Latest news with #grassrootsfootball
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Grassroots women's FC in Bath is struggling to access funding
"If it wasn't for the goalkeeper's mum last week, I don't know what we would have done."Those are the words of the coach of a grassroots woman's football team after two sponsors recently dropped out. Thankfully, said coach Rob Macer, another business stepped in to provide much-needed funding for Odd Down Women's AFC – a cleaning company run by the goalkeeper's Bath club, who won their Tier 7 league unbeaten earlier this year, provide an example of just how difficult it can be for grassroots organisations to stay hundreds of millions of pounds have been spent by successive governments on growing the teams are struggling for money despite all the talk of legacy surrounding the England-hosted Women's Euros in 2022, even before the Lionesses won. So how do small clubs get hold of the cash being spent on football? Mr Macer said it was not an easy problem to coach said he was expecting funding from the FA, football's governing body, when the club was set up in 2024. Mr Macer said two women from Odd Down Women's AFC did get their coaching badges with money from Somerset FA, which works with the FA – but they had to pay upfront before being Nandy, secretary of state for sport, said in a statement she had recently announced £400m worth of investment for grassroots sports said she was "particularly passionate" about adapting existing facilities to be more accessible for girls. One community club that has succeeded in attracting serious money is Longwell Green Sports FC in South Gloucestershire. Its chairman John Gibbs applied for a grant and successfully got more than £500,000 in public money via the FA, which went towards a 3G artificial pitch in said the pitch was now being used by 60 teams of all ages. But he thinks the upper echelons of football – the Premier League and Championship – should be paying out."I massively credit the Lionesses with getting more girls in to the game, it's just about 50/50 (girls and boys) now," he said."The council's got no money in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, so my bugbear is it would be better if the top of football put in the money."
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
New Leeds sports hubs set to receive £23.9m investment
A £23.9m investment to build two sporting facilities in Leeds has been given the green two hubs, Woodhall in Calverley and Green Park in Temple Newsam, were proposed by Leeds City Council and the Football Foundation, which aims to improve grassroots sporting facilities across the artificial outdoor pitches, a pavilion building and play areas are planned for each site, which would be completed by the end of September Salma Arif said: "Not only will they offer superb new sports facilities; these hubs will become focal points for entire communities to make use of and enjoy." The hubs would be managed by the not-for-profit National Football Trust and all surplus income would be reinvested in outdoor sports facilities across described the project as "wonderful" and said it would support people of all ages to live "active and healthy lifestyles". The development at Green Park would also include a large hard court suitable for hockey, basketball and wheelchair sports. Running and walking routes are planned for the pavilion building at each site would provide a cafe, social space, toilets and changing rooms, the council Woodhall development and the new pitches at Green Park would open by August next year, with the remaining facilities at the second site opening the following City Council, the Football Foundation and private contributions would pay for the sites' council said proposals for a third site, at the former Matthew Murray High School in Holbeck, were in approved the Woodhall and Green Park projects at a meeting on Wednesday. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Women's team gifted new sports kit to support growing success
Kilgetty AFC Women's team were given the kits by Lucozade (Image: Supplied) A women's football team has been gifted a new sports kit to support their growing success. Kilgetty AFC Women's Team received the donation, including reusable drinks bottles, bibs, kit and football carrier bags, and Lucozade Sport drinks, thanks to Tenby Post Office Stores and Fiona Malone, who nominated the team for one of 10 kits donated across the UK by Lucozade. Advertisement Ms Malone said: "We were really happy to nominate Kilgetty AFC women's football team when we were asked by Lucozade. "My son plays for the Kilgetty under 13s, and the whole club is really inclusive for everybody, so when Lucozade asked, we immediately thought of Kilgetty women's football team." The kit was presented to the team on Sunday, July 13 during their Chwarae FOR HER Wales v England Watch Party at Kilgetty AFC Football Club's Kingsmoor Sports Club. A team spokesperson said: "We are very grateful to receive all of the items from Tenby Post Office Stores and Lucozade. Advertisement "We particularly appreciate the reusable drinks bottles and Lucozade Sports drinks. "We needed these because we've been bringing our own bottles, as the only other option was to use the men's bottles. "The bibs are great and the kit and football carrier bags will be really useful, thank you." The female game continues to grow at Kilgetty AFC, with support and sponsorship playing a key role in sustaining and developing grassroots football. The club has also received ongoing kit sponsorship from Ty Francis of New York Welsh, funding from Tesco Stronger Starts, and FAW grants for equipment and coach education. Advertisement Additional support has come from Kilgetty WI for training kit sponsorship and Saundersfoot Rotary for playing kit and volunteer time. A spokesperson for the club said: "Along with the new Lucozade kit, these donations are a real game changer for the female game and it is things like this that encourage and enable players to grow in skill, confidence, gaining a sense of belonging as they play football together."
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Suffolk teen quit refereeing football due to abuse from parents
A teenage referee said he felt "forced" to quit officiating grassroots football due to the abuse he received from players' Sinclair, 18, from Lowestoft, Suffolk, started refereeing at age 14, the youngest age at which a person can become a match said he finally decided to stop refereeing last year when a player's mother invaded the pitch midway through a match and called him names. Suffolk County Football Association (FA) said it was committed to tackling and stamping out poor behaviour across the grassroots game. Describing the incident that led him to quit, he said: "I felt quite scared. She kept shouting at me, saying I was blind."Mr Sinclair said he reported the issues to host club Kirkley and Pakefield and Suffolk County FA directly. The FA's most recent Grassroots Disciplinary Review showed serious abuse and physical assaults on match officials had risen by about 17% in one year, from 1,451 to 1,716 in the 2023/2024 season. Mr Sinclair said he felt people did not take into consideration his age when he was officiating."It's not fair to verbally abuse someone a lot younger than you. There was a lot of name-calling and slurs," he said. He said he felt the atmosphere could change at tournaments if they got "rid of the parents" and added: "It's the only way I'd consider coming back." Mr Sinclair's mum, Jemma Sinclair, attended matches with him at the start of his career to help him deal with the abuse."It made me angry watching him being treated this way," she said."There were times I had to intervene with other parents to remind them that the referee is a child too."You wouldn't abuse a child walking down the street or playing on the swing the wrong way, so why shout at a child trying to help your [child] play football?"A spokesperson for Suffolk County FA said: "We cannot comment on individual cases but all incidents of reported misconduct, including abuse of referees, are thoroughly investigated and appropriate action taken."Tackling and stamping out poor behaviour across the grassroots game continues to be a key focus of the county FA." Henry and Alex, both 16, have been refereeing for nearly three years and said they had experienced abuse from match spectators."It's mainly the parents who give the abuse and try to influence the game," Henry said. The pair added they dealt with the behaviour by "keeping calm and trying to get their authority across"."There have been a few incidents that have nearly made me quit, but you just grow a thick skin and get on with it really," Alex Oakey, chairman of the Referees' Association, said: "We are continually dealing with reports of referees being attacked and abused."In the last three incidences… one included a 14-year-old referee being abused and then chased by the mother of an eight-year-old player at a youth tournament." Kevin Fryer, youth chairman of Kirkley and Pakefield Football Club, has worked with young referees but said "people forget the games are just a bit of fun".He recalled one under-11 girls' match was abandoned after the "parents were abusing the referee to an extent he felt he couldn't continue"."We've had referees reduced to tears, parents waiting in car parks for referees under 16 - it's just crazy," he Fryer said his club offered training courses to referees on how to deal with abuse on the pitch, and there was also a "system to show it's a newly qualified referee" on the pitch."It should be about kids having fun, but people take it way too seriously," he told the BBC. The club has a "respect line" - a painted pitch border at lower-level games and a physical barrier for the first team games - which spectators have to stand behind. It was hoped this would help reduce the abuse suffered by amateur referees and young parents at Kirkley and Pakefield said they understood that other parents were passionate, but they should also be said: "You do see parents forget the referees are children themselves sometimes."Another added: "They've got to start somewhere, and we need to, as parents, set an example."On its England Football website, the FA said playing the game at this age was about "being part of a team and understanding gameplay". A FA spokesperson added: "Everyone should be able to enjoy the game, including young match officials just starting out." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
As Euros fever grips Britain, local girls' team scores big to tackle bullying
WE'RE halfway through UEFA Women's Euro 2025 in Switzerland and the goals just keep coming. Three years ago the Lionesses brought the trophy home, beating Germany 2-1 in extra time. 5 England and Wales have both been battling it out in Group D and go head to head tomorrow. Women and girls from teams all over the country will be watching the action at their home clubs. Many of those will have benefited from funding invested in grassroots sport across the UK, including more than £6.8billion from The National Lottery. One of the big winners is Chadderton FC in Oldham. The men's club is famous for producing England legend David Platt, although some might be more impressed to know Mark Owen of Take That once wore its famous red shirt. Its women's team is, in part, the result of one man's vision and determination to support the women's game. Mike Julien, a former academy player with Manchester City, founded a team for girls, Middleton Academy, in 2011. He and wife Sophie, who coaches and also plays for the club's seniors, merged the team with Chadderton FC in 2021 and started adding more age groups. With more than 150 registered players across all age groups, they have transformed girls' football in a deprived area of the city. 'From where I started to where our players are now feels like a massive achievement,' says Mike. 'It's brilliant to see so many girls involved. This is a place where they can come and enjoy themselves and play football, which helps them with other stuff as well, like problems at home.' Inclusivity is a major part of the club's sporting identity. No one is turned away and there is support for anyone with issues. One girl who was told she wasn't good enough by a coach at her previous club was welcomed and soon became a star player. Another, who was so severely bullied she had to be home schooled, was given one-to-one coaching and found a new friendship group. 5 'We're a safe space for these kids,' says Sophie, a payroll manager, who is also the mental health representative for her company. 'We're their escape from troubles at home or at school, and it's great to see them smiling. 'The parents recognise that too, and couldn't be any more thankful. It's the most fulfilling part of what we do.' Coming from a club like Manchester City, you'd assume Mike would be focused on winning, but he shares Sophie's view, having struggled with challenging experiences at City's academy. 'Older players didn't encourage me and people who were meant to be friends at home were jealous, so I understand what these girls are going through,' he says. Chadderton's progress was recently boosted with a £950,000 National Lottery grant that has helped pay for a 3G pitch next to the clubhouse at the main ground. The club is a safe space for the girls and an escape from their troubles – it's so fulfilling to see them smiling 'It's a game-changer, as we can all now get together at the same place,' says Peter Connolly, club development officer and a retired trade union official. 'It brings us home. Before, we were scattered around parks and schools. Now our players feel like they really belong here. 'With the new pitch, pieces of the jigsaw are falling into place and the women's side is set for big things.' Importantly, National Lottery funding also means the club doesn't need to keep asking parents for money. Chadderton has some of the lowest fees locally. 'We try to keep member subscriptions down as much as possible because there's a lot of people who are really struggling financially around here,' says Peter. 'We always tell them to speak to the treasurer if there's a problem. We don't want to lose anyone because of money.' Meanwhile, there's the Women's Euros. The two home nations face each other tomorrow, with hundreds of clubs planning mini festivals around the big match. 5 Before that, today's headline event is The National Lottery Big Football Day on the Cobbles, which sees girls' teams from England and Wales that have received Lottery funding take part in a day of fun football skills and competitions at Manchester's Coronation Street set. Chadderton FC will be there, then on Sunday it will hold a Big Football Day, another National Lottery-supported initiative that sees Euro 2025 events popping up at grassroots clubs across the country this summer. 'We're taking our U15 team to Granada and the anticipation is building. 'I know how much the kids are looking forward to it and they're taking it very seriously,' says Peter. 'We have our own thing going here too, so it's going to be a busy weekend.' Football will, as the saying goes, be the winner – regardless of the result in the big Euro clash. In fact, Chadderton FC are already receiving enquiries from new players. 'With the new pitch and some new players on the way, things are looking good for next season,' says Sophie. Mike and Sophie have already made their own contribution to recruitment – Aariya, age three. She's just been given her first pair of boots and is enjoying valuable early coaching lessons from her parents. 'She can't wait to be involved,' laughs Sophie. 'She comes to games and shouts, 'Go Chaddy!'' KICKING OFF ON THE COBBLES CPD Merched Porthmadog FC will be one of the clubs from Wales attending The National Lottery Big Football Day on the Cobbles today. 'It's all the girls have been going on about since we told them,' says chairman and head coach Gethin Jones. 'They're so excited to be part of a big event like this. Some of them watch Coronation Street, so they're hoping to see some of the actors on set and maybe some top players. It's going to be a great day out for all of us.' With Y Dreigiau (the Dragons) playing their first big tournament, Welsh hearts are already swelling with pride. It's a huge boost to the national game, and grassroots clubs are ready to cash in with more participation. Yet ten years ago, CPD Merched Porthmadog didn't even exist. It celebrates its tenth anniversary next season thanks to the efforts of Gethin, who is a community coach with Cymru Premier team Bala Town, and a small group of parents. They decided to form a team because there was no option for local girls in a remote area on Gwynedd's northwest coast. 'To be where we are now from where we first started is amazing really,' says Gethin. 'At the start it was a bit of struggle to get enough players, but now it's a totally different story – we're almost full at all age groups. 'I couldn't have imagined it would work out like this.' Today the club has over 100 players, catering for ages ranging from under-9s to under-15s. Their star graduate is defender Cadi Rodgers, now with Chelsea and a member of the Wales Under-19 squad. 5 For most girls and their parents, it's simply a chance to make new friends from different areas and form social bonds for life. 'We attract players from many different towns and villages around us and it gives them all the opportunity to be part of something bigger,' says Gethin. 'They learn new skills, leadership, teamwork, and build confidence through the sessions and the games they take part in. 'That gives them the platform to do amazing things.' CPD Merched Porthmadog is another club to benefit from National Lottery funding. 'We received grants last year through Sports Wales and it helped upskill coaches and purchase equipment including new goals,' says Gethin. 'And we play at clubs that have also had their facilities upgraded thanks to National Lottery funding. It all makes a difference.' Sounds like the perfect win-win. The National Lottery changes lives every day. 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