentality and the punches can start flying. All it takes is the wrong group of people and the referee and we’re in a dangerous scenario.

“There should be zero risk for a referee going out there and officiating a game of football... It’s a matter of time before a ref gets caught wrong with a punch and it kills that referee.”

NO REFEREES, NO GAME

sent off a player for foul language during a game in Ealing, West London in August 2020. After the incident, the player confronted Toki and he was struck and kicked repeatedly, which led to facial swelling, cuts and bruises.

There is fear among some in the grassroots community that a similar incident that led to Nieuwenhuizen’s death is going to happen in the UK soon. The concern is that one punch, kick or push could take the life of an official.

Reflecting on the situation, Canavan said: “If you swear at the ref, they have the tools to deal with that with the yellow and red card, but what we don’t have to deal with is when it becomes physically

The severity of referee abuse is clear, but there are also unseen personal situations taking a toll on referees.

Often, the demands of officiating at the weekend and finding a work-life balance can cause officials to step away from the game they once enjoyed. One referee from the South East, who worked his way up to become a level four official and had a potential path to referee in the Football League, decided to take a sabbatical from the game. The demands of refereeing, along with the pressures of everyday life eventually became too overwhelming.

“I started feeling anxious about Saturdays. I would work all week and I noticed that I would start thinking about matches and didn’t want to go. Part of it was that I

Left & Below: Nick Dunn is the referee development officer for Kent FA

Above: Will Sanderson received support after being assaulted as a 16 year old assistant in 2008

" Players say it’s all forgotten about on the final whistle, but it’s really not" took on more of a stressful job and was less willing to give up my weekends, but I would wake up on Saturday mornings and have that dreary feeling that I did not want to go and as crowds got bigger it felt more stressful.

“You know you were walking into something that could potentially be tricky, you could be abused by a spectator, a player, a coach or a manager, I felt there was a high chance of that happening and it

made me not want to go.

“I came to a crossroads where I needed to make a decision and, weighing it up, I questioned what would be better: would it be spending my weekends going to watch my team play, or spending time with my friends? Or is it running around being shouted at by twenty-two blokes and 400 people in the crowd? At the moment, I don’t think it’s something I’d go back to.”

Thousands of referees across

the UK are now facing similar, personal decisions. The choice is between stepping onto the football pitch and dealing with something potentially threatening or having more time for a personal life.

Until conditions for grassroots referees become safer and their contributions to football at all levels are respected and valued, more officials will continue to step away from football and leave more games unable to go ahead. TGP

COLLEGE

Words: Lucy Mertekis

Images: AoC Sport @AoC–Sport

T HE COLLEGE CONQUERORS OF ROME

The English Colleges FA shapes college students’ lives, improves access to football for local communities and brings home championship-winning trophies from Italy to boot.

Truly one of the unsung institutions in England’s footballing landscape.

Leaving school is a huge milestone for everyone, but for many talented young footballers, the graduation to college life offers the invaluable opportunity to compete in some of the most exciting leagues and tournaments in the country. This is all thanks to the hard work and dedication of the English Colleges Football Association (ECFA), which provides a pathway for students in further education to participate in high-quality football across a range of competitions, including the

ECFA Women’s and Men’s National Teams. So, while you might have spent your college years dossing around with your mates, future football stars are honing their skills with the ECFA – some even becoming international champions.

The ECFA is the football delivery arm of AoC Sport (Association of Colleges), the lead organisation for sport and physical activity in sixteen-plus education. The ECFA aims to be diverse and inclusive in everything it does, and this “equal

access” approach ensures that the football on offer is enjoyable while also providing appropriate playing opportunities for disabled players.

What’s more, the ECFA develops a future workforce by training student volunteers in a youth leadership programme. This is then paid forward to the local community by sharing the student workforce and facilities of the further education institutes with local grassroots clubs.

ECFA Women’s National Team Manager Keith Boanas, one of the

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first male UEFA A Licence coaches to start working in the female game, is a strong believer in making football as inclusive as possible. “The biggest joy of football is that it is playable by all and everyone, so it should be accessible and inclusive to everyone no matter what age, race, gender, ability level, disabilities, size or shape.”

“From my experience spanning some twenty-plus years, linking football to education is a vital cog in the wheel,” says Keith. “We all know that sport aids good health and can lead to better academic success through a more positive approach to life in general. So they compliment each other. Particularly at this age, when many young people are contemplating their future, the ECFA programmes provide an opportunity to grow and a realistic enticement to get that second chance in both the game and education.”

Keith’s inspirational patter off the pitch is matched by his team’s on-field success. In 2019, the ECFA Women’s National Team travelled to Italy to compete in the Il Cacio E’ Rosa in Rome on their debut in the competition. After sailing through the group stages, beating all the Italian regional teams in their group, the team faced Welsh Col-

leges FA in the final, winning 1-0 in a nail-biting match with a goal from team captain Chloe Gilroy.

“The whole trip was fantastic,” Keith reflects. “Following a good camp at St. George’s Park, the girls were made to feel like a true national team squad. Of course, not with some of the luxuries the actual national teams have, but we tried to make them feel special and act professionally at all times whilst enjoying every moment. We were over the moon with the efforts of the girls and the football played.”

Another string to the ECFA’s bow is the ability to prepare players for progression into the professional game. For example, Player of the Tournament in the Il Cacio E’ Rosa, Beth Roberts, is now a left-back at Stoke City Ladies FC and credits the ECFA for her development.

“Being part of the ECFA National Team was extremely important for my career so far,” Beth reflects. “It gave me the exposure I needed as a young player and the chance to play some of the hardest opponents.

Winning Player of the Tournament in Italy was so surreal, and I immediately felt a massive sense of pride in how far I’d come. It also played a huge part in me catching the eye of

" From the players and coaches to the background staff, everyone at the ECFA is so welcoming and invested in the process"

the England youth set-up, where a few months later I was selected to be part of a Lionesses Under 18s camp.

“From the players and coaches to the background staff, everyone at the ECFA is so welcoming and invested in the process. The coaches believed in every single player and pushed them to be their best. For me, I struggled with confidence but it allowed me to be outside my comfort zone and have the support I needed to improve and thrive.”

Improving and thriving is what the ECFA is all about. And all of this impressive work is supported by the ECFA’s sponsors Future Elite Sports, UCFB, Catapult and Veo. So, as the new season is beginning, what are Keith’s hopes for the year?

“I hope it can result in many more positive experiences and memories for the girls and inspire even more to push on into WSL clubs or any dreams in the game they may have. This programme definitely gives that platform where many may miss out otherwise.”

At a time of disruption for young people everywhere, we can’t praise the ECFA highly enough for the support and opportunities it provides for students across the country. Here’s to all the future Lions and Lionesses waiting in the wings in England’s colleges. TGP To find out more and to get involved with the ECFA, visit aocsport.co.uk/ecfa/competitions

REFEREES

Websites: www.londonfa.com

Social: Twitter: @LondonFA Instagram: @LDNFA

Hackney Marshes Female Referees Academy Scholarship Programme The continued success of participa-

development between London FA,

tionally, through support and mentoring

tion programmes such as Weetabix

Middlesex FA and the Amateur FA, to

the programme hopes to improve the

Wildcats and Snickers Protein Just

provide support, networking, expertise,

standard of officiating aimed to increase

Play, coupled with the legacy of the

collaboration and sharing of resources

retention of new and existing referees.

Women’s World Cup in 2019 and

- removing County FA boundaries to

the excitement around the upcom-

have a truly London-wide impact.

ing WEuros 2022, has resulted in a

The new female referees programme

Deryll David, London FA’s Referee Development Officer, said: “There’s never been a better time to be a ref-

continuous rise in player numbers

aims to increase the number of female

eree, particularly in the female game

and demand for competition. This has

referees across the capital and support

given the growth and investment over

allowed us the opportunity to build a

the rapidly increasing number of female

the last five years and going forward.

growing female-orientated workforce

leagues and divisions with a ready,

There are also fantastic opportunities

and promote a female-friendly envi-

willing, and able workforce. Participants

for aspirational female referees wish-

ronment within the grassroots leagues

will be given the opportunity to flourish

ing to progress specifically through

infrastructure across the capital.

in an inclusive and supportive practical

the female game.”

London Football Association support-

and theory-based environment. Addi-

ed by Wembley National Stadium Trust are excited to partner with Hackney Council to launch the new Hackney Marshes Female Referees Academy Scholarship Programme.

The aim of the programme is to introduce refereeing into a diverse demographic within the community, with a greater focus of attention on increasing the number of females who are officiating in the game.

Whilst the successful candidates

“London FA are committed to growing female pathways and opportuni-

"It felt very inclusive, definitely a course that should be promoted as a great opportunity for females" – SHERELLE "I’ve felt really safe and grown more confident around everyone

ties,” said Amanda Lewis, London FA’s Women & Girls Football Development Manager. “We hope that this first cohort of eighteen individuals successfully completing the Hackney Marshes Female Referees Academy will pave the way for more leagues and learners

on the course" – MELINA

to combine forces, to grow the female

"Energy of the course instructors

and help to develop the positive and

officials workforce across the capital

has been great" – YASMEEN

supportive female-friendly landscape.”

the Academy graduates will also have

"Great to see the turnout, Jer-

growing and developing their female

access to a new source of income and

maine Wright would have been

referee panel should get in touch via

provide valuable support to the rapidly

proud as he always advocated

Refereeing@LondonFA.com to discuss

expanding Girls Divisions at the Hack-

female refs" – DEVINA

further opportunities.

gain a formal footballing qualification,

ney Marshes Saturday Youth League.

Michael Cole, London Borough of Hackney’s Football Development Officer, said: “As part of its intent to strengthen all facets of the women's and girls’ game, LBH's Football Development Programme are really pleased to have collaborated with the London FA to give more females the opportunity to become qualified, and make an important contribution to grassroots female football.”

Mirroring the award-winning 100FC female coaching programme, a tri-county programme is now in

London-based leagues interested in

TGP

REFEREES

Words: Trevor Booking

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Illustration: Millie Chesters @milliechesters

!

R E W O L B E L T S WHI

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...

“Stuck in traffic. Not going to make it in time. Sorry.” read the text message. The coach’s eyes turned to the crowd, made up mostly of middle-aged dads sipping coffees. Amongst these men a replacement ref needed to be found. Yet, each and every one took a sudden interest in their welly-clad feet and fixed their gazes to the floor. They were here to shout at refs, not get shouted at. Then, one fifteen-year-old boy stepped forward. And so began my life as a referee.

The cliché goes that people only become refs because they are rubbish at football. And in my case, that’s partially true. My little brother was the talented one in my family so on a Sunday I would rock up and watch him bang in hat-tricks for his Under 9s team. That morning I turned up, a moody teenager in tight jeans and a full fringe, still feeling the effects of four illegal cans of Foster’s down the park the night before. Little did I know that my weekend plans for years to come were about to be made.

As someone seen as impartial(ish), with the fitness levels required to do a little jog, knowledge of what constitutes a foul throw and the ability to point and blow the whistle at the same time, I was

seen as having the necessary skills and the game could go ahead.

Walking towards the centre circle, something clicked inside me. I’d always loved football and the idea of running around a pitch and being at the heart of the action was strangely enticing. My grandfather had been a Class 1 referee and the thought of following in his footsteps added to the appeal. Wearing a pair of Vans and continuously flicking my hair out of my eyes, I set about controlling a bunch of eight-year-olds. Something made easier by how they moved around in one single mass, magnetically drawn to the ball.

That first match has now faded from memory, but it must have gone well as within a month I was learning the Laws of the Game and getting my first FA badge. And I’ve never regretted it for a second.

Refereeing has provided me with some fantastic experiences and led to me making some great friends.

For many, the idea of someone being a ref and actually enjoying it is baffling. As the shortage of refs across the country proves. But, if you love football and want to be regularly involved in some way, it’s a genuinely rewarding thing to do. Yes, there will be times you step off the pitch and think “I never want to do that again” and

* not his real name.

then you remember you’ve probably said that about your day job a thousand times, too.

Like goalkeepers, referees are probably built a bit differently.

You have to revel a little bit in adversity and, like shot stoppers, need to get straight back to it if you make a mistake. Yes, we do make mistakes. But without us you don’t have a game.

The referee crisis (one we can’t even blame on Brexit) can only be solved if the abuse of officials, both on and off the pitch stops.

Everyone needs to play their part, starting with players and managers at the top of the game. If they chase the ref about a decision, kids think they can do the same.

In recent years I’ve seen Under 10s lying on the floor after every tackle because it’s what the pros do…

I for one, though, aren’t going anywhere. The floppy fringe is long gone and I no longer manage the game in a pair of Vans, but the spirit of helping to keep the grassroots game going remains. Not all heroes wear capes. TGP

HEALTH

Words: Sam Kershaw @SJKershaw

Images: Scott Kershaw @scottkershaw

MARK ROSE:

COMEBACK KING Mark Rose is a true advocate and embodiment of the power of grassroots football. He shares with Sam Kershaw his inspirational story of returning to his beloved weekly five-a-side game after battling cancer.

Salford born and bred, Mark Rose was born into a family with Manchester United blood in its veins.

His dad was a red. His grandad was a red. And low and behold (he didn’t have much choice in the matter), he was a red. He ponders his first memory of his Dad taking him to Old Trafford at the age of four.

“I remember being sat pitchside in the stadium with my feet dangling over the railings. The scale of the ground and the players felt so exciting and overwhelming at the same time. From that moment, football kind of bled into me.”

Various flirtations between the sticks followed in his youth, including an “unholy mess of plastic Scousers and Mancunians” known as Sankey Rangers in Warrington, where he moved aged fourteen.

A brief spell playing open-age football and ad hoc games whilst working in retail followed and upon moving to London he played in pick-up games on Wimbledon Common and began to experience playing outfield for the first time.

However, Mark’s real passion for the grassroots game was lit up by a five-a-side game he helped set up whilst working in a call centre aged thirty-six. “That game became so important to me. That precious time on a Sunday was mine and nobody else’s. I lived for it and how it made me feel. The anticipation of it, the camaraderie it created, the release that it brought and how I would an-

19

" It’s only football that can give you that feeling and those who know about it will know what I’m talking about"

alyse how I’d played for days afterwards.” The game that Mark is referring to is still running now, fifteen years down the road, and it would become crucial in an extremely challenging time in his life.

In December 2017, Mark was diagnosed with head and neck cancer.

“The doctors were saying things like ‘don’t expect to be the person you were’ and ‘to be able to do the things you were doing prior to treatment’, which caused me a horrendous amount of anxiety.” Mark played what could have been his last game in November 2017.

He began treatment in February 2018, which included intensive chemotherapy every day for six straight weeks. “It really took its toll on my body. I lost loads of weight and couldn’t eat and had a serious amount of muscle wastage.” Despite what he was going through, he always had that weekly game on his mind and even remained in the WhatsApp group, keeping an eye on how the lads were getting on. “Although it felt unrealistic, the thought of being able to play in that game again was massive to me. It drove me.”

Mark finished his treatment in February 2018 and was given the

all-clear in August 2018, with a pipe dream of playing football again still firmly etched in his mind. His northern grit kicked in. “I was a model patient; everything they told me to do, I did and then some.”

But in late August, he tried to go for a run and broke down in the street. It was too much, too soon.

“I went home and told myself that I had to accept the process and be patient. A little bit at a time.” From there on in, Mark began to build himself up, piece by piece.

In March 2019, he was finally able to reply to the weekly group message with five simple words: “I’m in this week lads”.

His teammates rallied and embraced him on arrival. “They knew I couldn’t produce saliva, so they brought me packs of chewing gum and kept stopping the game for water breaks. I tried to not make a big thing about being back but deep down we all knew that it meant everything to me. But you know what lads are like - one of them took the piss and said I looked like Peter Crouch because I was so thin. That’s the stuff I really missed.

“The feeling of getting through that ninety minutes was beautiful.

I had to go in nets a bit more often, but I’d made it back.” That game was a catalyst and Mark grew in strength both mentally and physically. “After my sixth game back, I came home and felt incredible. I wish I could bottle that feeling and sell it. I lay on my bed in a complete state of euphoria. If I had gone for a run or I’d been to the gym, I’m certain I wouldn’t have felt like that. It’s only football that can give you that feeling and those who know about it will know what I’m talking about. As I lay there, I thought to myself, ‘I’m back, I’m fit and I’ve beaten that shit’.”

They say that mutability is our tragedy but it’s also our hope. Mark Rose epitomises those very words.

Grassroots football isn’t just about football, it’s about everything that encompasses it - spirit, determination, resilience and community. And Mark Rose has those characteristics in abundance, both on and off the field. Not content with his passion on the pitch, he is also producing and directing a film with his company Blueprint Theatre and Film. A heartfelt look at the vibrant world of fivea-side football at grassroots level, championing inspirational people with inspirational stories to tell. TGP

ADMINISTRATION

Interview: The Grassroots Post @thegrassrootspost

League: SOUTHERN SUNDAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

: o T How

RUN A LEAGUE

Not many people in grassroots football are as well placed as Graham Rodber to give us insight into how to run a league. While many Sunday leagues have struggled for a multitude of reasons, the Southern Sunday Football League operates successfully at ten divisions with 100 teams. We chatted to Graham about the challenges he has faced as League Chairman and General Secretary, how the SSFL have been able to meet their ambitions and which areas of grassroots football administration can be improved.

TGP: Hi Graham. Tell us about your role for the Southern Sunday Football League.

Graham: The two main roles that I hold are the role of league chairman and general secretary. Whilst the role of the chair is deemed a non-working role, it is vitally important that at the head of any organisation you have a strong and decisive leader and somebody that commands instant respect from their fellow committee members and member clubs. Over the last eighteen months leadership has been something lacking in both football and SoC and even if people don't agree with your stance or your decision-making, as long as you command respect and you could explain your reasoning then generally most people will be happy.

Secretary but in 2011 I took over the role as League Secretary. One of the biggest barriers was the lack of any modern technology. For example, we did not use email, electronic match cards and we used a paper handbook which used to always get out of date because somebody was always changing their phone number! Times have definitely changed over the last ten years or so; we have really embraced technology and as such we are now a completely paperless league which is something we are proud of.

What do you feel are the most important elements of running a successful grassroots football league?

There are two things that stick out for me. Firstly, it's all about communication. In 2021, with the use What were the main challenges of technology, there is little or no when you took on the position? excuse for anybody not to be able When I joined the league in 2009, to appropriately communicate I originally joined as the Referee with others whom they are dealing

21

with on a daily basis. If people are not given the correct information and they do not know what is going on this leads to a lack of transparency and a lack of trust in the leadership of any organisation.

Secondly, it is vitally important that leagues listen to feedback from their members and in particular disciplinary sanctions should be as strong as possible so that a small minority of badly behaved teams do not ruin it for the rest.

How important is it to adapt to the digital world?

As I mentioned, the use of technology is something which has helped in terms of the significant growth that the league has enjoyed over the past decade. A phone app for a handbook, submission of match statistics electronically, online player registrations and virtual meetings are a benefit to all involved. We are now able to showcase our product

as a league to a wider audience via social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter which help to attract new teams to the league year on year.

Which areas do you feel that the league, or general grassroots football administration, can improve to increase participation?

I believe that we need greater transparency, openness and support from both the FA and our County FAs. There is a significant overreliance on volunteers and whilst I am a relatively young volunteer, the workforce in this sector is clearly ageing. In particular, the County FAs need to be properly resourced in terms of meeting the additional demand placed upon us by the FA. For example, if we are to make the best use of technology then it is important that you have a good support network for when things are not running as they should!

What are your ambitions for the league moving forward?

When I joined the league in 2009, we had three divisions and thirty teams. I had a vision that within ten years we would have ten divisions and 100 teams, and nobody believed that this would ever be possible when so many leagues were folding and players were leaving the game. I am delighted to have fulfilled my ambition but moving forward I would like to focus on quality rather than quantity and make improvements to the product that we already have in order to make this league sustainable for many years in the future. TGP

HELP ME, RONDO!

SUPPORT

League: ALL OF THEM, EVERYWHERE...

Illustrations: Millie Chesters @milliechesters

NDO” DAVE “RO S ASSROOT R G A IS E H RONSON T F O ND KING LEGEND A THING HERE’S NO T . ” O D N O “R EEN AND HASN’T S H. “RONDO” DEALT WIT PROMPTLY O LISLE T FROM CAR AY. IS CARB B

Dear Rondo, My team is having striker troubles.

We play a kind of 4-5-1 system, which means there’s a lot of pressure on the striker to bang the goals in. Unfortunately, our striker can’t seem to score for love nor money.

The striker in question is my best mate in the world, but his lack of goalscoring instincts is really making it difficult to enjoy our matches.

What should I do? Help me, Rondo!

Anonymous, Woking Hi! My friend, you have come to the right place. It just so happens that I have experienced a very similar problem, and I know exactly how to deal with it. The way I see it, you have two options: 1. Help them. Offer to stay back for extra training sessions, stand in goal and let them practice shooting, offer friendly advice if they’re open to it, watch YouTube videos of Romelu Lukaku bullying elite centre-backs together. Something will eventually click.

2. You know your mate better than anyone else. Presumably, you know his greatest fear - for example, my mate (let’s call him “Greg”) was terrified of spiders. This knowledge is your power. Here’s what you’re going to do:

First, you have to put the legwork in. You’re going to spend several weeks collecting spiders from your garden or a local hedgerow, feeding them and treating them well - you need them on your side. Lining their living space with sweet-smelling foods will encourage flies toward them. The spiders will appreciate this. They’ll naturally start moving toward that sweet smell whenever they get hungry. When your little arachnid army has been exhibiting this behaviour for at least a week, it’s time for Phase Two. Take a medium-sized paintbrush (a couple of inches in width) and a tupperware container of water/sugar solution to your next match. Make sure you’re the first to arrive, allowing you a bit of time in the dressing room alone. Dip the paintbrush in the sugar solution and paint the words “SCORE MORE GOALS, GREG” on the dressing room wall. This will be invisible to your teammates. Just before you head out for the start of the game, open the lid on the box containing your eight-legged helpers.

They’ll spend the first half arranging themselves around the invisible message, waiting for food. Just as you have spent all season waiting for Greg to score a goal.

23

When the ref blows for half-time, your mate will be greeted by hundreds of spiders spelling out your message on the wall, at which point he will most likely have a complete meltdown - so do make sure there is a first-aider nearby. When he comes to, Greg will either become a goalscoring machine, fuelled by primal fear, or, as happened in my case, he will quit the team and move to Aberdeen to become a biochemical engineer. Either way problem solved.

I hope that helps. Please let me know which option you go with.

Sincerely, Rondo

Dear Rondo, I play on the left wing, but I worry I’m a little too one-footed. Opposition defenders seem to have figured this out, and now they all show me onto my weak left foot. How can I become more two-footed? Help me, Rondo!

Sophie, Colchester I like this question. We’ve lived through an age where players like Lionel Messi, Arjen Robben and even David Beckham have popularised being so good with one foot that the non-dominant leg becomes completely irrelevant.

We can’t all be Leo Messi, though, and I have a huge soft spot for two-footed players. Here’s what to do: Practice. Just practice. Find a little yard or a brick wall and spend hours just passing the ball to yourself with only your weak foot. Notice your body shape and approach to the ball when taking free-kicks or corners with your dominant foot and try to emulate this with your weak foot, no matter how unnatural it feels at first. Practice hitting targets and don’t allow yourself to call it a day until you’ve hit it ten times in a row.

Once you’ve mastered this, you can start to have some fun on the pitch. In my pomp, I would regularly spend the first ten minutes of the match using only my non-dominant foot - even taking corners on the wrong side - luring defenders into a false sense of security, and then BANG! I’d cut inside and unleash a rocket on my dominant side. I suggest you try it - you will feel like a genius.

Good luck!

Yours in acquired ambidexterity, Rondo

FUNDING

Words: Pranav Shahaney @pranav–11

Images: Getty Images

£0

FUNDING OF THE GRA$$ROOT$ GAME:

I$ IT... $0.

00

With the elite game in the UK bringing in astronomical amounts of money, is the grassroots game being left behind? Is a multi-million pound pledge enough to save the multi-billion pound grassroots game?

The Covid-19 pandemic affected businesses all over the world, big or small, but few have felt the financial grunt of the “new normal” as much as grassroots football clubs in the United Kingdom. Due to numerous lockdowns, lack of attendances at grounds and local businesses unable to support these clubs, the game is in dire straits as things stand.

However, football is the sport that unites the working class and the business elites, and no matter how good or bad the last eighteen months have been for you, few things bring as big a smile to your face as watching or playing for your local team on the weekend.

According to data provided by the FA, 14.5m people play grassroots football in England across all

forms and frequencies, including 13.5m regular participants.

Not only is grassroots a feel-good story in a fast-paced world, but it also does wonders for the UK economy. An FA report details that the social and economic value of grassroots football in England equates to £10.16bn every year. This includes £7.74bn worth of direct economic value, £1.62bn in total healthcare savings and £780m in social value.

To support the game at the amateur level, in March 2021 the Football Association (FA), the government and the Premier League launched a grassroots strategy campaign named “Survive, Revive, Thrive” and pledged to fund north of £16m.

The objective of this programme was to increase the participation of

males and females. They believe that a number of males have lost interest in grassroots football and with this multi-million pound cash influx, things may change. On the other hand, they plan to make a world-class model for women and offer modern facilities for them to train and play on.

Of the facilities mentioned, there is a plan to build 5000 new astro, 3G and natural grass pitches by 2024.

They proposed setting aside £14m in order to achieve this goal and named it the Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund.

Explaining the purpose and longterm goals of such an initiative, James Kendall, the FA's Director of Football Development, said: “I'm confident that we'll seize on the remarkable togetherness and resilience our national game has shown in the face of Covid-19 and use it as a force for good.

“This new strategy aims to ensure the grassroots game in England will survive, revive and thrive over the next four years.”

The FA also created a fund to help clubs pay for essential equipment and machinery they need to start playing again. Clubs can apply for up to £25k to refurbish their changing rooms, pay for grass pitch drainage, new goalposts, pitch maintenance equipment and portable floodlights.

They have promised £180m worth of investment over the next four years to help the grassroots game get back on its feet after what’s been a torrid year and a half.

25

"An FA report details that the social & economic value of grassroots football in England equates to £10.16bn every year."

? £ £

£N�UGH?

While that figure may be staggering, the losses were predicted to be in the region of £300m.

When asked to explain the £120m disparity, an FA spokesperson said: “The £300m was overall projected losses as an organisation due to Covid. Grassroots strategy is over the next four years and was a separate announcement. It is important to differentiate losses from investments.

“We know that grassroots clubs and volunteers require financial support and that’s why we have committed £1.5m towards either free or reduced affiliation costs for grassroots football clubs during the 2020/21 season and have similarly supported reduced costs this season. For 2021/22 this was £1m, which is equivalent to £10 per team.”

Given the fact that the Premier League and the FA rake in incomes to the tune of billions, this seems to be a paltry sum for something that has served as the backbone of the English game for decades and is touted to have an economic and social value of £10.16bn. Something doesn’t quite add up.

In 1999, then Sports Minister Tony Banks said, at the launch of a Football Task Force report: “Football is a sport which happens to be a business, not a business that happens to be a sport. If the court was to find against the football authorities and broadcasters, that would have profound implications, damaging implications, for the whole structure of football in this country."

That task force called for clubs in the Premier League to give five percent of all revenue they earn from television deals to the development of grassroots football. At that point, the current broadcasting deal which was with Sky and BBC was £743m. In comparison, the threeyear deal which was renewed in May 2021 with Sky Sports, BT Sport, BBC and Amazon Prime Video is worth £5.1bn. Think what five percent of the earnings could bring to the de-

£0 "There is a plan to build 5000 new astro, 3G, and natural grass pitches, by 2024." velopment of grassroots, especially in this post-pandemic world.

Relying on the big organisations is not an option, so grassroots clubs have always relied on volunteers and many have become more and more enterprising. Individually too, clubs are looking for further grants of their own and have found out various ways of achieving their short-term goals.

Since the pandemic, Football Foundation, the UK’s largest sports charity, made grants that benefited around 35,000 grassroots stakeholders, according to their annual reports and data that we requested from them. They channelled funding from the Premier League, the FA and the government via Sport England, for transforming the landscape of grassroots sport in England.

Discussing the purpose of handing out these grants to grassroots organisations, Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer of the

Football Foundation, said: “It will support people’s ability to play our national game locally and therefore help unlock football’s many benefits to physical and mental wellbeing. That’s why we’re committed to transforming the face of grassroots football facilities in this country.”

Chesterfield High School, a school in Crosby, was awarded funding to build a new 3G football pitch on its playing field in September 2021. Kevin Sexton, the school’s headteacher, said: “This is an amazing success for the school and the local football clubs involved in the bid and receiving a grant from the Football Foundation.

“We are so excited to be able to offer enhanced sporting facilities to our students, local primary schools and local football clubs providing activities for boys and girls across the area, as well as excellent training facilities for our local football teams, both men and women.”

Paulton Rovers FC were also beneficiaries of the grants provided over the course of the summer. In June, they were awarded £6300 to improve the quality of their junior grass football pitch.

When quizzed about the benefits of the funding, Robert Filer, Director & Joint Groundsman at Paulton Rovers FC, said: “We are very grateful to the Premier League, Football Foundation, Somerset Football Association and the FA for making this money available to enable us to improve the quality and provide a better sustainable 9x9 pitch for grassroots football in the area.”

Football Foundation’s Sullivan said, referring to the Paulton grant: “This grant award to Paulton Rovers towards improving the 9x9 junior pitch is vital for the local community in Banes as they get back to playing football. Our Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund is supporting clubs across the country, helping them enhance and sustain their pitches to improve access to good quality facilities for grassroots players.”

rest in securing much-needed funding for the future.

Speaking about this unprecedented turn of events, Damon Brown, Chairman of Stony Stratford Town FC, said: “We can’t believe it. We were absolutely gobsmacked when we discovered that we’d won, it really was unexpected.

“The money will go a long way to making clubhouse repairs, allowing us to fix the roof, the floors, the ceiling, everything. Thank you to Papa John’s for this unbelievable gesture that will help to improve our beloved local football club.”

When quizzed about their intentions behind it, Giles Codd, Marketing Director at Papa John’s, said: “After an undoubtedly tough eighteen months for grassroots, we hope that all clubs receiving a slice of our community fund will find it beneficial, however they choose to use it.”

These times have been tough, but it’s encouraging to see clubs looking at the brighter side of life. The pandemic certainly has set back progress by at least a couple of years, but the plans to build back better Over 2000 clubs were also given separate grants in terms of a Pitch Preparation Fund to ensure that the facilities are regularly maintained as per the normal standards.

The FA and Football Foundation are not the only ones who are doing their best to save grassroots football.

On GrantFinder, a funding database in the UK covering local, national and international sources of funding, a national fund provided support to grassroots clubs, disability leagues, FA Women’s National League clubs (Tiers 3-4 of the women’s football pyramid), professional club community trusts, charter standard clubs and community organisations.

The disability leagues were entitled to grants of up to £2,500 while the upper limit for charter standard community clubs and development clubs was £2,000 and £1,000 respectively. Youth clubs could ap-

"Think what five percent of the earnings (£5.1bn) could bring to the development of grassroots."

0 £0.0 ply for £750 in grants while adult clubs were handed just £500.

In September, Stony Stratford Town FC, a Milton Keynes-based grassroots club, received a £25,000 donation to help aid them with their post-pandemic recovery. The source of this funding was a rather unconventional one, with pizza brand Papa John’s donating part of its “Get on the Pitch” campaign. Local football clubs all over the UK had the chance to apply for access to a £100k fund, and it was Stony Stratford’s entry video that helped them stand out from the

with modern technology could prove to be beneficial.

In a summer that saw the England team reach only its second-ever major international final, it would surely have encouraged kids and adults who have been relying on Zoom and a socially-distanced lifestyle to go out and have a kickabout.

However, it remains to be seen if the desire to support the game at the grassroots level matches the country's desire to play the beautiful game, whatever obstacles are in their way. TGP

WOMEN'S

Words: Tayyiba Yunus @taybs11

Images: Gem Atkinson @dropsofdiamond

INCLUSIVE & INSPIRATIONAL WITH FOTMOB:

LADIES FOOTBALL ACADEMY In each issue, FotMob - the livescore app - are sponsoring a feature on inclusive and inspirational grassroots stories and assisting in their development by providing equipment vouchers to these special football clubs.

Drive past Clapham Common on a

“With the LFA, the most important

Gem, resident TGP photographer and

Saturday and it’s impossible to miss

thing for us is we develop our players,

a winger for the LFA Clapham team,

the Ladies Football Academy (LFA)

regardless of whether they’ve never

adds that she “loves to see ladies of dif-

in action, with well over a hundred

kicked a ball before or if they play at an

ferent ages and abilities come together at

women attending the club training

elite level. We have a player who started

the LFA, united by football. We don’t take

sessions throughout the day. Ses-

with us at sixteen and six years later

each other seriously and we love that.

sions run from early in the morning

signed a pro contract. Development is

into the late afternoon for all abilities.

a priority for us. It is also incredible that

There isn’t a pressure to turn up every

The LFA setup was established in 2014

“We love the team spirit and culture.

this club brings together players from

week. We have picnics after games and

by Suresh and Rishi. I speak to Suresh

all walks of life who play football with

go for socials which is great to meet

as he arranges a set piece drill for his

confidence, enjoy the game and have

players from our other teams. Suresh

Premiership team. He has been involved

created a social aspect beyond weekly

and Rishi somehow know everyone’s

in women’s football for close to sixteen

football. There is a family feel to the club.”

names. They never criticise and actually

years and, as with most great things, his journey started off totally unplanned.

“A friend of mine was coaching a group

LFA defenders Sam and Jay are both part of the aptly named “8am squad”

encourage us to make mistakes.”

Suresh and Rishi sum up the gist

and, like a lot of the players, found

of grassroots football when neither of

of girls. I was an injured player at the

the club after a search on Gumtree

them want to even estimate how many

time and he needed someone to cover

for women’s football. Sam has been

hours they invest into running the club.

a session so I just went to fill in for him.

involved in football her whole life and

It’s inspiring to hear about the fruits of

We ended up taking the group from these

recalls how much women’s football has

their efforts and how much the players

sessions to eleven-a-side football and

changed in the past ten years. “It’s

look up to both coaches on a personal

eventually developed two teams from it.”

much easier for girls to find a place to

and professional level.

He has been involved with women’s

play football now. When I was in Year 7

Of all the work the pair have done

football since then and together with

I had to start a petition to convince my

with women’s football in South London,

close friend Rishi set up the LFA based

school to give girls the same opportu-

perhaps the most impressive is the

in Clapham in 2011.

nities as boys’ football at the school.”

establishment of the Clapham Women's

29

Website: fotmob.com

Saturday Football League, which the

“The teams appreciate the minimal

duo started in 2017. Suresh and Rishi ex-

administrative work and the level of

plain how the league was created as an

competitiveness of our leagues. We

alternative to Sunday League football.

have created a setup where games

“With Sunday League, the players

aren’t weekly and this means teams

struggle with travelling to different

aren’t scraping to fill their squads and it

locations and committing to games

really supports the teams to grow.”

every weekend. Teams struggle with

The Ladies Football Academy and

administration, finances and putting

the Saturday Football League are both

together a full squad every week,

incredible structures and dedicated,

especially during the winter season. We

inspiring individuals are behind its

started the Clapham Women’s Satur-

success. Suresh and Rishi have created

day Football League to provide a high

something special in Clapham, bringing

quality platform for teams to play in a

together hundreds of women to both

structured, competitive environment.”

enjoy the beautiful game and develop

Teams across London travel to

as football players.

Clapham Common to play in the Clapham Women’s Saturday Foot-

FotMob is the essential football app.

ball League. There are three divisions

Scores, stats, news and more. Get the

catering to different abilities and all are

app on iOS and Android.

“competitive, with very high standards of football”. The aim for Suresh and Rishi is to continue its development with further divisions, using the league to help develop players and eventually expand the Saturday league to different locations.

LOCAL MEN’S

Words: Mike Backler @backlermike

Images: Allen Hollands @allensphotos79

DERBIES

In each issue we’ll be travelling to different parts of the grassroots world to uncover and explore a local derby.

First stop, Medway in Kent to watch Lordswood FC host their town rivals - Chatham Town.

There’s a warmth that you feel when you slide through any turnstiles on any matchday or evening, no matter the level of football, or the weather. It’s the warmth that you feel when entering a ground and noticing and being greeted by volunteers. This season you feel it more than ever as these are grounds that have missed that buzz throughout the pandemic, and are pulling together to get things back to normal.

The first of our Local Derbies series saw us head to the Martyn Grove, home of Southern Counties East Football League side Lordswood FC, as they geared up for the derby de la Medway against Chatham Town.

Lordswood sits in a southern woodland suburb of Chatham and are very much the more modest side in the area in comparison to their illustrious non-league neighbours. On a dark autumn night in a dimly lit wooded area, it’s only when you see the turnstiles through the trees that you realise you’re in the right place. And this is definitely the right place to be for an evening’s grassroots football.

A squeeze through the turnstiles, a warm welcome and a quick exchange for a programme are followed by the immediate and familiar smells of the tea and burger hut before the floodlit pitch comes into view.

We head to the boardroom - which at this level is always essentially just somewhere with a roof where you can keep warm and get the kettle on - and say hello to Vice Chairman Paul Caulfield.

Paul’s grounded, affable and, by the sounds of things, an incredibly dedicated volunteer. A skim of the programme sees his name pop up in the credits as Vice Chairman, Press Officer, Website Manager and of course, Programme Editor. As with many grassroots clubs, Lordswood FC are indebted to volunteers like Paul, without whom the club wouldn’t be sustainable.

" An incident of devastating and costly vandalism to the ground during lockdown seemed to galvanise the community"

Paul’s been involved with Lordswood since he was seven years old and played throughout the youth teams growing up. Paul’s dad helped manage the teams and his involvement in the club is inspired by his father, who not only helped to manage the teams Paul played in, but also took on roles as Matchday Manager and Chairman, as well as having no concerns in helping out in the tea bar serving up the hot drinks and burgers. The apple has fallen directly next to the tree in terms of work ethic and a love of Lordswood FC. “After I finished uni I went with a bit more regularity to games to the point where I was asked if I wanted to join the committee in the mid noughties,” says Paul. “I joined the committee as Vice Chairman - a position I have held continuously since then. I set up our Twitter page in 2010 and developed our social media pages on there as well as Face-

31 book and, more recently, Instagram.

I also created and maintain the club website at www.lordswoodfc.club and am responsible for creating and editing the matchday programme for home games. I also create the artwork and graphics used on our social media as well as advertising boards around the ground.

“I think if I’d have met my wife before I took on the role I wouldn’t be doing it! But she understands that I’m committed to it and it’s a big part of my life.”

Paul’s under no illusions of the undertaking of roles such as his, and what it takes for grassroots clubs to survive, and hopefully thrive, especially in the ongoing pandemic. He’s also under no illusions that when it comes to this local derby, they are the lesser team in what is quite a hotbed of grassroots clubs in Medway.

“Chatham are the big hitters at the moment in the area, their facilities are second to none and with the attendances they are getting they are able to attract higher level players with a wage bill to match. We have a very young squad and these games are just about having a go.

We don’t focus on getting points in games like tonight.”

Chatham Town are an established club with a rich history, having only recently come out of the Isthmian League. We recently visited their Bauvill Stadium and the facilities are first class, with a fantastic clubhouse complete with “Beach Bar” and a state of the art 4G artificial pitch. All of this, alongside links to local business and partnerships, have seen “the Chats” with an exciting level of infrastructure and investment.

Imran is Assistant Manager at Lordswood, overseeing the link between the manager and their young squad, having been a player at the club since 2007.

“I only ever played Chatham Town in ‘friendlies’, as they were a league

above us at the time, but needless to say they were extremely hotly contested. I’m not sure they could be quite as fiery in today’s football or there would be quite a few less than twenty-two players left on the pitch!”

The match under the lights goes to form. Chatham Town dominate in a 5-1 win and their class shows, but the spirit of the Lordswood lads is clear to see and their hard work pays off with a consolation goal that is greeted with huge cheers by the home fans. Imran, in line with the humility of the club, takes heart from it.

“Our main aim is to compete and use these types of games as a learning curve and a level to aspire to.

These boys will take a lot from playing against players of their quality and will use it as motivation to better themselves on and off the pitch.”

And that’s it with Lordswood.

The club seems to be about more than designs on the higher leagues but a place to develop young players and understand its role within the community. Everything is now in place for Chatham to succeed, but Lordswood are fighting a tough battle for attendances and their future. Paul mentions that it’s always been difficult to engage the local community due to their location, but an incident of devastating and costly vandalism to the ground during lockdown seemed to galvanise the community into helping out, donating money, time and professional skills to get the ground back into shape before the return of football.

And we’re glad they did, because it’s a brilliant place to watch grassroots football. If you’re in the area and you fancy taking a game in, picking up a pint and a programme and supporting a club doing things the right way, get down to the Martyn Grove and cheer on the Lords. TGP

League: Rochester & District Men’s

Image: @grandsportsfootball

Grassroots Photography Grand Sports taking the lead in the Sittingbourne & Milton C Charity Cup Semi Final away at Gillingham Bilbao. Kola Ademujimi leading the celebrations after his free kick puts them 2-1 up. Look at those faces!

SEND US YOUR GRASSROOTS PHOT OGRAPHY TO:

EDITOR@GRASSRO

OTSPOST.UK

& WE’LL PUBLISH OUR FAVOURITE HERE.

33

TECH

Website: www.joymo.tv

Joymo & FilmMyMatch team up to make broadcasting grassroots games easier than ever

Grassroots broadcasting platform,

platform which enables fans, friends

Joymo, has partnered with FilmMy-

and family to watch live or on-demand,

solutions that enable federations,

Match, the leading provider of grass-

anytime and anywhere. It’s never been

leagues and clubs to film or lives-

roots filming and analysis services for

easier to stream your games and start

tream training, matches, events or

amateur sport in the UK , to deliver

engaging more people with your club,

competitions. The platform includes

filming services, livestreaming and

league or competition,” he continues.

the ability to record, store and distrib-

video management for grassroots

Founded in 2012, FilmMyMatch

ute video content live and on-demand,

football teams across the UK.

Joymo offers remote broadcasting

brings professional filming, editing

whilst giving channel owners com-

and analysis techniques to amateur

plete control over their content, data

existing partner clubs of FilmMyMatch

sport, working with a wide range of

and on-page advertising.

with direct access to Joymo’s video

grassroots community clubs, elite

streaming platform – allowing clubs

sports teams and organisations – in-

fully launched into the UK and Ireland

and teams to broadcast their content

cluding The FA and the SFA – as well

and has secured a raft of exclusive

direct to fans over the internet.

as leagues, County FAs and inde-

livestreaming agreements with the

pendent schools.

likes of Lancashire and Nottingham-

The new partnership provides

“There is a huge desire to broadcast football at all levels of the

“Joymo has developed a first-class

In the last year Joymo has success-

shire County FAs, Northumberland

pyramid and, jointly, Joymo and Film-

OTT streaming platform that will

Football Leagues and a host of indi-

MyMatch are committed to removing

enable our new and existing cli-

vidual clubs and teams.

barriers and allowing more teams

ents to broadcast and monetise the

and clubs to share and monetise their

high-quality content that we capture

To find out more about broadcasting

valuable match content,” says Mike

for them. Together, we are confident

your matches visit Joymo.tv and for film-

Emery, CEO of Joymo.

that we offer the highest-quality and

ing services go to FilmMyMatch.com.

“FilmMyMatch has developed film-

TGP

best-value filming and streaming

ing services that are easy to use and

services for football teams, clubs and

cost-effective, matching the quality

leagues in the UK ,” says David Roe,

and simplicity of the Joymo streaming

Director at FilmMyMatch.

37

ADMINISTRATION

Words: Mike Backler @backlermike

Website: spond.com

How Has The Pandemic Affected Grassroots Managers

Over

1 MILL ION mo

nthly a ctive users!

SPOND gives us the insight on how we’re finding our feet after the pandemic and what we felt as managers were, and continue to be, the toughest challenges.

Running a grassroots team or club is

Spond is a grassroots management

always a challenge, but we can never

app that we’ve used for three seasons,

grassroots manager’s job description,

have imagined that we’d be confront-

which of course have been dominated

but these were unprecedented times

ed with quite so many challenges as

by the pandemic. So where we’re well

where all of these roles were made

we have been during the ongoing

placed to talk about how it’s support-

different somehow. With all that in

pandemic. In terms of grassroots foot-

ed us, Spond’s over a million weekly

mind, it feels like there’s never been

ball, we’re seemingly back to normal

active users mean that there aren’t

a more important time to streamline

with clubs, games, leagues and cups

many better placed to tell us how we

how we go about managing all of

cracking on and making the best of

felt about running our clubs during the

these elements, and Spond always

it, hopeful that the worst is behind us

pandemic, and how we’re feeling now

seems to deliver in that regard.

and that words we’ve had to endure

after enduring such a trying period.

like “null and void” and “curtailed” are

Issues of safety and health were

nication and funding are all part of a

A recent Spond survey of UK grassroots managers using the app

a thing of the past. The Long Covid

thrust to the top of our priority

asked us the big questions. None

effects on the grassroots game remain

lists and the added pressure of the

bigger than “Did the pandemic make

to be seen, especially in us as players,

responsibility that came with them.

us want to quit?”. Sadly, 22% felt that

volunteers, coaches and managers.

Organisation, recruitment, commu-

it did. However, this seems to be just

39

" 51% confirmed that the pandemic had added to the burden of being involved in amateur sports."

lost. Those that remain are having to be enterprising to survive and 30% of those surveyed indicated that the pandemic has made them more concerned

an honest answer to the question, as

the pandemic was keeping up with

about having the sufficient funds to

added pressures mounted up and at

Covid-19 restrictions and regulations

make sure they always have the right

the pandemic’s worst it may have felt

and feeling added pressures of ensur-

kit, equipment and facilities to run their

like there were more important things to

ing the health and safety of others.

team or club effectively. Having mas-

focus on. Grassroots managers however are a stubborn and commit-

There was also the factor of players

tered all other elements of grassroots

or their parents having various opin-

management on the app, Trine and

ions on the safety in turning up to play.

Spond are now looking at new ways to

Many were withdrawn, many happy

support teams and clubs in getting the

those asked actually did. A number that

to play. The survey found that 50% of

funding or sponsorship they need.

surely wouldn’t have been too dissimilar

managers feared that players would

outside of the pandemic.

not return to play. 51% confirmed that

munity sport is priceless,” comments

the pandemic had added to the burden

Trine. “But it is not free. Anyone involved

of being involved in amateur sports.

in local sport knows that every club re-

ted bunch, with a steely resolve, and only 0.6% of

For us, and for many others, grassroots football has never felt more important. A feeling echoed by Spond CEO, Trine Falnes:

One thing from our perspective is that

“For millions, the experience of com-

lies on an army of unpaid volunteers to

having Spond as a tool to streamline

make things happen. The pandemic has

and effectively manage all of the above

proved catastrophic on so many levels,

time, getting back to doing the things

issues has dramatically helped us as

including for clubs’ finances, which were

we love, with the people we care for,

grassroots admins during this period.

already strained even before the pan-

is crucial to our mental and physical

And we weren’t alone. The best expe-

demic hit. We’re hearing from our users

health. The massive disruption caused

riences of Spond during the pandemic

that they need more help when it comes

by the pandemic will require us to

was streamlining communication, keep-

to fundraising, and are busy testing

come together collectively to rebuild

ing track of sign-ups and attendance

prototypes of virtual fundraisers that can

and reconnect. One of the few posi-

for track and trace rather than filling in

help clubs and teams generate revenue.

tives to come from the pandemic has

forms, creating polls to gauge player

These micro-fundraisers could play a

been a resurgence of people thinking

thoughts on returning to football without

small but vital role in helping fill funding

local and valuing their communities.”

corresponding individually and paying

gaps and replacing lost revenue. Now,

membership payments effortlessly.

more than ever, it’s vital we give grass-

“After such an intensely stressful

So we’re carrying on because it’s never been more necessary to

Trine’s been blown away by the

roots sports the support they need.”

us. But how hard was it to organise

resilience of the grassroots community.

and communicate with our teams?

“It’s been incredibly rewarding to hear

as they continue to go from strength to

82% of grassroots managers either

from our users that Spond made a dif-

strength in their pursuit of improving

haltered or communicated less with

ference in their lives as they navigated

the grassroots game, recently closing

their teams and 76% found it harder

the immense challenges brought about

an £8.4M funding round, with venture

to organise. These feel like very ex-

by the pandemic. We are so in awe of

firm Verdane coming on as investor.

plainable numbers. As any grassroots

all the grassroots managers and vol-

manager knows, in more “prece-

unteers for how they managed to keep

Verdane onto the Spond team, and

dented” times with weekly training

their groups alive and lines of com-

to embark on this next stage of our

sessions and matches, the communi-

munication open even when physical

growth journey. This funding will en-

cation is pretty non-stop. For it not to

meet-ups weren’t possible. Our users

able us to accelerate our growth and

have lessened somewhat would have

continue to inspire us every day.”

invest heavily in our products so we

been highly surprising. Organisation

Probably the most devastating

Spond aren’t resting on their laurels

“We are so excited to welcome

can support our users even better.”

on the other hand, was hard, there’s

impact of the pandemic on grassroots

no doubt about it. With grassroots

football was the loss of or difficulty in

ence and get the time back to focus

To improve your grassroots experi-

football being on, then off, then on,

securing funding. The impact of this has

on the things you love, download

then off again. The survey found that

yet to be measured but a lot of great

Spond from the app store or Google

the most common challenges during

clubs, teams and leagues have been

Play.

TGP

TOURS

Words: Mike Backler @backlermike

Images: ISL Tours @islfootballtours

TOUR SP E

Life in the ALGARCVIAL: E! Old Dogs Yet Is there anything quite like a football tour? Our editor took his veterans side to compete in the Algarve Tournament.

Football tours are special. And right now, they’ve never been so special.

After a couple of years in which all those things that we take for granted had been taken away from us. Competitive football, socialising, travel to pastures new. They’re all back!

To have the opportunity to get back to normality and all that we love felt fantastic and we’d implore any team of mates to go and do the same. Our decision was to soak up some September sunshine and take on all comers at the Algarve Vets Tournament, organised brilliantly by ISL Tours.

43

ISL Tours have been arranging football tours and tournaments in the UK and abroad for over thirty years. The Algarve Tournament, in its twelfth year, is just one of many flagship events they organise, including the Jersey Veterans and the Amsterdam Easter Cup. For us, it was always going to be the Algarve. The men required some serious Vitamin D, and the glorious weather of Southern Portugal was able to provide just that. Perhaps too much, if anything, for a group of lads who’d made their bed in Vets Football.

Vets Football has seen an explosion in participation figures in the past few

" We’ve formed a fantastically close-knit group and that bond has only been tightened by going on tour."

After the inevitable WhatsApp

then commenced with pizzas and cold

madness over flights, tests, restric-

beers provided to celebrate not just a

tions and procedures to get off this

brilliantly organised tournament, but the

bloody island, we were very much

fact that after such a tumultuous period,

ready for action. Arrival at the AP

we were all back enjoying days like this.

Victoria Sports and Beach Hotel

We regrouped, showered up and hit the

immediately quashed any plans of a

Albufeira Old Town knowing that we

quiet one before the gruelling all-day

couldn’t have given it any more.

tournament. It’s a fantastic complex

With Sunday seeing the sevens

with everything a grassroots footballer

tournament take place, our battle had

needs to prepare the body and mind

already been fought and the day was

for matchday. Whether that’s the facil-

our own. The area boasts a stunning

ities (a gym, massage room, a 400m

red-cliffed beach, and with Vilamoura a

track, pool and table tennis tables), the

fifteen-minute taxi ride away we chose

local restaurants with fresh seafood

to take advantage of both, hobbling

or the perfectly positioned bar next

round the best spots on the Marina and

to the pool. We opted for the latter

continuing our Algarve odyssey. We

and though it may have proven to be

couldn’t have asked for a better trip and

our undoing, that’s on us. We weren’t

experience to dust off the difficulties of

there for a long time, just a good one.

the past two years, both personally, and

After hangovers had been dusted off,

as a team. It cemented my opinion that

squabbles over last night’s dinner settled

there is no better feeling than being part

and everyone accounted for at breakfast,

of a team. Some like to just turn up on

we set about trying to survive four elev-

a weekend and head home, and that’s

en-a-side group games of twenty-five

fine, but I truly believe that being part of

minutes in the glorious sunshine and

a grassroots team that you love should

just about held our own. Our tactics of

improve your life and widen your social

years and a huge rise in quality and

going long, quite quickly, were more of

and support network, whatever level

professionalism. For us, it’s been a

a necessity than anything else and we

you play at. Tours bond you as a group.

fantastic opportunity to get a group of

managed to scrape our way through to

players together that spent their all-ag-

a final: with eleven brave men still stand-

Spond and on matchdays has been

es careers at various levels of the game.

ing, we managed to take an excellent

relentless, with the dominating topic

Players that last played together at

Shifnal Town side from Shropshire to

being where we’ll go next. And for any

school, or had packed it in during their

penalties, where unfortunately it wasn’t

team, their thoughts should be the same.

twenties. We’ve formed a fantastically

meant to be. Shifnal Town claimed

Check out www.islfootballtours.co.uk

close-knit group and that bond has

their fourth title in a row, and hey, they

and give them a shout - you won’t

been tightened by going on tour.

probably deserved it. Presentations

regret it. TGP

The chatter and positivity since on

Above: A bright, crisp and fresh autumn evening down at Goals in Southampton.

Won’t be long until the under layers, the snoods and woolly hats are back in force. Check out goalsfootball.co.uk to find a league near you.

SMALL-SIDED

Social:

Website:

@footyaddicts

footyaddicts.com

Footy Addicts New London Leagues

10

05 07

02 01

04

06

09

03

08

47

Footy Addicts, the biggest and most active open community of football enthusiasts in London is now organising football leagues in London (from 6-a-side to 8-a-side football games).

We’ve been lucky enough to cover Footy Addicts’ games for previous issues and what stands out is their openness, their inclusivity and their level of organisation. True to Footy Addicts’ form, their leagues will be no different, removing those potential barriers of cost and any trouble-making teams!

JOIN G WAITIN LIST!

JOIN NOW!

01.

07.

HAGGERSTON PARK • Postcode: E2 8NS • Pitch: 4G all weather surface • C hanging rooms: Yes • T ype: 8-a-side football • M atchdays: Every Sunday • K O times: 3pm, 3.40pm, 4.20pm

ARK ACADEMY, WEMBLEY PARK • P ostcode: HA9 9JP • P itch: 4G all weather surface • C hanging rooms: Yes • T ype: 7-a-side football league • M atchdays: Every Thursday • K O times: 7pm, 7.40pm, 8.20pm

02.

HIGHBURY FIELDS • P ostcode: N5 1QN • P itch: 3G all weather surface • Changing Rooms: No • T ype: 7 a-side • M atchdays: Every Thursday • KO times: 7pm, 7.40pm, 8.20pm

08.

DRAPERS FIELD • P ostcode: E15 2DD • P itch: 3G all weather surface • C hanging rooms: Yes • T ype: 7-a-side football league • M atchdays: Every Monday • KO times: 7pm, 7.40pm, 8.20pm

09.

ING START !

SOON

03.

EVELYYN GRACE ACADEMY • P ostcode: SE24 0QN • P itch: 4G all weather surface • C hanging rooms: Yes • T ype: 7-a-side football league • M atchdays: Every Sunday • KO times: 3pm, 3.40pm, 4.20pm

04.

WESTWAY SPORTS CENTRE • P ostcode: W10 6RP • P itch: 3G surface, covered • C hanging rooms: XX • T ype: 6-a-side football league • M atchdays: Every Wednesday • K O times: 7pm, 7.40pm, 8.20pm

WESTMINISTER ACADEMY SPORTS • P ostcode: W2 5EW • P itch: 3G all weather surface • C hanging rooms: Yes • T ype: 6-a-side football league • M atchdays: Every Tuesday

10.

ST JAMES CATHOLIC SCHOOL • P ostcode: NW9 5NZ • P itch: 3G all weather surface • C hanging rooms: Yes • T ype: 8-a-side football league • M atchdays: Every Monday • KO times: 7pm, 7.40pm, 8.20pm

– Wembley Stadium

– Hackney Marshes

05.

WHITTINGTON PARK • P ostcode: N19 4RS • P itch: 3G all weather surface • C hanging rooms: Yes • T ype: 7-a-side football league • M atchdays: Every Monday • K O times: 7pm, 7.40pm, 8.20pm

06.

ARK ACADEMY, PUTNEY • P ostcode: SW15 3DG • P itch: 3G all weather surface • C hanging rooms: Yes • T ype: 7-a-side football league • M atchdays: Every Tuesday or Thursday • KO times: 7pm, 7.40pm, 8.20pm

Get in touch with Footy Addicts on info@footyaddicts.com if you are interested in joining a league or to find out more details.

SMALL-SIDED – POWERLEAGUE

Interview: The Grassroots Post @thegrassrootspost

League: POWERPLAY DALSTON

Kings of the Kingsland Road Powerleague's Judas FC of the Dalston Powerplay League are no ordinary seven-a-side team.

Open top bus parades, a sizable social media following and partnerships around the world.

We caught up with team member Nick Scott to find out just what the hell is going on in Dalston.

TGP: Nick, what the hell is going on?

Wednesday night league. The aptly

of the pitch directly across the road

Nick Scott: It’s been a whirlwind few

named Judas FC was formed. Since

from our favourite pub also helps!

weeks really, and I’m still getting my

then, the team has really flour-

head around it! Our seven-a-side

ished - we’ve got the backing of our

So go on, tell us about the open top

team, Judas FC, did the double, win-

favourite pub, The Shacklewell Arms,

bus parade...

ning both the Monday and Wednes-

we played our first European away

Well, we usually host our end of

day night Hackney Powerplay leagues

fixture against a club in Cologne, we

season parties at the pub, but after

and our celebrations went well and

announced an official club pie partner

months of lockdown and the incred-

truly viral. Our bus parade videos hit

in Willy’s Pies, and now most recently

ible achievement of winning the

over 5.5 million views on social media

we’ve broken the internet with our

double, we thought it would be good

alone, and were covered by platforms

viral bus parade!

to do something a little special. All

all over the world including in France,

the credit has to go to our Wednes-

Portugal, USA, Germany, Russia and

Why is Powerleague, and specifically

day night goalkeeper Matt the Cat,

Australia! The reception has been

Powerplay Dalston, the best place

who did an absolutely stellar job

amazing and we welcome all our new

for this unique team to flourish?

organising the whole evening. We

fans across the globe with open arms.

The leagues are absolutely fantastic.

boarded the bus in East London with

There’s an incredible competitive

our Powerplay trophies, crates of Red

Tell us about the origins of the team?

balance, we’ve developed some

Stripe and Judas FC flags, and set off

So originally one of the lads had

long-standing rivalries, and most

on a parade of London. The reception

a few mates from uni playing on a

importantly it’s made Mondays and

was incredible - we had kids running

team in the Wednesday league, and

Wednesdays our favourite nights of

to the bus taking photos, people in

a couple of us used to help out when

the week. From the pitch and equip-

the street waving, cheering, singing

they were short. After a while, he

ment, to the referees and website,

our name, it really was quite surreal!

decided to ditch his uni mates, form

Powerleague and all the staff at the

After a two hour parade that included

his own team made up of Geordie

Petchey Academy bring a level of pro-

London Bridge and the Shard, we fi-

and Mackem friends from home, and

fessionalism that really makes us feel

nally hit the homestretch of Kingsland

enter this team into the exact same

special. The very strategic positioning

Road, set off a few flares and pulled

49

up to the Shacklewell Arms like kings.

What a historic day!

How have opposition teams reacted to your new-found fame?

The new season has been a bit tasty so far! Everyone wants to beat us, the tackles are a bit harder and our rivals have really raised their levels - we love to see it! If you’re reading this FC Village, send us a DM and we can send you over some signed memorabilia.

Off the pitch, the reception has been so incredible too. We’ve had offers from clubs all over the world inviting us for friendlies, brands reaching out to us with partnership proposals, agencies using us as a case study on how to go viral, and fans in our inbox desperate to buy Judas FC kits. We’re enjoying our new-found fame and intend to make the most of it!

What are these rumours about you trying to snap up a Spanish midfield legend?

We normally don’t like to discuss our transfer policy but I can now

Some journey so far! Going back to

the cake. I think the message that we

reveal that we are in initial talks with

basics though, why do you feel it's

want to send is this ... regardless of

Spanish legend Gaizka Mendieta

so important for groups of mates to

whether it’s the Champions League

about signing a one-match contract

be part of a small-sided team? What

or Dalston Powerplay league, if you

with Judas FC. We met him a couple

does it bring to you individually and

work hard together and achieve

of years ago when he DJ’ed at the

to your friendship group?

something as a group of friends or

Shacklewell Arms and we even got a

The Judas FC journey has been a

teammates, you deserve to celebrate

photo of him with the Judas FC shirt.

really important one. We’ve reignited

that properly! The bus parade will go

Next step is agreeing personal terms

old friendships, made new ones and

down in club history, we really felt like

(six cans of Red Stripe and a Willy ’s

really built something special that is

pros for the day and we can’t wait for

Pie) and we hope to see him grace

now a huge part of all our lives. We’ve

next season’s boat parade down the

the Powerplay pitches very soon.

got some amazing memories, and our

Thames. FROM GRASSROOTS TO

Watch this space!

bus parade really was the icing on

GLORY, BABY! TGP

MENTAL HEALTH

Websites: www.hampshirefa.com www.easthantsmind.org

Social: @hampshirefa @HEH–Mind

World Mental Health Day Tournament Hampshire FA and official charity partner Havant & East Hants Mind join forces to promote mental wellbeing by launching the “World Mental Health Day Tournament”.

On Friday 24th September, Hampshire FA and their official charity partner Havant & East Hants Mind brought together a variety of local organisations to take part in a “World Mental Health Day Tournament”.

The tournament was a fun and casual event, with teams from organisations including Saints Foundation, Eastleigh & District Mini Soccer League, AFC Stoneham and Hampshire FA. The aim of this new initiative was two-fold: firstly, to give the individuals involved in the event the opportunity to get active and open up about mental health to others in the local grassroots

alone and there are people and organi-

football community, with mental health

sations out there who can help you.”

support available on the day and post-

James Pearson explained: “I would

event from Havant & East Hants Mind.

urge everyone from across the grass-

Secondly, to use the event as the focus

roots community all over the country to

of a new promotional video that will

view the new video when it’s released

be launched on World Mental Health

and share it with as many others as

Day 2021 (10 October) to illustrate the

you can. It’s a really important message

importance of mental wellbeing, par-

that we need to get out to help people

ticularly within grassroots sport.

feel comfortable talking about mental

Discussing the tournament, Hampshire FA Chairman, James Pearson, said: “Throughout the tournament, it

health and know where they can find support if needed.”

The tournament featured in the

was fantastic to see members from

video was contested by six teams from

every organisation speak really openly

across Hampshire, with each team

to Havant & East Hants Mind about

playing each other once in league

their personal experiences with mental

format before the top four battled it out

health. Importantly, we’ve been able to

in semi-final knock-outs. In the end, it

capture these conversations on camera;

all came down to a penalty shoot-out in

this will make a huge difference for a lot

the final between AFC Stoneham and

of people across the local community

Hampshire FA Reds. Thanks to some

that might be experiencing something

goalkeeping heroics in the shoot-out

similar, but feel alone, or not know

from Hampshire FA’s new Deputy

The new World Mental Health Day vid-

where to turn. We’re hoping that when

Designated Safeguarding Officer, Dean

eo will be launched by both Hampshire

we share some of these conversations

Jones, Hampshire FA just beat AFC

FA and Havant & East Hants Mind on 10

as part of our World Mental Health Day

Stoneham to the trophy. However, the

October 2021 across their digital chan-

promotional video in partnership with

more important victory was promoting

nels. Check their websites and follow

Havant & East Hants Mind, we can

the importance of mental wellbeing to

their social media channels to view the

show people that actually you’re not

the football community.

TGP

much anticipated video.

AWARDS

Website: www.middlesexfa.com

Images: Jacob Ballheimer / Chris Benn @jballheimer / Flickr: Chris–MCFA

Middlesex FA Recognises Grassroots Heroes

GRASSROOTS AWARD WINNERS Grassroot Coach of the Year • Ben Payne – Youth Teams 2020 (Harefield United Youth) • Chey Thompson – Youth Teams 2021 (Northwood Youth) • Tarik Kaidi – Adult Teams 2020 (Minds United) • Danny Harrigan – Adult Teams 2021 (Actonians Ladies) Grassroots Club of the Year • Hanwell Town FC – 2020 • Omonia Youth – 2021 Grassroots League of the Year • Middlesex Youth Football League – 2020 • Capital Girls League – 2021 Grassroots Volunteer of the Year • Tony Pratt – 2020 (Rayners Lane FC) • Linda Fox – 2021 (Actonians Ladies) Grassroots Project of the Year • Forget Me Not FC – 2020 (Uxbridge Amblers Walking Football Club) • Barnet FC Walking Football Team – 2021

Middlesex FA welcomed the winners

whistle because their children’s team

of the 2020 and 2021 Grassroots

needed someone who would be there

Football Awards to Brent Civic

every week, to volunteers who just

Centre to celebrate their success-

popped in to see how they could help

es. The evening also saw a number of

their local club all those years ago and

Long Service Awards handed out to

are still going strong to this day.

long-standing volunteers and match

The evening was tinged with sad-

officials, with some being recognised for

ness as we had lost three of those who

fifty years of hard work.

were to be recognised over the past

Having had to put off this celebration

eighteen months. They and the friends

for eighteen months, it was a privilege

we had lost across the game were rec-

to have so many inspirational stories

ognised by a minute’s applause prior to

visited in one sitting - and all the more

the awards commencing.

so with the event being held in person.

The evening served as a timely

With twenty videos shown across the

reminder of just how important those

evening, each one telling the story that

volunteers, coaches and referees are to

is so recognisable to many across grass-

the survival of the grassroots game and

roots football all across the country.

can only be a positive that will support

From referees who picked up their

the game as it continues to grow.

TGP

Grassroots Match Official of the Year • A ndrew Kowalski – 2020 • Andrew Tooley – 2021 Grounds Team of the Year • Tom Duffy & Glyn Jones – 2020 (Hanwell Town) • Justin Goodman – 2021 (Denham United Ladies) • We Only Do Positive Respect – Parent Award • Harefield United Youth – 2020 The Spirit of Grassroots Fooball Award • Gareth Chendlik – 2021 Rising Star of the Year • Elsa Jones – 2020 (Hanwell Town) • Devon-Jay Baxter – 2021 (Hampton Rangers)

55

COACHING

THE COACHES CLINIC

with:

Website:

Code:

academy.coachesvoice.com

TGP1MONTH

SESSION:

DEFENDING IN WIDE AREAS SESSION OVERVIEW:

KEY Ball movement

Player movement without the ball Player movement with the ball

PRINCIPLES OF PLAY: • Angles of pressure • Body shape

Players

• Distance between players

We’re delighted to have Coaches’ Voice taking over our regular COACHES CLINIC. Coaches’ Voice features worldclass football insights from the game’s leading coaches. Their website www. coachesvoice.com features a stunning array of content from some household names. Perfect for students of the game.

In each issue, they’re going to help us be better, as managers and coaches. First up, playing out from the back. We’d be lying if we said this was something the English grassroots game had mastered, but forget your “get ’em turned” or your “lob it in the channels”, here’s how you get your team up the pitch and into dangerous areas without ever losing possession of the ball. Unheard of, right?

Cones PART 1: 1v1 DEFEND THE INSIDE •T his practice challenges defenders

Flat marker

to limit the opportunities for an attacker to pass or dribble inside the pitch.

•A pproximate dimensions:

Cones with flat marker

10m x 18m.

PART 2: CONDITIONED GAME

Goal

•T his practice builds upon Part 1 by applying the build-up patterns to a possession game.

Mini-goal

•T he practice sees a group of seven players of the six goal game.

PART 3:

Mannequin

2+GK VS 2+GK +1 CONDITIONED GAME • This practice focuses on the ability of the defensive team to win the ball back in wide areas, or to defend effectively as the ball travels from out wide to the centre of the pitch.

• Approximate dimensions: 35m x 50m, although this can be adjusted depending on the age group or ability of the players.

Football

Pole

57

01. 1V1 DEFEND THE INSIDE PRACTICE: •

This practice tests defenders to limit the options available inside the pitch to an attacker, and to keep the attacker wide.

•

Approximate dimensions: 10m x 18m.

•

The practice is set up as shown in Diagram 1, with three players starting on one side of the playing area, a gate set up on the other side and a mini-goal in the corner. Player A is the defender, Player B is the passer, and Player C is the attacker.

•

Player B plays a pass for Player C to run on to.

•

Player C has to try and either pass into the mini-goal (as if they were passing into a central area of the pitch) or run through the gate on the opposite side of the playing areal.

•

Player A’s aim is to prevent both of these eventualities, regain the ball and pass back to Player B.

•

Players rotate roles after each repetition.

•

Progress by swapping sides so players work on defending both the left and the right side..

COACHING DETAIL: TECHNICAL POINTS LINES OF PRESSURE

BODY SHAPE

PRACTICE CONDITIONS

• The defender needs to defend with

• Once the defender is within two

• The coach can manipulate the rules to

the location of both the mini-goal and

or three yards of the attacker, they

create certain scenarios. For example,

gate in mind. They should maintain

should attempt to show the play wide

if the attacker gets three points

a position between the attacker and

(towards the corner flag on a full-

for passing into the mini-goal, but

these end points.

sized pitch) and away from danger –

only one point for dribbling through

which in this instance is represented

the gate, it is likely you will see the

by the mini-goal or the gate.

defenders be more cautious about

• Because there are two attacking targets, the defender will not be able to have their body covering both at

giving away space to allow a pass into • The defender should use their front

all times. This is the challenge of the

foot for tackling, as it is closest to the

practice. Can the defender recognise

ball, and their back foot for blocking

which is the greater threat and man-

pass attempts.

age that threat effectively?.

the mini-goal. Preventing this is the aim of the practice.

02. CONDITIONED GAME PRACTICE: •

This practice is a conditioned small-sided game – in this example, a 6v6 plus goalkeepers –

A

A

with a focus on defending when •

A

B

the ball is in wide areas.

Approximate dimensions: 35m

B

x 50m, although this can be

A

B

adjusted depending on the age

A

group or ability of the players.

•

The only condition on the game is that, to score a goal, a shot

B

must follow a pass or cross from either of the wide channels, or

A

after a player has dribbled past someone in the wide area and then run into the central channel with the ball to score. This wide play must take place in the at-

B

tacking half of the playing area.

•

B

This condition will encourage wide play and allow the opportunity to work on defending in wide areas.

•

Progress the practice by adjusting the size of the wide channels: larger wide channels will challenge the defenders even more...

COACHING DETAIL: TECHNICAL POINTS

area, and how secondary defenders can

press the ball at an angle that mini-

protect the central areas or be prepared

mises the opportunity for the attacker

to intercept the ball from the attacker

to pass or dribble towards the centre

DISTANCE BETWEEN PLAYERS

after a poor touch or poor pass.

• Due to the number of players involved and the space that needs managing,

BODY SHAPE

it is important that defenders work

• The focus when defending in wide

together.

• As the focus is on defending in wide areas, this needs to be the main focus of coaching interventions. Consider how one player can engage in the wide

of the pitch.

• That defender should also aim to

areas should always be to keep the

slow the attack down in order to give teammates time to recover.

• If the defender is unable to keep the

ball in the wide area and as far away

attacker in the wide area, the second

from the goal as possible.

option is to show the attacker towards

• Therefore, the nearest defender should adopt a body position and

other teammates who may be able to tackle and regain the ball..

59

MEN'S

Words & Interview: The Grassroots Post @thegrassrootspost

INDUCTEE #5:

CHRIS SPEIRS TEAMS:

ATHOLL 1965 FC

LEAGUE:

WEST END (LONDON) AFA

In each issue, we celebrate a player who

“They are still my fondest memories in

deserves to have their grassroots career

the game - Regents Park Hub, Hackney

up in lights by inducting them into The

Marshes, Victoria Park and finals at Hanwell

Grassroots Post Hall Of Fame. For Issue 6,

Town! Chris was not just a player-manager

it’s Chris Speirs, previously of Atholl 1965.

but a role model who I can call a friend. I met

Atholl 1965 has a peculiar grassroots history,

my wife due to these guys and have three

with the original Atholl side born from student

wonderkids as well as forming bonds with

accommodation at the University of St An-

players that span countries and continents.

drews, based in the old Atholl Hotel. Over thirty

They are a band of brothers and without

years later, a particularly successful side were

them my life would have been very different,

off and out, scattered into the big wide world.

I am sure of it.”

Chris Speirs helped re-launch the side in London twenty years ago. He went on

Ciaran was Captain of Chris’ side:

to be their record goalscorer with over 100 goals before retiring in 2015, while laying the

“Speirsy might not have been the stealthiest,

foundations for players to go from grassroots

but he was a real box fox. A nightmare to

to the top of the game. But more important

mark with that ass of his, he brought others

than that, he was able to create a club that

into play and scored all sorts of goals, mostly

had a huge impact on its players, tying them

from inside the six-yard box, it must be said!

together for the best part of two decades and

“All jokes aside, the big man's goals kept us

transcending football.

competitive for many a season. A real Atholl legend and an honour to play alongside.”

Jon, aka The Monk, was one such player: Dennis set up Atholl 1965 with Chris: “I came to the club in 2009 looking for a Saturday team. I honestly think that if Chris

“I set up Atholl 1965, but what I had in organ-

had not taken a gamble on me as a player, I

isational skills I lacked in charisma. That's

would have been so homesick that I would

where Chris came in, who took over the

have left London the same year. During

running of the club after the first season. He

twenty years in the game, Chris Speirs is by

was a joy to play for - so likeable - a genuine

a country mile the best manager I played

nice guy. You never wanted to let him down.

for and with. He was the positive role model

He was so disappointed when you said you

that I needed at a difficult time in my life. I

couldn't play, it almost broke your heart to

needed guidance, patience and understand-

tell him. The team wanted to play for him

ing and that sums up Chris.

and not let him down.”

61

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

our first trophy in 2003 with an epic 3-2

The Grassroots Post Hall of Fame?

with playing football?

win against a French team called the

It is an honour to be asked although I

I have loved football all my life but it

Mavericks who were a lovely bunch of

hope it does not mark the end of my

wasn’t until I moved to London in 2000

French lads who we always got on with.

football career! I’m still playing fives!

and set up the Atholl 1965 FC with a few

We also won the first division in 2006-

Grassroots is the life blood of the game

friends (special note to Dennis Johnson

2007 to get promotion to the top league.

and without it there would be no foot-

who was the driving force in the early

On a personal note, the highlight was

ball. It brings so much joy to so many

years) that my love really started. Play-

getting to 100 goals in my final season

thousands of men, women and children

ing football with close mates and the

in London in 2010-2011 – although

every weekend and it is so important

social aspect on top made it something

admittedly I was doing the counting! As

that it continues to be recognised and

I could not wait for after each Saturday

I say though the biggest highlight is the

given the support from the relevant

waking up on a Sunday.

fact the club is still going and has forged

authorities to ensure the facilities and

so many long-standing friendships –

organisations are such that it continues

Tell us about your grassroots career?

we still meet up each year to play the

to beat strong! TGP

The highlight for me is the fact that

current team in a friendly end of season

the club we set up in 2001 celebrated

match, for instance!

its twentieth anniversary this year and is still going strong. I cannot imagine

What do you love about

how many different players have turned

grassroots football?

out for Atholl 1965 FC over the years,

For me it is the fact that every weekend

but we have had such a diverse group

a bunch of guys get together, try their

– from people we have bumped into

hardest on the pitch then have a good

in the park, players who have played

laugh off the pitch whether we win or we

professional football in Germany, players

lose. As long as everyone did their best

from every continent, to players from all

that was the main thing.

ages and a player who made his debut in the Premier League last year. We won

What does it mean to be inducted into

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

SMALL-SIDED

Words: Andrew Martin @ajmartin90

Illustration: Millie Chesters @milliechesters

League: COUNTY DURHAM FA, MEN’S 7ASIDE

MY GREATEST GAME SUBSTANDARD LIEGE VS THE POACHERS, 2015

It’s 2015. Uptown Funk is enveloping the world in a musical sickness that will linger for years, and Jeremy Clarkson is just weeks away from decking a producer over a lack of hot food. Meanwhile, in the coalfields of County Durham, seven-a-side football team Substandard Liege are at the business end of a title race they never expected to find themselves in.

We’re playing a team of fathers and sons - at least I always assumed they were fathers and sons - called The Poachers. Sleeper earrings glinting in the floodlights, tattoos of skulls and snakes that seem to writhe in the pre-match cigarette haze. It’s midwinter in Northeast England and half of their players are wearing just a bib with no shirt underneath.

They are not here to play games.

My lads, Substandard Liege, are pussy cats in comparison, but we’ve realised that if we win all of our

remaining games, our little patchwork team might actually be league champions come the end of the season. We’ve got to get past this lot first, though, and they look extremely ready to uptown funk us up if it comes to it.

I’ll be honest - all I can remember about the first half is that I nutmegged somebody in the corner, and he said something very unpleasant to me. I can’t remember the first half because in the second half, our big centre-back, let’s call him Dave because that’s his name - gave away two penalties. In a seven-a-side match. Two penalties. The Poachers scored them both, and we found ourselves 4-2 down with about fifteen minutes to go. We can all feel the title slipping away from us, but I am simply not having it.

“Dave, have a rest. Swap with John.”

“It’s not my turn to come off!”

And it wasn’t, to be fair to him.

“It f***ing is, mate. Your head’s gone.” And to be fair to me, it had.

We immediately bring it back to 4-3. In the last five minutes, we snatch an equaliser to make it 4-4.

Dave is doing acrobatics on the touchline, feeling more emotions than anyone could possibly process at once. In the last minute, The Poachers get a corner from our left.

Everyone back. They take it low, along the ground. Makes no sense.

We intercept. Shawzy, Dan and I play rapid-fire triangles up the pitch.

Shawzy goes round the keeper like Ronaldo with the teeth, squares it to me. Super-slow motion. Tap in from half a metre. Wrestling at the corner flag. Guttural screams. Dave’s exploded. Handshakes. “What a bloody match that was, mate. Fair play to yous,” says the Poacher-in-chief.

The full-time whistle blows. We go on to win the league on goal difference. Julio, get the stretch! TGP

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

Issue 7 will be exactly where you found this one in early December.

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 06: Editor: Mike Backler

Design: Alex Mertekis

Sub Editor: Lucy Mertekis

Words:

Images: Scott Kershaw,

Main Cover Image:

Alex Waite, Lucy Mertekis,

Gem Atkinson, Getty FC, Grand

Michael Morgan

Sam Kershaw, Pranav Shahaney,

Sports Club, Jacob Ballheimer,

Illustrations:

Tayyiba Yunus, Andrew Martin

Chris Benn, Allen Hollands

Millie Chesters

Special thanks: Danny Taeidy from Footy Addicts, Emily Harding at Newspaper Club, Ben Williamson at YesRef, Amanda Lewis at London FA, Emma Allen at Hampshire FA, Tim Bayliss at PRO:DIRECT, Trine Falnes at Spond, Stuart Wallis at ISL Tours, Drew Smith and Ian Dougherty from Powerleague, Dan Tunna from Joymo, Kai Bowers at WOW Hydrate, Matt Hudson and Dan Church at MANvFAT, Matias Morgan at Coaches’ Voice, Curt Baker from FotMob, Ravinder Marwaha at Grand Sports Club, Graham Rodber at SSFL, Nick Scott at Judas FC, Paul Caulfield and Imran Englefield at Lordswood FC, Matt Fletcher Jones and all of our stockists.

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

• London FA:

londonfa.com

• ISL Football Tours:

islfootballtours.co.uk

• FotMob:

fotmob.com

• Footy Addicts:

footyaddicts.com

• Coaches Voice:

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• Joymo:

joymo.tv

• Essex FA:

essexfa.com

• Powerleague:

powerleague.co.uk

• Middlesex FA:

middlesexfa.com

• WOW Hydrate:

wowhydrate.com

• Surrey FA:

surreyfa.com

• Spond:

spond.com

• Kent FA:

kentfa.com

• Pro:Direct Soccer:

prodirectsoccer.com

• Hampshire FA:

hampshirefa.com

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