Jumpers for Goalposts: May 2019 by Jumpers for Goalposts

ISSUE 1

MAY 2019 FREE

INSIDE... Exclusive Interview with Jamie Carragher

Team in Focus: Southport FC

Content Line-Up: 3. Letter from the Editor 5. Age is Just a Number 7. Football Through the Lens 8. In Focus: Southport F.C. 13. Tackling Homelessness 17. The Untold Story 18. In Focus: LitherlandRemyca 20. LCFA Sunday Premier Cup 26. In Focus: Abbey Road Vets 28. The Universal Language 30. Girl Power 31. Nothing but the Best 32. Futsal Fever 33. The Fifth Official 34. Saturday vs Sunday League

Letter from the Editor

ello one and all!

Thank you for choosing to read ‘Jumpers for Goalposts’. My name is Stephen Killen, I’ve been playing football since I was eight and have had the pleasure of playing grassroots football in the city for the best part of my life. This is a Liverpool-based magazine focusing on open age football in the city, but as well as this shining a light on the uncovered aspects of the game. I’ve had the privilege of meeting some remarkable people throughout the course of writing and producing this magazine, I can’t extend my appreciation to those who have helped and featured in the magazine. Enjoy the magazine,

Stephen Killen

“It’s great for your” mental health!

- Chris Griffiths, 63

Age is just a number

All images owned by © Stephen Killen

t was a wet and windy morning in late April, to most people they would peek out the window and decide to sit in the comfort of their own homes. That wasn’t the case for over 70 men who braved the treacherous conditions to have a game of football. However, it wasn’t the football you would expect. The men all aged 50 and above rolled back the years to have a game of Walking Football. LFC Foundation have run a programme called ‘Red Neighbours’ since January 2017. When Walking Football is usually spoke about, the common misconception is that it is

very slow and isn’t at all exciting. But, if you were to attend one of the sessions on a Tuesday or a Friday, oh, how wrong you would be. The game took up two pitches, on the left you had the slower paced game but on the right, you had a well contested game with Liverpool legend Alan Kennedy lacing up his boots. For Kennedy, this wasn’t a one-time thing, this was just any old Friday morning for the two-time European Cup winner. For many of these men, they were playing alongside a hero of theirs or if they were a Blue, they were playing against a player who they resented for eight years during his time at Anfield.

06 What was remarkable to see was how this group of once strangers, come together two days a week and battle it out for 60 minutes before going into the Sports Centre Café and enjoying a cuppa. n a time where more than two million people in England over the age of 75 live alone, these sessions do more than just help these men get exercise. Words and actions can’t describe how important these sessions can be and that was the real eye-opener. 91-year-old Jim Moundry told JFG: “It’s giving me that extra year, I don’t score goals, I like to hang back. I’m getting out a lot more now, I’m meeting new people and new friends.” The only thing that mattered on the day and the message that was to enjoy the game. With Anfield visible in the distance and as the rain continued, the matches only escalated in competitiveness. No matter what age the goalkeepers were they were still agile as they

were 30 years previous, diving down low left and right to make saves. Even those seasoned Walking Football veterans, they couldn’t believe how much participating in every week would help them improve at their stage of life. Sol Sorskey, 81, said: “When I first came, I thought I was fit and I wasn’t. I couldn’t run and I couldn’t kick the ball. “Over the year, I can kick the ball, score goals. When I first come, they used to say ‘Leave him, let him have the ball”, now it’s ‘Get me if you can.’” Families and friends, too, were in attendance watching on as their loved ones relive a past time which took up the vast majority of their childhood. Also with Liverpool and Everton not enjoying the most successful of periods in their clubs histories, it was a chance for them to show the current pro’s how it is done.

Not dampening their spirits: As the rain falls, play continues .

07 Football through the Lens Jumpers for Goalposts speaks to Amateur Football photographer Paul Moran

n recent years, photographers have became more and more prominent in the higher divisions but there has been a lack of those snapping moments from Grassroots Football. Step forward Paul Moran. He gives us an insight into his world as he surpasses 2,500 matches and what sparked his Q: When did you first start watching football? first started watching football around 5-6 years old when my dad took me to Liverpool A and B games at Melwood when his job was as a coach of these teams. I remember going to watch reserve team games at Anfield when I was older as he was promoted to reserve team coach around 1970 when I was 8. My first LFC 1st team game was in 1969 and I went to a few big games up to 1974 when my dad went up to the first team. I would also go to Marine games at 10 years old upwards as the ground is near to were we lived so I could go there as well.

Q: What is it that you love about non league football? love watching non league has always been there because I basically love watching any level of football. I watch Liverpool 1 day and a West Cheshire league game the next day.

Q: How and why did you get involved in shooting sports pictures? he photography only started about 5 years ago when my wife got me a camera for Christmas. I never really fancied taking it to games at first but as time passed I really enjoyed the involvement doing the pictures has brought.

Q: What would you describe as your best game? y favourite game is the St Etienne game at Anfield in 1977. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m lucky enough to know Davie Fairclough as well.

One of his favourite pictures. ÂŠ@PaulMoran62

“It felt like

the tail was wagging the dog, so we had to break that. ”

wo years on from their relegation to the National League North, Southport’s bid for promotion stretches to its 10th year. In a season which saw the Yellows have just one win under their belt by November, the Port faithful hoped to avoid the drop but come April they finished the campaign one place better off than the previous season and with two more additions to the trophy cabinet. A Senior Cup double for boss Liam Watson over Prescot Cables and Colne, respectively, all but ensured that their topsy-turvy season ended in success. As he goes into his 16th collective year in charge of the Haig Avenue side, Liam Watson spoke to JFG recapping the 60-match season his side endured as well as looking on to next season.

Following the departure of former-Bolton Wanderers forward Kevin Davies, the 48-yearold was back in the hot-seat for the third time. The opening four games of the National League North saw Southport score once and concede nine. ollowing the torrid run of form, Watson decided that something needed to change: “Far too many believed they were better than what they were. “They were probably allowed to do what they want, too many opinions and on the back of it a lot were not as good as they thought they were.” Their visit to AFC Telford’s New Bucks Head stadium on the opening day of the season was a wake-up call for the former Southport striker, as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat: “I always

09 sum it up, when it is the first day of the season and you have 26 players, only 11 of them start the season. “As a result, you’ve got more players unhappy than happy, then all of a sudden it becomes a problem and splits start arising within the group and not everyone can play. He continued: “When there’s too many not playing, that’s when the negativity spreads and then the place becomes a difficult place to work. I always say it felt like the tail was wagging the dog, so we had to break that, and I was always pretty convinced that results would start to come, I was lucky in the fact that I was backed [by the board].” outhport’s poor run of form created an atmosphere around Haig Avenue amongst players, club officials and fans-alike. This led to a clear out of the squad which saw the sacking of two players, captain David Lynch joined Alfreton Town for an undisclosed fee which paved the way for David Morgan’s captaincy and a further five players left on loan. The 48-year-old set his sights on the youth products of the higher divisions, delving into the ranks of Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers, adding Wanderers duo Liam Edwards,

Inset: Liam Watson with the Lancashire Challenge Trophy. Left: Liam Watson before FA Cup Second Round Replay v Tranmere. Above: Platt (left), and Edwards (centre) attacking a cross v Blyth. All copyright © Julia Urwin

Marcus Wood, as well as, defender Matthew Platt. atson was delighted at the contribution from the loanees: “For all of them, it’s been there first real spell of first team football for the lads and whatever happens I think Southport has been a great learning curve for them. “I’d like to think that we would have a chance of keeping them but then again as much as they’ve come in and played the games, you look at Matt (Platt) and Liam (Edwards), they’re 22 and never been in matchday squads, “At 22 you should be playing regularly, it doesn’t matter where you are, to get experience and have a proper career you need to be playing.” He concluded. Arguably, the turning point in Southport’s season was their run in the FA Cup. Following wins over Farsley Celtic, Curzon Ashton, Ashton United and 2017/18 National League Play-Off runners-up Boreham Wood set up a second-round tie with local rivalries Tranmere Rovers. Their season seemed to have turned around as they went from being threatened with relegation but following their 1-4 away win over an in-form Kidderminster Harriers, it sparked an unbeaten run, which transformed

Southport top scorer Dion Charles celebrates during their 4-1 win over Kidderminster Harriers. © Julia Urwin

their season as they began to flirt with the play-offs,stretching from the start of November until the middle of January. his came to an end after they fell to a 1-0 away defeat to play-off rivals Altrincham which seemingly never recovered from and a day which Watson described as ‘horrific’: “We got to within four points of the play offs, then we had a horrific day at Alty (Altrincham) when we should’ve won the game, we were certainly first half we should’ve been on top. “It wasn’t just refereeing decisions, the injuries we picked up in the game and then we already lost Ryan (Astles) in the Chester game, Liam (Edwards) got sent off and we lost Dean (Winnard) it was a little bit of a falling apart from that.” However, there could be an argument that their failure to beat the Robins was a blessing in disguise with Watson still trying to mend previous wounds, “But from then on, the emphasis was on the County Cups, do I think

we were ready to get into the play-offs? No. However, if you take away the first third of the season, would we have been in the play-offs? Yeah, definitely. Which is good looking on to next season.” With their league aspirations out the window, their attention turned to a County Cup double which they duly delivered beating Prescot Cables in the Liverpool County FA Senior Cup on penalties and easing past Colne 1-3 at the University of Bolton Stadium to win their ninth Lancashire FA Junior Cup. After their 60th overall game in the 2018/19 season, there was a sense of relief for Watson as the curtain came down on what he believed was his hardest season as manager. Watson explained: “It’s been a long testing season, probably been a good testing season for the football club in the fact that I’m an experienced manager. “It has 100% been without a shadow of a doubt the toughest season of a career,” He laughed.

11 “That’s even when I was manager of Runcorn and all the players were put on the transfer list, we were nearly going bust, sold the ground, them days were tough but this is tough, that was tough for financial reasons.” owever, he was looking on to next season offering a warning to the Southport players, “This season was tough for a lot of different reasons but what I will say some of the players that will be moved on in the summer.” However, he was looking on to next season offering a warning to the Southport players,. “This season was tough for a lot of different reasons but what I will say some of the players that will be moved on in the summer.” On the topic of next season, Watson only has his eyes on one thing drawing comparisons to his Blue Square Bet league winning campaign during his first spell with the Sandgrounders, “[We’re targeting] Promotion. We’ve got to be challenging early, you don’t want to play catch up. I hope the players will know a lot more about me and I know a lot more about them. “I’m saying for the record I think that we could keep some of the loans. “I think we’ll be alright, done it before in the past, we’ve had good runs and then we’ve had five quality additions and have gone on and won the league. I like to think we’re in the same thought process now.” He concluded.

“ We’ve got to be

challenging early, you don’t want to play catch up ”

Tackling Homelessness

igures from 2018 show that 320,000 men, women and children were homeless in the UK. With an increase in unemployment figures accompanied by rising mental health cases, the need for organisations in place throughout Britain is at its highest. However, a charity called Liverpool Homeless FC has been increasing in stature in city since its inception in 2007. Their motto â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;More Than Just Footballâ&#x20AC;? speaks volumes. Like many people across the city, the work of homeless charities often goes unreported. But LHFC are using the power of football

to transform the lives of many people across Merseyside, not just those who are homeless, they too are using their resources to help tackle different issues in the city like drug and alcohol addiction as well as mental health. In their 12-year history, Liverpool Homeless FC have helped 249 people go into employment, saw 411 completing training courses, served 26,869 meals and helped access the health of over 2,800. JFG went along to their opening day and spoke to Chief Executive Officer, John Finnigan, he said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The idea came from Steve Barton and Merve Lynch playing football against each other, at the time they rang me I was

“Hostel life is one

step up from prison, a little thing becomes a big thing, there’s no motivation

”

working in a Youth Hostel, at the time asking if we wanted a game. I had three players I couldn’t get them out of bed.” “Out of 36 lads, I could only get three to play. By the time I got back to the hostel they were buzzing and then the week after I had nine and it kind of stemmed from there. On the last Tuesday of every month, they host the Homeless League, this is where multiple charities across the region lock horns to battle it out on the field. Each matchday has its own specific theme to help those who are in the care of these charities get the help and support they deserve as well as enjoying hot food, fruit and drinks. The new season kicked off in support of Prostate Cancer with Sky Sports pundit and Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher in attendance showing his support who was joined by Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham with ex-Liverpool player John Barnes showing his support in the next phase of fixtures. Jamie Carragher is well-known for his contribution and support for such projects around the city, he said: “I think Liverpool as a city there isn’t anyone better with helping people.

“We know the area we are in is poverty stricken in certain areas and it is difficult at times but there is a sense of community anywhere else in the country than there is in this city that would come together in the numbers that have for the league.” ach season, the league goes from strength to strength as it grows yearly with the likes of Tranmere Rovers and the Whitechapel Centre have teams eyeing glory with LHFC looking to spoil other teams’ ambitions. Seeing the growth especially by unifying all five borough’s within Merseyside is something that John is proud of, he told JFG: “Put a football down and people will come from miles just to kick it.” “Some kids won’t even cross the road because they will be entering someone else’s territory, you look at this and they’re from St. Helens, the Wirral, Sefton wherever, but what are they doing? They’re playing football in a safe environment and that’s what it’s about.” Aside from their own Premier League, they also hosted their Homeless Games in April. With their belief that an active lifestyle can help those suffering from homelessness or addiction problems/mental health issues.

Back of the Net! Well-timed first touch finish leaves the keeper flat-footed © Stephen Killen

heir projects stretch further than football, celebrating the awarding of their charity status in April, but they have bigger plans, Finnigan explains: “We’re in talks with the council to build a stadium, it will be a community stadium and it’ll be a 3,000 seated stadium with 18 self-contained flats so it’s to house our members and to work.” One of the main issues, he finds in modern times is the misconception of homeless people in the media. With the influence that social media and the press are having on their readers, it creates a certain agenda against homeless people, a stigma that LHFC CEO John Finnigan wants to quash:“People who think they know homeless people, we invite them down and they say

“they’re normal people.” And yeah they are normal people, just those who fell on hard times and it can happen to anyone.” “It is important to us to get our message across to people that not all people are drug addicts or crazy, come down and watch them play football and you’ll see they’re just like you and me.” If you are interested in volunteering for Liverpool Homeless FC, you can email John Finnigan at CEO@liverpoolhomelessfootballclub.com. Furthermore, if you would like to donate, there are various ways people can support from donating food or clothes to the Whitechapel Centre.

A show of respect, players from both teams shake hands. © Stephen Killen

17 The Untold Story

Niall Dawson during his time with Chester FC.

very young lad in Liverpool dreams of going on to play professional football following in the footsteps of the likes of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, however the harsh reality of it is many of them are left heartbroken as they are often released at the ages between 15 and 17. With the North West having over 10 teams in the Premier League and the Football League they cast their eye onto the footballing city that is Liverpool to try and find the next hard-hitting midfielder or clinical striker that Merseyside has to offer. The home-grown talents like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jonjo Kenny and Tom Davies often receive plaudits for achieving their Academy Graduate status. However, for those who go through their adolescent years at professional clubs, when their time has come and they fail to get to the next step of their career, they’re often go unnoticed as they find their feet away from football. Local lad Niall Dawson started his journey, like many others, in Sunday League but at the age of 13 he caught the attention of Blackpool. The Seasiders were enjoying their time in the top-flight of English Football with the likes of Charlie Adam and DJ Campbell in the squad..

As the story goes, this was just beginning of the Tangerines’ demise down the footballing pyramid as scholarships for his year groups were being decided. Now 21, Dawson recalls his time with the club speaking to JFG he said: “The training was a lot more intense and a lot more specific.” “I started doing day release at Blackpool at age 15, where I travelled down and training one day a week and missed school for the day. We were doing actual training as well as classroom lessons.” For many of the boys who were playing at the time, they were in touching distance of a contract. But as Blackpool slumped to consecutive relegations, their finances took a hit which saw Niall and seven or eight others missing out while other clubs would release up to four players. Looking back on his time on the coast, he had some regrets, he explained: “The thing I regret about spending my teenage years at the academy is the sacrifices you had to make to give yourself the best chance. they wanted full commitment and you’d have to leave school one day a week otherwise it would look as if you put education over football.”

From Agony

itherland REMYCA confirmed their Hallmark Security Premier Division status for another season as they avoided relegation on the penultimate game of the season thanks to a Lennon Whewell double against Burscough. While they city counterparts City of Liverpool and Bootle FC battled it out at the top of the table, to see who would be crowned champions and win promotion to the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Division One West, REMYCA were battling to stay in the division. As their history enters it’s 60th-year, the 2018/19 season was certainly not one for celebration. In recent seasons, REMY have enjoyed success only narrowly missing out on promotion in 2017 following a play-off final defeat to neighbours City of Liverpool. Litherland REMYCA hav established themselves in grassroots football, having 30 teams from aged six to veterans. Chairman Don Rimmer couldn’t hide his delight on the work the club has done as they enter into their diamond year, he told JFG: “We have laid down positive club values and created a player development pathway to try

and provide youth players a route into nonleague football. “I am immensely proud of the fact we have created a family feel to the club where parents can bring their children to get active have fun and enjoy football. “We have set out to be. Community Club to be the best we can and play at the highest level possible.” This season saw the club received a lot of press coverage following their expulsion from the FA Cup. After a 4-2 win over Charnock Richard, an investigation was launched into Remyca fielding a player, Warren Jevons, who had yet to pay a fine for a previous club. REMY put this down to an administrative error but the Football Association took the decision to expel the club. Rimmer believes that it sums up their ‘rollercoaster of a season’: “The expulsion from the FA Cup was harsh and difficult to take but sort of sums up a rollercoaster of a season. “It impacted financially as the next round would have seen us play Leek Town FC who attract big gates at home. “The flip side of all of this was there was

To Ecstasy

widespread support from the football comgoing into their final two games. munity generally and the national coverage In the run they were mauled at 0-4 home to provided publicity and put the REMY name West Didsbury & Chorlton – who were evenout there. tually relegated, one they were deemed to win. combination of the then-manager James Despite fading down the league table, Olson departing and a mid-season colfull-back Declan Gregson believes that an lapse saw them fall down the table which saw improvement has been made: “I’m immensethem flirt with the drop. ly proud. I’ve played the majority of the As a result, Phil Stafford returned to the hot campaign at left-back which is a new role for seat. However, the winter blues struck and me and it has been a new challenge to bring a mid-February proved to be the beginning of more defensive side to my game. their torrid run of form, REMYs chairman of “As a club, we’ve been on a rollercoaster, eight years said: “In mid February this season but survival in our first ever year at this level we defeated Silsden away 2-0 and moved on to shows great progress and it’ll be interesting to 36 points. see how far we can now go in 2019/20.” “With ten games to play we were happy with our position. Then commenced the poor run which on reflection was down to a combination of factors namely, injuries, suspensions due to frustration and lack of discipline and unavailability of key players. “We had a pattern of conceding early goals and chasing games and being more open at the back.” After eight consecutive defeats, it looked like there was no way they would break the record Declan Gregson attempts to cross. © Nick Gerrard

LCFA Sunday Premier Cup Final Melling Victoria v Kensington Fields In Pictures

They went into the second half goal-less until...

Kensington Fieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Karl Clair opened the scoring with a stunning strike.

Jubilation!

Last Chance Saloon for Melling Vics...

Level at the death

Straight into a penalty shoot-out

Melling Victoria win 4-3 on penalties!

All photographs ÂŠ Stephen Killen

“WE ONLY WENT AND DID IT DIDN’T WE!”

espite many players on Merseyside finishing fourth last season: “We’ve definitely hanging up their boots to pursue made progress this year in terms of how the different avenues outside of football, squad has improved with the quality players there is a still thriving league that is the Veterwe have added and reaching 2 Cup Finals. an’s league. “We have also scored a lot of goals, over 130 I Zingari Combination league hosts three in all competitions so far with 2 League games divisions; First Division, the Veterans Over left. The race for the golden boot is interest35’s and the Veteran’s Over 40’s with 38 teams ing.” across the leagues. Last season saw the league split into two Abbey Road Veterans did the unthinkable divisions, however Division One had just five when they beat First Division side Empress teams in it whereas the second division had a FC in the Challenge Cup on penalties, just a mere seven teams participating. number of weeks after losing to Britannia in However, this year the league took the similar circumstances at Alder. decision to merge both leagues, something Challenging to be First Division champions, ‘Coyley’ feels has been a positive change: Empress, were a much more youthful team “Having a more competitive league this season compared to the Vets. by combining the 2 Divisions has proved an After being all square after 90 minutes, the unqualified success. game went to a shootout before Gary Gamble slotted the winning penalty. Manager Stephen Coyle tweeted after their triumph: ‘So proud so emotional but we only went and did it didn’t we!’ Next year will be the 10th year that Abbey Road Vets, manager Stephen Coyle believes his side have made Close!Abbey Road Vets go close in the final vs Britannia. ©Stephen Killen progress this season after

27 “In a veterans league that is very important because there are more games that can go either way.” It has been a stark contrast to last season for Abbey Road Vets, this season. They have turned their fortunes round. Earning 46 points from 20 games and challenging for the league compared to last season when in 12 games they could only pick up 11 points. he title could go down to the wire with Remyca currently at the top of the pile with Britannia nine points adrift with four games in hand, with Abbey Road having two matches left. The league leaders did the double over the Vets, winning both matches by a goal to nil, but Coyle took positives from the games as his side rued ‘missed chances’ and conceding a ‘soft goal’. Britannia’s final game in hand is against Abbey Road who have already secured third place, if they win three out of the four, they

will need just a point over Coyle’s side to be crowned champions. Their penalties defeat to the Brit in the final was a bitter pill to swallow for Coyley, who on reflection doesn’t have any regrets from the defeat: “In hindsight I could maybe have made a couple of changes in the final against the Brit so that we had fresh legs on to take the penalties. Also don’t like leaving players out of games like the finals who can count themselves very unlucky not to play - that’s the part I hate but you can only pick eleven.” As the season draws to a close, reflecting upon a successful season, there is only one thing on the Abbey Road Vets’ managers mind: “We will be adding 3 or 4 players who have reached 35 but have proved themselves over many years with great success. “The plan is to have a right good go at the league next season and hopefully pick up a couple of cups along the way.”

The Universal Language By the end of 2017 there were 121,837 refugees, 40,365 pending asylum cases in the UK.

he Liverpool County FA have been running a Refugee and Asylum Seeker football programme for four years and have helped and/or engaged with over 700 participants. Many of these young men and women have fled from either their war-torn countries or have had to flee for their own safety. Through the power of football, the LCFA have put on a number of sessions for refugees and asylum seekers as well helping them through referee and coaching courses over the past two years. From these sessions, they have formed strong partnerships with Asylum Link, a Merseyside organisation which offer a safe place for asylum seekers to meet and learn about their newcommunity. Football Development Officer for the LCFA, Stuart Carrington, organises and carries out the sessions. He took the decision to start helping refugee

and asylum seekers using the sport following the harrowing coverage which surfaced in 2015, he told JFG: “Like anybody else, everybody likes to play football so for me it was a chance to give these guys a go. “For a lot of people, they started taking note when there was pictures of a baby washed up on the shore, before that no one was really interested in Refugee’s or Asylum Seekers. “So that struck a chord in my heart for me, can we do something to integrate them into society.” In 2017, refugee and asylum seekers occupied just 0.25% of the UK Population, with developing countries hosting 85% of the world’s refugees, as per Refugee Action. Something Stuart firmly believes in is using football sessions to help them link with their new home and giving them ‘that acceptance into society’. For Carrington his part of a coach is just a small part of the job, he explained: “I class

29 the refugee and asylum seekers as friends as well as being a coach, when I take sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays even when we bring them into tournaments. “Some of the stories you hear are horrific, but they open their heart up to you and it’s that trust element where they feel safe in the environment that we provide for them. “The rewards are there for me, when it’s the right time for them and they can invite their families over when they get their refugee status, seeing them reunite with their families for the first time is the biggest plus for me.” Mo made a life decision which would change

his life forever. e moved to Liverpool from the Middle East in 2015. After two months he was playing Saturday and Sunday league football for the likes of Dengo FC, Waterloo Dock and Canada FC. When the topic of football was mentioned, you could see how much joy that the beautiful game had brought him since moving, he explained how playing football in Liverpool helped him: “When I play football, I feel good, I feel happy, more and more I’m making good friends. “Now I’m starting to hangout and I’m just

“ I’m happy now, I’m looking forward

to playing again. Football is my life, I’ve been playing all my life. ”

All smiles! Coaches and players pose after a session.

GIRL POWER

omen’s football is on the rise in “I think more of an issue is the environment England, with community and FA which is created within each specific team or ran projects pushing for greater club. When the focus is all towards success female participation. with no developmental pathway, the atmosAs the Lionesses continue to enjoy success phere can often become toxic.” winning the She Believes Cup in March and However, Warham still finds himself will look to add to their collection as they fly struggling to recruit players for his team who play ever Sunday, he explains the situation he to France this summer for the World Cup. finds his team in: “It is much harder to recruit The FA continue to push forward their strategy for the Women’s game. They’re hoping players in this area, for example, than in larger towns and cities. There are also a number to double participation for women’s and girls’ of clubs which look to grow numerous new football by 2020. teams by attracting players and indeed whole Part of the initiative is to change perceptions teams from existing clubs in order to access and social barriers for girls participating in significant ‘Grow the Game’ funding. sport. “Thankfully, we have positive links with local A 2015 BBC survey found that More than junior clubs in order to create a co-operative 40% of elite sportswomen in Great Britain pathway for junior players to gain experihave experienced sexism but only 7% had ence,develop and progress to adult football.” reported it. While there is no new findings, the Football Association continue to bolster women’s participation. Jumpers for Goalposts spoke to Southport Ladies manager Noel Warham on the issues that managers and the players face. He believes that sexism is slowly being pushed out of the sport: “I think that this was much more of an issue in the past. The emergence of female role models and the dissemination of various female football programmes has helped to eliminate these. Pushing forward: Southport Ladies attack. ©Noel Warham

Nothing but the Best

Jumpers For Goalposts speaks to Tranmere Rovers Futsal player Matthew Best

0-year-old Matthew Best has been ever-present for Tranmere Rovers Futsal this season, captaining the side nine times for Rovers. The Division One North side are currently sat mid-table, 11 points off Cheshire Futsal who have lost just once this season. Best has been playing Futsal since he was 16 after he was released by Tranmere Rovers’ academy aged 14. Following his departure from his boyhood club, his says he suffered a loss of confidence: “I wanted to stop playing football and pursue Futsal because after being released by Tranmere, I lost confidence and just felt this was a good way for me regain belief and enjoy playing again.” Progressively the Whites have been improving, last season they failed to beat the drop by despite beating Oxford City Lions 9-8 to secure their place in Division One. But since joining their Futsal team, he has enjoyed the rhythm and pace of the game. For Best, wearing the Super White of Tranmere is a dream of his, he told JFG: “To wear the Tranmere shirt with my name on the back is something special.” As a local lad, wearing the armband has helped him grow as a player, he continued: “Being named captain for me is good feeling to lead the team out and it made me more mature as a player and I feel it has helped me develop a lot more.” Overall with their midtable finish all but confirmed, Best believes the season has been good despite the turbulent season: “This season, I’d honestly say it’s been good. There have been a few ups and downs. “Also there has been a few changes along the way. Overall as a team we have done well this season it’s been tough, but it has also been exciting to play in,” he In Action: Best looks on. ©Matthew Best concluded.

32 FUTSAL FEVER

he Football Association are putting more of an impetus on boosting participation figures in the game of Futsal. By 2024, they are hoping to have 150,000 Futsal players playing regularly across all genders and ages. As well as this, they are trying to build on the already 900 FA Level 2 and UEFA ‘B’ Futsal qualified, looking to have 15,000 over the course of the next five years. Currently in the England, there are 574 registered Futsal teams. The sport is male dominated with 394 teams who have registered with 77 female teams and 103 mixed-gender squads. Thomas Walsh is a UEFA ‘B’ qualified Futsal coach, he first took notice of Futsal when analysing how the Dutch and Spanish played. He insists that Futsal coaching can be implemented in football. Speaking to JFG, he believes that the sport captures the imagination and fuels creativity, he said: “Players get five times as much contact with the ball. “They have more chances to dribble, more chances to control, more chances to pass and shoot. “It is constant, free-flowing and it’s so exciting, it captures the kids imagination and allows them to be creative.” If you would like to try your hand at Futsal, there is a Friday Night Futsal League based in Wavertree with age groups ranging from U7’s to Open Age.

The Fifth Official D

on’t Cross The Line (Don’t X The Line) was the catalyst behind the ‘Respect the Referee’ put on by the Football Association. As a result of the verbal abuse and bullying that the referees received. Ahead of the 2019/20 season, the Liverpool County FA have taken the decision to enforce that all referee’s must wear armbands to specify their age as part of their safeguarding issue. Since their foundation in 2003, Don’t X the Line have supported referees with officials wearing shirts in support of the organisation at the Checkatrade Trophy final and most recently at the Liverpool vs Huddersfield Premier League match. The month of April saw the first year that they ran the month-long campaign that was the ‘REFSpect’ campaign. To mark the month, they released a song called ‘Football Emotions’, which has over 1,000 downloads, as well as the motto ‘Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil’. Mal Lee, CEO of Don’t X The Line, has been

in football for more than 45 years, during his time in the sport he has seen a lot of abuse and even violent action towards referees. Speaking to JFG, he recalled one of the traumatic moments he witnessed: “We had seen it many times before anyone was doing anything about touchline behaviour, it was rife. There was; racism, verbal abuse, aggression, bullying all into one.” “It was week in-week out we actually witnessed, and this is what crossed the line for me, an under 14s team actually kicking off with their parents, chasing a referee across the pitch and fighting amongst each other. “We had the protect the referee in the container which we had there while irate parents and the kids themselves were attacking the referee. He was shaken, had enough and walked away it was then when we decided to start a campaign. With the campaign coming to a close, Lee believes that since the organisation began the number of incidents has decreased, while abuse is still around he says ‘it is not as rife’.

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PROFESSIONAL BODIES DON’T RECOGNISE YOU ENOUGH AND THAT’S THE DOWNFALL

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The Saturday League v

rassroots football in Liverpool has been at the height of grassroots football in the country for decades. The city has seen the likes of the Oyster and Canada Dock win the Sunday National Cup on a number of occasions. Whereas Saturday football has the likes of AFC Liverpool, Bootle, City of Liverpool, Litherland Remyca and recently Lower Breck climbing up the divisions. It is often fiercely debated on social media and terraces alike that some of the stars of Saturday football shouldn’t play for their Sunday teams. But fans and managers alike seem to have the same opinion. Jumpers for Goalposts asked some players, managers and fans their opinion on whether players should be allowed to play for both and if it is wrong that Saturday teams pressurise their players not to play the following day. Canada Dock FC enjoyed success during the

2016/17 season, winning the Liverpool Business Houses First Division, losing in the final of the League Cup and reaching the semi-final of the Premier Cup. Tommy Bromilow doesn’t believe that the clubs are entirely to blame, he said:: “It really divides opinions. Most of the time I think it’s the players that use it as an excuse to get of playing. But I have seen it where clubs have stopped lads playing.” “When it does happen, I think they [the clubs] do it because they’ve got a vested interest in the player (paying wages) and they’ve got the pressures.” Liverpool Sunday Premier League’s Dengo FC player/manager Anthony Smith admits that despite not being on the receiving end of pressure, has in fact seen pressure being put on players, he explained: “I have never experienced a team stopping a player but I have certainly seen them put pressure on players to stop playing on Sundays.”

s Sunday League Debate “I do not think it is right and I believe these Saturday teams need to remember where they pick the players up from in the first instance.” “The Liverpool Sunday leagues have historically had the best players around, as evidenced with the amount of teams that enter and have won the FA Sunday Cup over the years. “The standard of football is top quality and I would be in no doubt that some of the Sunday teams would be stronger than a lot of nonleague teams. “ On the other hand, Anthony can understand why they put pressure on clubs, he said: “I can see where the non-league teams are coming from though, as they are trying to protect their players, some of whom they are paying decent money to each week, but I think the benefits of playing Saturday and Sunday far outweigh just playing Saturdays.” Non-League football expert James Burch echoes what the Dengo player/manager says, he believes that Saturday clubs shouldn’t have

say: “Personally I think that Sunday football is the perfect breeding ground for Saturday footballers, and clubs in the North West Counties and Liverpool leagues have over the years, found so many good players from Sunday morning leagues, who have then been able to play both days to great effect.” “I can understand that some Evo-Stik and North West Counties clubs are now paying good wages for their players, and the margins between success and failure is great.” So the risk of having a star player injured on a Sunday is big, but with little to no contracts in the 10thand 11thtiers, Saturday clubs really shouldn’t be able to dictate what their players do after 5pm on a Saturday.” Canada Dock’s21-year-old captain Lewis Jones told JFG: ”It’s wrong the Saturday clubs stop people playing on a Sunday. “Generally the lads are playing with mates and the good standard is only made better by those players having a go.”

Produced and written by Stephen Killen