08:45am on a Saturday morning.
The weather doesn’t quite know what it wants to do; blue sky but a touch of drizzle.
It’s Brentford versus Liverpool tonight in less than twelve hours but here in Carville Hall Park North, a Michael Kayode throw-in from Gtech, volunteers are pumping footballs and putting out mini goals and cones. Our refreshments team are ready to take you money!
Welcome to the world of Spartans Youth FC.
Spartans was founded in 2006 with a mission to provide affordable and well-structured local football and that mission still holds today.
Starting with a couple of junior sides, the club now has eleven sides including the newly formed Under 7s team playing in the Harrow Youth League, to a men’s team in the Combined Counties League.
Former players at Spartans have gone on to play at Premier League level and throughout the football pyramid.
Mark Stow, the Club chairman, is proud that in the men’s team there are seven players who have come through the ranks of the junior set up.
Eamonn Sylvester, trustee of the Charity said, “as with all clubs at this level, finance is a huge issue. Pitch hire, footballs, bibs, league registration, referees at the older ages, kit and match day expenses – they eat into the registration fees and of course parental pockets. All the coaches are volunteers and all coaches have an FA coaching qualification and all our volunteers are DBS checked.”
This is a standard for all grass roots clubs.
Brandon is the U7’s coach.Brandon has been with Spartans for years coming from the Green Dragon estate just opposite Carville Hall Park North.
Brandon said, “The money we have received from the Bees United Community Fund has enabled us to provide a full new kit for our newly formed squad of under 7’s.
Their season will started in late September and they are very excited to be wearing a brand new kit which will hopefully last a good few seasons.
Thiago is one of the new U7 squad and the participation of local children is very good, for some, their weekend football can be the highlight of their week.
Spartans Youth FC are not unique among local junior football clubs but the work they have done in Carville Hall Park on a Saturday and on Sunday match days is something they are rightly proud of and as far as Carville Hall Park North, they are unique!
The Bees UnIted Community Fund details are shared at the beginning of each year at the BU AGM, usually in January
Sharon Wright, BU Deputy Chair is the fund contact
Find out more about the Spartans
The trees come in handy too