Name: Paul Richards
Position: Coach/Treasurer/Officer
Club: AEK-BOCO FC
PAUL SAYS: “I have been a volunteer with the club now for 8 years. I first got involved when my eldest son joined the club and it wasn’t long before I got heavily involved with the general running of the club. Both of my sons now play for the club and they just love it!
“AEK-BOCO F.C. was formed during the summer of 2003 as the result of a merger between two long-established clubs (A.E.K. Rangers and Boco Juniors). Today we have almost 500 children on our books playing in the Hanham Minor League, Avon Youth League and Bristol Girls League. As well as four men’s teams and two ladies teams.
“The club is such a great asset for the community but its facilities were nowhere near up to standard. But that is all about to change as we have a new fantastic clubhouse being built and due to open in October. It’s been hard work and would not have been possible without the support of the club members, local sponsors, South Gloucestershire Council, Gloucestershire FA and the Football Foundation.
Good times ahead for the club. COME ON THE BOCO!”
Name: Marie Rowley
Position: Project Development Officer
Club: Oakworth Juniors Football Club, Sport and Education Centre (West Yorkshire)
MARIE SAYS: "I've been a volunteer with the Club for four years. Being a volunteer for any junior Football Club is such an amazing experience. I love all aspects of it - from behind the scenes administration, to getting on the field with the youngsters.
Oakworth almost folded three years ago; now we have over 250 children and adults playing for the Club and a fantastic new clubhouse to boast about. It's been hard work and would not have been possible without the support of the Club members, the Council, West Riding County FA and the Football Foundation, who have been fantastic. We did think the hard work was over but it's only just beginning! Anybody who is thinking of volunteering should stop thinking about it and just do it. It's so rewarding."
THEY SAY: "Once the scale of actually making a bid for funding became apparent, the Club scratched its head and buried its head in the sand. To our rescue a year or so later came Mrs Marie Rowley.
Marie worked tirelessly in putting together a bid. Everything was researched. Councillors and MPs were badgered, meetings were arranged and things moved dramatically forward.
"In just 18 months the bid was complete and shortly afterwards, approved. Oakworth Juniors now has a superb Club house which we are all proud of. There is no doubt we would not have this facility if Marie had not taken on the project and carried it through."
Richard Hewitt, Club Secretary, Oakworth Juniors Football Club
Name: Paul Nilson
Position: Charity Co-ordinator
Club: Team Oasis (Liverpool)
PAUL SAYS: “Without the Football Foundation there is no way we could have kitted out our teams and paid their league fees as well as everything else.”
THEY SAY: “Team Oasis is doing a great job for the local community. It is an important initiative that makes a big impact on the lives of young people.”
Louise Ellman, MP for Liverpool Riverside
“Nilson has virtually single handedly launched a selfless social revolution… Team Oasis and the 400 or so youngsters who play for their football teams have found a new direction and purpose in lives that might otherwise have boosted some of the less favourable statistics that blight that part of the world.”
Colin Mafham, Sunday Express and FC Business
Name: Paul Kiddell
Position: Chairman
Club: Longhoughton Rangers Youth Football Club (Northumberland)
PAUL SAYS: “Our club is a great example of the amazing work that the Football Foundation does, having benefitted from two Junior Kit Scheme vouchers, a £8,800 Grow the Game grant and funding towards safe new goalposts.
“With your assistance we have grown from three kids to 200 in just eight years; have qualified nearly 30 coaches, attained FA Charter Standard Development Club status and now have the brightest of futures thanks to the Football Foundation.”
THEY SAY: “Paul Kiddell is what every club needs! His enthusiasm and commitment in ensuring that the children in his area have the opportunity to play football in a safe and friendly environment has developed a proper rural football club at Longhoughton.
“He has enlisted the support of a number of likeminded volunteers and the new Foundation-funded facilities will be a lasting legacy for all their efforts.”
Stuart Leason, County Development Manager at the Northumberland County FA
