HACKNEYWICKFC

Bobby Kasanga founded Hackney Wick Football Club in 2015; Hackney’s first ever semi-professional football club in nearly a century

We are not your regular football club, as our ethos is based on community engagement, uniting the local diverse groups as well as battling peer pressure and tackling gang influences

We engage 180 youths from age 4 upwards and 70 male and female adults through our training, fitness and football matches. We do this by offering educational workshops, sporting opportunities, mentoring and access to work opportunities, which actively engage with those already involved in gangs, or those on-the-brink of gang life, and those who might not be aware of the threats out there (as a safeguarding tool).

Hackney Wick FC are a community club whose members and players volunteer our services for free to the Hackney community. Be it providing free football coaching or helping out at various events our members come along and support. We will offer training, employment and community projects which promote health and well-being alongside community safety.

Hackney was one of only a few areas without a professional or semi-professional club, so this has captured the borough’s attention, including the local businesses and media. Hackney is a huge catchment area with the potential to generate thousands of fans for a borough led team.

In recent years we volunteered at Abney Park for their 175-year anniversary, Run Hackney Marathon, Hackney Wicked Festival, Den City, Refugee Camps in France, Hackney Wick Women’s Institute, Fairtrade Foundation, Hackney Quest, Wick Award, Hackney Museum, homeless shelters, Scope charity and created & hosted The Hackney Cup for Health which attracts 500 people annually

We have appeared on BT Sports, BBC Radio London, BBC Radio 5 London, London Live TV, CNN, Copa90, Click on Soccer, Football Focus Magazine, Daily Mirror, Hackney Today, Hoxton Radio, Hackney Gazette, Hackney Post, Hackney Citizens, LoveEast Magazine, The Daisy Cutter, East London Lines, Goal com plus many more

The reason for all this publicity is the way we operate as a football club The adult members of the club all volunteer two hours a month to local causes and organisations which has propelled us into the heart of the Hackney Community Not only with the young but also other vulnerable groups like the elderly who we invite to matches