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This Months Content City Site FC

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Kit Aid

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Epping Foresters

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Thank you to everyone that has contributed to Grassroots Magazine over the last 12 months, all the teams we have featured, the charities & our regular contributors.

Adult Leagues

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Youth Leagues

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Football Fitness

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We have really enjoyed meeting & researching all of the positive aspects of Grassroots football in communities of Essex.

Match Fit

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Final Whistle

Page 38

The Clarets

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Farleigh’s

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Team Message

We have so many new ideas for 2024 so we hope you all continue to follow & share our content. Merry Christmas & and Happy New year to all our followers & Contributors.

Good Luck Grassroots Team

grassrootsmag@btinternet.com

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Squad List: Manager – Ricky Nelson

Players James Cole (Club Chairman) Billy Cole Lee Cole Peter Edenogie Robbie Farrell Harry Watkins Donatas Briedis Kyle dooley Robert Garvan Freddie mattock Alex paraskeva Reid mcintosh Joe walsh Eric eze Alosio dos santos Matt morris Jonny Rouse

City site solutions Est in 2001 are a construction recruitment Agency based in London supplying trades & labour on a nationwide basis. In 2022, James Cole (recruitment consultant) noticed after dominating the 5 aside cooperate leagues, there was a lot of footballing talent working at City Site so than began to put that to the test by creating City Site FC (Sundays) with financial backing of Tom Armitage (City Site Director) early last season. With 4 city site employees playing week in week out! James Cole, Jonny Rouse, Freddie Mattock & Peter Edenogie.

With some top players coming to play for the club such as top goal scorer Alex Paraskeva, previously playing at a high level. Ex Arsenal & Barnet graduate Harry Watkins & ex Southend academy star Freddie mattock, this team was not going to be short of goals in their first season. City Site went on to gain promotion in their first season as a football club in the Essex Corinthian league Division 4 & are now climbing the ranks in division 3 & looking to go to the very top!

grassroots magazine BIG THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

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MEGA INFLATABLES PROVIDING BOUNCY CASTLE HIRE IN ESSEX FOR MEGA FUN FOR EVERYONE!

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grassroots magazine A Merry Christmas to all KitAid Supporters across Essex and the Eastern Region. Your support this year has been exceptional - supporting KitAid both financially on the Great KitAid Road Trip (https://www.justgiving.com/page/roadtrip-essex-1677775751739 ) and sharing unwanted kit & equipment, spreading smiles for the love of the game. KitAid volunteers are available to receive and collect unwanted football kit & equipment, that is then shared with communities around the world that love the game, but whose participation is held back through lack of access to kit & equipment. In this the 25th Anniversary year for KitAid, with your help, KitAid hit the magic 1 million.

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Massive Thank you to all the clubs of Essex that have made substantial kit donations this year:

Barnston, Bowers & Pitsea, Broomfield, Chelmsford City, Colchester Villa YFC, Felsted Rovers, Frinton & Walton YFC, Heybridge Swifts (due shortly), Hullbridge, Maldon & Tiptree, Mayland Village, Old Parkonians, Old Southendians, Porters Soccability, Runwell, Springfield, South Woodham Ferrers, Tollesbury YFC, Valley Green YFC, Wilvale Rangers YFC, Wivenhoe Town.

Bowers & Pitsea - Kit Donation

Broomfield FC - Kit Donation

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Chelmsford City - KitAid Promotion Night and Kit Donation

Chelmsford City - Kit Donation at Sorting & Boxing Up for Shipping

Valley Green YFC - Kit Donation

Porters Soccability - Kit Donation

Valley Green YFC - Kit Donation

Wilvale Rangers Kit Donation

Also, a big thank you to the schools, community groups and families that have dug out and organised good quality unwanted kit & equipment donations, now spreading smiles for the love of the game.

Making Your Unwanted Kit & Equipment Count in 2024 The work of KitAid never ends, and there is no intention to rest on our laurels. One million items donated across the UK over the last 25 years, is huge, but it simply pushes us harder to sustain the momentum now established for giving new life to your unwanted kit. Times are hard, but don't let your unwanted kit go to waste. There is something special in sharing our kit & equipment with others. Though our kit maybe shared with people so far away, and people we may never know, they are people for whom we can be sure that the gift of kit & equipment is spreading smiles for the love of the game. KitAid works with projects supporting some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable communities in the world - projects supporting education, skills training and those seeking to prevent harm. We know the power of football and its force for good in people’s lives and hence the strapline – ‘It’s more than Just a Shirt …’ Across Essex, we have over 1,000 clubs and over 4,600 teams (Essex FA, 2023). The commitment to the game across our area - Villages, Towns, Cities and London Boroughs - is immense. The potential of unwanted kit out there looking for a new home is huge. It would be great if we could make your unwanted kit & equipment count in 2024.

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Thank you too, to the numerous clubs in the wider region, including Grasshoppers FC and FC Romania who have also added substantial numbers to the KitAid count. We are a national UK charity, and we will take kit donations in from across the UK.

How can you help spread smiles for the love of the game in 2024 1. Contact us with a kit & equipment donation kitaidcharity@gmail.com or locally barrie.2014@yahoo.co.uk 2. Fundraising continues to the end of the year for the KitAid Road Trip (Essex) at the JustGiving site THE GREAT KITAID ROAD TRIP - ESSEX 2023 3. We are also keen to share the KitAid banner at football grounds, articles in programmes and seek your promotion through social media 4. Follow us on 'X' @KitAid 5. Let us have your ideas for getting the KitAid cause out to more Clubs - email kitaidcharity@gmail.com

Kitted out by Mayland Village FC - Young Women's Team in Nyathi Rural District, Zimbabwe

Have a wonderful festive season and great New Year. Barrie Neal KitAid Volunteer

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grassroots magazine For all you Signage Solutions Clothing Printing Shop Signage Interior Design Vehicle Signage Window Graphics Logo Design Tel: 07525786641 email: andy@designsat.co.uk

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If watching your local grassroots team has got you itching to pull on the boots again and you feel like you need to shift a few pounds along the way, then MAN v FAT could be the answer for you! Supporting over 8,000 likeminded men up and down the UK, MAN v FAT has several clubs across Essex (and just over the border in Suffolk!), including Basildon, Colchester, Chelmsford, Romford, Southend and more. Your weekly kickabout is supported by a wide range of health and wellbeing support, giving you the tools, you need to shift that extra timber and build a new community of mates who love the beautiful game.

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To find your closest club, take a look at https://manvfatfootball.org – use the code

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Grassroots

gives back

Grassroots Magazine is committed to giving back to grassroots football and we are excited to sponsor a talented young player Kaci Crook & an equally talented youth team in Broomfield Lions U13’s for this season.

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Football club staff and fans unite to score record-breaking fundraising tally as Prostate United returns for a sixth year Hundreds of football club staff and fans from across the UK have helped to raise over £230,000 for Prostate Cancer UK by tackling a daily fitness challenge in October. Around 775 participants, representing clubs from the Premier League down to grassroots level, ran, cycled, or walked every day last month as part of Prostate United, an annual fundraising challenge for Prostate Cancer UK. The challenge has united the football community every autumn with clubs from across the football pyramid involved – with even a clutch of managers taking part, including Sheffield United’s Paul Heckingbottom, Paul Warne of Derby County and Doncaster Rovers boss, Grant McCann, whose side topped the fundraising league table after raising an impressive £17,000. To donate to the 2023 Prostate United squad, click here. Prostate United was created in 2018 by Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Head of Academy Sports Science & Medicine, Stephen Gilpin, who was inspired to support Prostate Cancer UK after sadly losing his grandfather, Norman, to the disease in 2010. A pre-season talk from thenmanager Paul Warne, while Gilpin was working at Rotherham United, inspired him to lace up his running shoes, and, joined by friend and former colleague Ross Burbeary, set off on a monthlong challenge to run 10 kilometres every day that November. Little did he know that five years later, the challenge would have grown to involve more than 40 professional clubs and raise over £230,000 – the challenge’s biggest fundraising tally – taking the overall fundraising to over £500,000.

“Prostate United has grown beyond our wildest expectations,” Gilpin said. “We feel that as a collective now it has a unique place on the football calendar, where we all come together as the Prostate United family to raise awareness and much-needed funds for Prostate Cancer UK. “In pre-season in 2018, the gaffer actively encouraged the group to discuss inspirational stories or personalities that have impacted our lives. I chose to speak about my grandad, who lost a brave battle with prostate cancer. He played a huge part in my life and the discussion raised a motivation and ambition to emulate this great man in any way I can. “Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and knowing that has certainly drove us all on over the years and we’re delighted that the football family has come together once more for a fantastic charity that’s close to my heart.” Seren Evans, Head of Events and Community Fundraising at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “We’re so grateful for the continued support of Stephen, Ross and every club and fan involved in our 2023 Prostate United campaign. “Since 2018 when Stephen started this challenge in honour of his grandad, the football family has helped us raise more than £500,000 by running, cycling and walking, and this year Prostate United was bigger and better, with supporters joining the challenge too. “Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, and an early diagnosis can save your life. The money raised will fund groundbreaking research towards a screening programme, so we can catch prostate cancer early and save lives. “Having clubs and their staff continuing to support our work will always resonate with the supporters, just like when managers wear our man of men badge on the touchline. Thank you to Stephen, Ross and everyone who took part in this year’s challenge.” For more information on Prostate United, visit prostatecanceruk.org/get-involved/football/prostate-united. please contact Seb Pearce, Sports and Lifestyle PR Officer at Prostate Cancer UK, on sebastian.pearce@prostatecanceruk. Alternatively, email pressoffice@prostatecanceruk.org or call 07984 325001.

Grassroots Magazine marched for men this October. Andy, Rich & Piers are walked 5K every day for a month to raise Money & Awareness for Prostate Cancer UK

• • • •

Prostate United is a yearly challenge that invites football club staff and fans to walk, run or cycle distance every day during October. The challenge, founded by Wolverhampton Wanderers staff member Stephen Gilpin, began in 2018 and has so far raised over £340,000 for Prostate Cancer UK To date, more than 60 clubs from across the UK have taken part, including Manchester United, Leeds United, Everton and Sheffield United For more information, visit prostatecanceruk.org/get-involved/football/prostate-united

About Prostate Cancer UK • • • • • •

Prostate Cancer UK has a simple ambition – to save and enrich the lives of men with prostate cancer. We invest into finding better treatments and tests that could save thousands of lives. We work with the NHS to make sure men get access to breakthrough tests and treatments. We spread the word about who is at risk of prostate cancer, especially to those at higher risk. We support people dealing with prostate cancer and provide health information. Visit prostatecanceruk.org now to help beat this disease

About Prostate Cancer • • • • • • •

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer. If you’re over 50, if you’re Black, or if your dad or brother have had it, you’re at even higher risk. Most men with early prostate cancer don’t have symptoms. Go to www.prostatecanceruk.org/risk-checker for our 30-second online risk checker to find out what you can do about it and learn about a free blood test you can get from your GP. More than 52,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year on average – that's 143 men every day. Every 45 minutes one man dies from prostate cancer – that's more than 12,000 men every year. Around 475,000 men are living with and after prostate cancer.

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About Prostate United

Anyone with concerns about prostate cancer may contact Prostate Cancer UK's Specialist Nurses in confidence on 0800 074 8383 or online via the Live Chat instant messaging service: www.prostatecanceruk.org. The Specialist Nurse phone service is free to landlines and open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays,10am to 5pm on Wednesdays.

Prostate Cancer UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1005541) and in Scotland (SC039332). Registered company 02653887.

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Football Fitness Club The Football Fitness Team Explain the "The Crucial Stretch: Unveiling the Importance of Stretching in Football" In the world of football, where agility, speed, and strength are paramount, the role of stretching often goes underestimated. Yet, stretching plays a pivotal part in a footballer's life, enhancing performance, preventing injuries, and promoting overall well-being. As a football coach, I aim to shed light on the significance of stretching and why it should be an integral part of every player's routine.

Improved Flexibility

Stretching exercises are designed to increase a player's range of motion by stretching and elongating the muscles. Greater flexibility enables footballers to perform a wider array of movements on the field, from quick changes in direction to high kicks. Players with enhanced flexibility can control the ball with finesse and react swiftly to any situation.

Enhanced Performance

An essential component of football is the explosive power required to sprint, jump, and make rapid changes in direction. Stretching helps improve a player's muscle function, making it easier to generate power and increase speed. In short, a well-stretched player is more likely to outpace their opponents and excel on the field.

Injuries are a footballer's worst nightmare, and stretching is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk. Regular stretching helps players maintain muscle balance, which, in turn, minimises the likelihood of muscle strains, tears, and other injuries. It also reduces muscle stiffness, which can cause discomfort and lead to injuries when neglected.

Faster Recovery

After intense training sessions or matches, stretched muscles recover more quickly. Stretching helps flush out waste products that build up during physical activity and can lead to soreness. A quick post-match or post-training stretching routine can go a long way in ensuring that players are ready for the next game or practice.

Mental Focus

Stretching is not just about physical preparation; it's also an excellent way to enhance mental focus. It offers a moment of tranquility and relaxation, helping players clear their minds and prepare for the game. Developing a stretching ritual can serve as a mental cue to switch into game mode.

Longevity in the Game

In football, it's not just about excelling today; it's about enjoying a long and fruitful career. Regular stretching can help players maintain their physical condition and overall health, increasing the likelihood of a longer and more successful time in the game.

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Injury Prevention

Conclusion

As a football coach, I urge players to consider stretching as more than just a pre-match routine. It's a fundamental aspect of player development, performance enhancement, and injury prevention. Emphasising stretching in your football program can lead to stronger, faster, and healthier players who are better prepared to face the challenges of the game. Remember, football is not just about what happens on the pitch but also what you do off it. So, make stretching a non-negotiable part of your training and preparation, and watch your game reach new heights. Stretch to reach your full potential in the beautiful game.

If you are interested in joining Football Fitness Clubs weekly session based in Chelmsford, Please contact: footballfitnessclub@btinternet.com

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MATCHFIT

EXPLAIN TRAINING

STAMINA IN THE POOL 34

TRAINING STAMINA IN

THE POOL

Swimming pool sessions can provide a way of adding variety to your training and offer an alternative to pitch and gym-based stamina work. Pool work can be of great benefit in a few situations: If you’re returning from injury: if you’re not quite ready to get back to running-based workouts, swimming pool sessions offer a means of getting a cardio workout without the impact. If you’ve got a little niggle: adding extra running-based work to your training schedule to help build stamina might not be the best thing if you’ve got an on-going or recurring niggle. Cycling or rowing in the gym would be an option, but if you prefer running, swimming pool sessions allow you to run with a much-reduced load on your joints. If your match and team training workload is already high: if you’re either training or playing matches every day and you’re not getting much recovery time, doing extra running-based work to gain an edge in stamina will put you at greater risk of getting injured. Pool sessions let you work on stamina without adding an extra load to your joints, thereby helping to minimise this risk. POOL-BASED STAMINA WORK If you’re a strong swimmer, you may be able to use swimming intervals to create a cardio workout, but there are other pool training exercises that don’t require any swimming ability. RUNNING ON THE SPOT: This is probably the most effective exercise to do in the pool. You don’t need to be able to swim, you simply run. The faster you move, the greater the intensity of the exercise, but make sure you’re pumping your arms and lifting your knees as high as you can, just as you would if you were running on the spot out of the water.

The following work to rest ratios provide a stamina workout that transfers to the type of effort required on the football pitch. There are three options: 1. 10 secs work: 20 secs rest (working at 100% intensity) 2. 15 secs work: 15 secs rest (working at 90% intensity) 3. 30 secs work: 30 secs rest (working at 80% intensity) These work to rest ratios could be applied to swimming or running on the spot. Begin with 2 sets of 4 minutes using whichever work to rest ratio you choose. Stick to the same ratio for the entire session. Progress by adding 1 minute to each set until you have built up to around 6 to 8 minutes. Once you’re there, you’ll probably hit a ceiling where you can’t improve much more, and this is when you would drop the length of the sets and increase the number of sets. For example: • Build up to 2 sets of 6 mins • Drop to 3 sets of 4 mins • Build up to 3 sets of 6 mins • Drop to 4 sets of 4 mins To keep things varied, you could change the work to rest ratio you use each session. Keeping your training as football-specific as possible is always the ideal, football is a running-based sport and includes sharp changes of direction, but if too much running based work is putting you at risk of injury, then pool work can be an alternative way to increase your stamina. KEY POINT: Pool work can help you to increase your stamina without adding extra loads to your joints, but you need to plan it. Pick your work to rest ratio and pick the number of minutes you’re going to keep going for.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE

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FINAL

WHISTLE BY PAUL SMITH

Another month with VAR controversies thank the lord we do not have them. IFAB met this week and are considering the use of sin bins in some lower football pyramid leagues, something I have been using for six years now. Primarily the role of the sin bin was to curb dissent to Referees, but our law makers are considering bringing in sin bins for fouls, personally ( and I doubt it will affect my world cup chances!!)I think that is a bad idea Referees can handle players with yellow cards for fouls a sin bin for a foul all be it accidently and with a player in the sin bin for dissent could severely alter the outcome of a match. In one of the leagues I officiate in if a club has numerous misconduct reports filed against them there is an option to deduct the clubs points a severe penalty agreed but that would encourage clubs to remove players from their clubs and it is my believe that a sin bin is a club fine not personal. Time will tell on this one and it will be interesting to see just where this is implemented. The festive season is almost upon us where most of us have two weeks off and make new year's resolutions I predict we may see a change in the shin pad law where a shin pad has to cover the entire length of the shin the number of bruises and cuts, we as Referees see where the pad literally just passes the ankle, I hope the law is changed it is there to protect the players after all. So, to all the readers and all associated with the magazine may I take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas and a very Happy New Year Enjoy the Sprouts!!!

Smithy

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MATES FC

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What is MATES in the Community? 'MATES in the Community' is our commitment to going that extra mile for our community. Rather than charging attendance fees for our events, be that MATES FC Thursday training sessions or Saturday matches, we instead ask our attendees to bring donations for one of the monthly 'good causes' that we support, if they can afford it. Since 2019, we have held a ‘Countdown to Christmas’ campaign to help those in the community that need us, advertising collection of donations for a new 'good cause' every week of December. Last year, we decided to continue this beyond Christmas, collecting donations for a different 'good cause' each month throughout the whole year! ❑ Over the course of 2023, we have collected countless donations for our 5 main good causes: ❑ The Chelmsford Food Bank ❑ The Little Edi Foundation ❑ Changing Pathways ❑ Cool to be Kind, and ❑ Wallace Dogs On top of our 5 monthly good causes, we have also been able to raise money for and donate to: Growbaby, The Royal British Legion (£285 total), The British heart Foundation and One Love Dog Rescue

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Below are a few examples of the amount of donations collected for each good cause so far this year, with our 'Countdown to Christmas 2023' currently underway:

❑ Chelmsford Food Bank - 4 Range Rover boots & seats full. ❑ The Little Edi Foundation - 3 Range Rover boots full ❑ Changing Pathways - 2 Range Rover boots full ❑ Cool to be Kind - 3 Range Rover boot, backseat and passenger seat full ❑ Wallace Dogs - 3 Range Rover boots full

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grassroots magazine IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO OUR NOTICEBOARD, CALL 07752 178637. grassrootsmag@btinternet

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Grassroots is proud to be supporting Farleigh Hospice Grassroots Magazine is delighted to be supporting local charity, Farleigh Hospice. In each edition, we will be sharing with you their latest news along with upcoming events that you can get involved in! Farleigh Hospice has been a cornerstone of our local community since 1982 when, following the death of a lady called Audrey Appleton from cancer, her friends Glenda Lance and Dr Gill Collier launched an appeal to establish hospice services in and around Chelmsford. Since its creation later that same year, Farleigh has provided hospice care to thousands of people affected by life-limiting illnesses and bereavement across mid Essex. The hospice, which is celebrating its 40th birthday this year, continues to help people to live as actively as possible from the point of diagnosis to the end of their lives, by providing physical and emotional care, free of charge. As a charity, Farleigh relies on the generosity of the local community to raise the £6 million it needs every year to care and support those who rely on its services. One of the ways that Farleigh engages with the community is through the range of fundraising events it organises throughout the year, which are listed on its website -

www.farleighhospice.org/events Here we take a look at some of the exciting events coming up… the Annual Quiz, Sponsored Doggy Walk and Autumn Shopping Extravaganza!

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