Huddersfield Town Foundation’s University of South Wales student is a Proud Terrier

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 “I really want to help in the fight to eradicate homophobia from football,” says Ryan Mather, a first year student on the University of South Wales and EFL Trust Foundation Degree in Community Football Coaching and Development with Huddersfield Town Foundation.”

Ryan is a life-long Huddersfield Town fan and very ‘Proud Terrier’. Here is Ryan’s story…in his own words…

“I am a big Huddersfield Town fan and I have been all my life. I am an openly gay football fan and I’ve witnessed homophobia and really wanted to establish a movement to inspire a new generation of fans and create culture in which homophobia doesn’t exist.

A few years back at a Huddersfield Town vs Brighton game, which was our Rainbow Laces fixture, there was homophobic chanting from the Town end to the Brighton fans. This was the most uncomfortable I have ever felt at a game and this incident left me feeling upset, angry and so disappointed. Being made to feel like this has led to me having several panic attacks and has impacted by mental health. If I I’m feeling this, then others within our community will feel the same.

I made it my mission ultimately to create a culture of inclusion in football and develop more of an accepting atmosphere throughout the ground and community as a whole. My starting point was to create a real identity for the group and came up with ‘Proud Terriers’. I started with a logo and then created a Twitter page for the group. At the time I already knew someone at the Football Club and so I reached out to him to tell him about my ideas and to see how he could support us.

Huddersfield Town Football Club was really quick to support our mission. I will always appreciate the club support because knowing the club I have supported all of my life is now supporting me is truly surreal and a dream come true. I know how much work went in to get my ‘Proud Terriers’ flag up in to the stadium…they never gave up and always kept trying and I was so emotional and proud when it finally went up.

I took inspiration from other LGBT+ fan groups at the very beginning and as time went on I started to feel that real true support from the different groups up and down the country. Knowing we are always there for each other when we are all fighting to change football for people for the better really means a lot and we can really develop ideas together to implement in to our own clubs.

I was also keen to develop partnerships with our local schools and colleges so I reached out to Huddersfield New College’s manager of equality and diversity, who welcomed us and we started to develop a partnership including us being invited to their equality and diversity weeks and giving out some rainbow laces to the sports team. We have other great support networks too including the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, Kick it Out, Stonewall and Football v Homophobia.

The work we do is so important right now because there is a big issue within our game surrounding homophobia and things have to change. I want to keep raising awareness and educating more and more people to think twice about their actions on the terraces. I want to create a safe space for fellow fans and to make them feel welcome even though the environment around us isn’t always making us feel welcome right now. I wanted to make a big difference because being so passionate about it…it means a lot to me.

You can find out more by following Proud Terriers on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @ProudTerriers or email Ryan and the team at [email protected].

Aspiring football coaches given dream job thanks to volunteering programme

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Today is ‘International Volunteers Day’ and this is the perfect opportunity for us to celebrate some of the amazing volunteering work that takes place in our network.

Stoke City Community Trust (SCCT) run their own volunteering programme that gives aspiring football coaches a pathway into their dream job. Volunteering is a win-win situation for all involved and the programme at SCCT is a great example of this.

Sam Cartwright, 23, a graduate of SCCT’S Premier League Kicks programme, has always had aspirations of becoming a coach and his dream came true in 2018 when SCCT offered him a place on their volunteering programme which enabled him to complete his Level 2 FA football coaching qualifications.

Sam says:

“Volunteering gave me a great amount of experience, to observe different coaches and use their wealth of coaching knowledge to further my professional development. It was also thoroughly rewarding being a part of a sport and a football club which I love and seeing all the good which the Community Trust does within the City.”

Sam continued to sing the praises of the coaches and volunteers programme at SCCT:

“For a place to begin my coaching journey, I couldn’t have picked a better one. I was thrown in at the deep end in terms of coaching, which did me the world of good and has helped me learn and develop so much as a coach and an individual. The amount of opportunities I’ve been presented with have been outstanding. There’s a great support network of staff at the Community Trust, from managers, to supervisors for the educational programmes, to fellow staff members, who will always lend an ear or help you when needed and support you as you grow as a coach. All this whilst working at a club I’ve supported since the age of 6 to make it that extra bit special. I owe so much to Stoke City Community Trust.”

Another success story from SCCT’s volunteering programme is Alex Gratty. As a big Stoke City fan he jumped at this opportunity and was delighted when his application was accepted. Alex signed up to the programme as he wanted to make a difference in his local community recognising that this would improve his own mental health and confidence at the same time.

Speaking of the opportunity Alex said:

“I honestly believe that without taking that first step to volunteer at the Community Trust, I would not have been in the position in life I am now where I am happy.

By becoming a volunteer at the Trust it made me more confident and gave me the firepower I needed to believe in myself and try new things. I also believe it enabled me to mature as an individual.”

Alex sent out a clear message to anyone that is interested in volunteering:

“Take the chance!”

“I’ve been very grateful for the sessions because it has given me the opportunity to excel myself.”

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Matthew Hunter: “I’m very proud to wear the badge. You’re not just representing yourself but the club and the town as well.”

For Latics fan Matthew Hunter Wigan Athletic Community Trust’s Every Player Counts programme has provided the 31-year old the opportunity to represent the club he has adored all his life.

The initiative – which is funded by the Wembley National Stadium Trust and backed by the EFL Trust – aims to get more people with disabilities involved in football.

Matthew, who has learning disabilities, has been involved with the Community Trust for over ten years through it’s disability football programmes, and has since enjoyed a number of opportunities including represented the club in competitive games against other North West clubs.

Latics have worked with over 60 adults in the past 12 months through the project and Matthew says he loves taking part in the sessions.

“I’ve been very grateful for the sessions because it has given me the opportunity to excel myself. I love taking part and playing in a competitive league where we can win things. “We have great camaraderie and, being around different lads, we can have a laugh. Everyone is supportive of each other whatever their skill level and I think that sums up the Wigan Athletic spirit as a whole.

“I have become a better footballer than I was right at the beginning and the sessions have helped me to learn and become a better player at the same time,” he added.

The Community Trust have also delivered over 200 hours of weekly coaching, with both an adult and junior team representing Latics in the Greater Manchester Ability Counts League, something Matthew takes huge pride in.

He said: “I’ve supported Latics since I was 13 and have seen them play in the Premier League and Europe and also win the FA Cup. I’m very proud to represent my club and wear the badge. You’re not just representing yourself but the club and the town as well. Whether it’s in a game or just in a training session I will go out there and give 100%.”

Following the postponement of sessions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trust supported participants through regular communication and online challenges, which Matthew appreciated during a difficult time for him.

“It was tough during lockdown and one of the hardest things I’ve had to deal with. I struggled with it mentally and I lost a close friend to COVID-19 in April too which was really tough,” Matthew explained. “But Joe [who coaches the Every Player Counts sessions] was there for me through having a chat and supporting me through that time. “When sessions returned, I was bouncing. I went back to work in June and that felt normal so when the Monday sessions restarted, I was pleased at work at the thought of going back after five months without it.

“It was a relief to get back and I can’t wait until we start back again. “As someone who supports and plays for Latics, it’s great that the Community Trust are there, not just for me but for the town. “They are a vital part of the community and without them people would really struggle. Even during the pandemic and since March, having them there is vital and has been a big help for the town.”

Following a second lockdown, the programme is set to restart on Monday 7th December with free sessions taking place between 6pm-7pm at Wigan Athletic Academy, Stadium Way.

 

He is the Brother We All Could Do With

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Two brothers Michael and Ryan are taking different paths with Blackpool FC Community Trust.

Michael is volunteer coach at Blackpool Community Trust Every Player Counts funded Pan Ability football sessions, and he’s in a unique position of coaching his brother, Ryan, who lives with autism.

Michael and Ryan’s mum struggled to find somewhere for Ryan to attend football sessions where his disability would be catered for. Blackpool’s Pan Ability football provided the answer.  As Ryan started to play football his brother Michael became a volunteer. Having his brother there was beneficial for Ryan, making him relaxed and fell more confident and reduced his anxiety.

Michael is currently in his second year at college doing Football Coaching and Performance. Being able to volunteer with the Trust helps towards building his experience of coaching disability football. Michael says

“I absolutely love being a coach, I enjoy learning and gaining experience every time I coach. I love helping people gain better skills and the best part about coaching is the smiles it can bring.” One of the big bonuses of coaching with Blackpool is that Michael gets to see his brother Ryan’s development. He said “It’s been amazing seeing my brother progress and seeing a smile on his face every time he plays.”

Ryan really values having his brother coach him, he says

“I enjoy my brother coaching me at the footy sessions as he helps me understan what to do”.

Proud Mum Joanne, says

“It is really great having the footy session for Ryan at Blackpool because he feels safe and supported and he loves football. It reduces his anxiety a lot. I enjoy watching Michael coach his brother. He is very patient and understanding towards Ryan. He has a calming influence over him and that makes him a good support for Ryan.”

Paul, Blackpool’s  disability engagement officer who leads Every Player Counts session on a Tuesday, said about Michael,

“Although Michael is not yet 20, he is the most mature young person I know for his age. And all the participants love having him there, especially his brother. To sum Michael up, I would say he is the brother we all could do with.”

Blackpool are part of the Every Player Counts programme which is funded by Wembley National Stadium Trust and EFL Trust.  Every Player Counts has, over the past four years, got over 11,000 disabled people into football. Blackpool are one of 28 Football Club Community Organisations across the country that offer the programme, which is specifically developed for the needs of people in their local community, including those with both physical, mental and learning impairments.

Football Makes My Child Full of Smiles

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“A big thank you to everyone involved, my child was full of smiles and actually enjoyed football” says the Mum whose child has been attending Newport County’s Every Player Counts Disability Football session.

Child H, aged 10 has ASD. His mum explained that he was unsure at the thought of playing football because he had previously tried to attend a mainstream football club but struggled in a large group and got confused with the activities. County in the Community working in partnership with local disability charity Sparkle have recently delivered a 12-week programme supporting the children and young people to further develop their skills as part of EFL Trust’s Every Player Counts Programme.

During the sessions, although child H was initially nervous, he soon settled in well and responded positively to the encouragement and praise from the coaches. He especially liked receiving a medal!

Daniel Williams from County in The Community comments, “Initially, it was clear to see that Child H was nervous in relation to engaging in the session, we spent a few weeks getting to know the child to ensure the child felt comfortable. After a couple of weeks, they took it upon themselves to join in the session and every week onwards developed confidence and encouragingly tried lots of new things which was great to see as a coach!”

County in the Community are part of the Every Player Counts programme which is funded by Wembley National Stadium Trust and EFL Trust.  Every Player Counts has, over the past four years, got over 11,000 disabled people into football. Barnsley are one of 28 Football Club Community Organisations across the country that offer the programme, which is specifically developed for the needs of people in their local community, including those with both physical, mental and learning impairments.

He Was Nervous about Attending But Now He’s Coaching the Team

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Two years ago Darren was at his lowest point, the loss of a close family member and mental health issues left him struggling and anxious. He decided to give MK Dons Sport Education Trust disability and mental football sessions at try.  Entering these sessions was a big step for Darren due to his mental health issues and the anxiety of not knowing how the sessions worked, whether he would fit in, and if he would enjoy attending. However, it was a decision that was to prove a catalyst to changing his life and  lead to him not only enjoying the session but taking a coaching qualification and now leading the way in helping others benefit from them too.

Darren initially joined the sessions to boost his fitness, however after a few weeks of adapting to the environment and building a rapport with coaches and fellow participants, he soon started developing his confidence and demonstrating his leadership qualities within the group. He was soon invited to represent MK Dons mental health football team – a team which went on to win the Championship.

Darren is very opinionated at times and before joining MK Dons he struggled with open debate and would react negatively if someone else shared an alternative perspective. However, he has developed his tolerance and now puts his opinions across in a manner that other participants understand and can contribute to open, meaningful discussions. His confidence levels have increased significantly, and he has developed friendships with numerous other participants. He now works well as part of a team both on and off the pitch.

MK Dons SET are part of the Every Player Counts programme which is funded by Wembley National Stadium Trust and EFL Trust.  Every Player Counts has, over the past four years, got over 11,000 disabled people into football. Barnsley are one of 28 Football Club Community Organisations across the country that offer the programme, which is specifically developed for the needs of people in their local community, including those with both physical, mental and learning impairments,

The, COVID-19 restrictions and the introduction of a national lockdown has had a significant impact on Darren. He was initially very isolated and missed the structure of his weekly football sessions. However, the Trust have made weekly phone calls to Darren and all of their mental health and disability football participants, to check in and make sure that they are okay. As a sign of how far Darren has come in the past two years, Darren also took on the responsibility to call some of the more vulnerable participants himself to check in on them and make sure they were not being left isolated.

As well as calling all participants the Trust also held weekly quizzes, which Darren helped prepare and spent time getting other participants them involved/engaged in the quiz. D has been very proactive with the wide range of activities the trust has provided during lockdown helping more vulnerable members through this difficult period.

During lockdown, Darren enrolled on MK Dons BBO (Building Better Opportunities) programme. The Trust’s Education Manager worked with D to support his employability prospects, which led to him starting his FA Level 1 coaching qualification.

In addition to his FA Level 1, Darren is currently undergoing the necessary DBS checks to allow him to support some MK Dons disability football sessions and has produced some session plans.

 

Mya and Her Family Benefit from Reds Short Breaks Programme.

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Reds in the Community, Barnsley FC’s community charity, run a short breaks programme which provides activities for participants with disabilities to enjoy valuable sporting experiences away from their parents and carers. In turn, parents and carers benefit with a valuable respite from caring.

The Father of one Short Breaks participant, Mya, has nothing but praise for the programme saying “The benefits to Mya have been immense, she’s had plenty of time to herself, her own independence which has brought her on at school and she’s got to meet other people and make friends, She got fit which is huge with kids now being sat at home a lot, she has gained a lot of skills, she’s met other people and she is socialising and now going to parties and other people’s houses and it has helped to remove a lot of boundaries and promotes a bit of conversation”

“As a family, we have had time to rest, relax and spend time with our other children and its helped them have a closer time as well and enable us to recharge our batteries and be a better parent both to our younger children and Mya”

The range of activities provided includes; Holiday Course, Saturday Coaching Club and After-School Multi-Sport sessions as well as competitive football fixtures in the South Yorkshire Ability Counts League involving neighbouring football club charities. All activities are delivered at Oakwell and within the community.

Mya’s father continues, “She (Mya) has tried mainstream sport and provisions and she has struggled, she feels very involved when she comes down here and feels like a team player, the staff are amazing, extremely supportive and understanding and go above and beyond I’m sure of their regular duties it’s been an amazing experience we trust and respect that Mya is supervised here at all times”

The Short Break programme is run in partnership with Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council. Reds in the Community are part of the Every Player Counts programme which is funded by Wembley National Stadium Trust and EFL Trust.  Every Player Counts has, over the past four years, got over 11,000 disabled people into football. Barnsley are one of 28 Football Club Community Organisations across the country that offer the programme which is specifically developed for the needs of people in their local community, including those with physical, mental and learning impairments.

Football with Argyle Community Trust Allows Oli to Feel Like a ‘Normal Teenager’

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Oli is a young boy whose disability means he has problems with his coordination, communication as well as being partially sighted, which means he was very introverted and did not mix well with people. However, his mum credits Football with Argyle Community Trust as improving his self-confidence and allowing her son be a “normal teenager”.

Oli’s Secondary School recommended the Plymouth Argyles Trust’s Holiday Roadshows. For the first couple of years it was a massive challenge for his parents to get Oli to attend these. He was always fine once there and the continuity of the coaches was clearly important to him. However after over time, Oli now asks every time to make sure he is booked onto the Holiday Roadshows and can’t wait to get there for each ession. His progress is such that over the last 12 months he has also progressed to Argyle’s Ability Counts sessions, “something we could never get him to even consider”, said Oli’s mum.

“It’s a good opportunity for Oli to see friends on a regular basis who have the common interest of football.” Oli’s mum said. “His face lights up when he knows that certain friends are going to be at the session”.

Oli’s disabilities mean he cannot always socialise like a ‘normal’ teenager as he always needs someone to support him. The Ability Counts Football session is a chance for Oli to socialise with a group of young people with common interests. Although there are many physical benefits to taking part, it is the social aspect of these sessions that most beneficial to this particular group of young people.

Argyle Community Trust are part of the Every Player Counts programme which is funded by Wembley National Stadium Trust and EFL Trust.  Every Player Counts has, over the past four years, got over 11,000 disabled people into football. Barnsley are one of 28 Football Club Community Organisations across the country that offer the programme, which is specifically developed for the needs of people in their local community, including those with both physical, mental and learning impairments.

During the lockdown period, Oli has not wanted to leave the house, other than going to school, so he has really missed the benefits provided by the football sessions. The community trust recognised the importance, now more than ever, for disabled people to stay active and the positive impact this has on their mental health. Especially for Oli who is now preparing for his exams. The coaching staff at the Trust have been providing weekly football activity videos for the participants to take part in during the lockdown period.

Since participating in the Ability Counts session Oli’s self-confidence and self-esteem has grown, along with his willingness to communicate with others. Oli’s mum said, “We saw a turning point and it has definitely improved his self-confidence, knowing that he can do something, and it is an activity he now chooses to attend which is so important for him”.

 

EFL Trust Christmas Advent Calendar

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This advent, the EFL Trust are celebrating some of the amazing people whose lives have been changed by our Clubs and Club Community Organisations (CCOs). Each morning throughout December we will be sharing a different story through our social media channels.

2020 has been by far the most challenging year of recent times, however we are extremely proud of our network who have adapted and overcome these challenges working tirelessly to serve their local communities. This calendar is a great way to share some of our favourite stories and round off the year by celebrating the amazing work that has taken place in 2020.

Our CCOs have always been and remain at the heart of the support for their communities and their importance to the daily lives of so many cannot be underestimated. That has been reflected in the outstanding collective efforts they have made in supporting the community response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Make sure you give us a follow to see our Christmas Advent Calendar:

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Facebook

To read more about the impact of the EFL Trust network and about how each Club and their Community Organisation has responded to the pandemic go to: www.efltrust.com/ourimpact/