Wallsend Boys Club host 'Spotlight on the impact of grassroots football' event to share research
Wallsend Boys Club have been supporting girls and boys for almost 120 years providing a variety of activities to the young people of North Tyneside. Grassroots football has been at the heart of the club since it opened back in 1904.
Despite the huge numbers of children and young people that play grassroots football each week, little is known about the impact this has on their lives, the lives of their families, and the lives of the volunteers and officials involved in the game. Grassroots football has not been researched nearly as much as other elements of the sport, or other aspects of children and young people's lives.
Last week an event took place at WBC which highlighted some of the work that grassroots and community football clubs do. The objective of the night was to share emerging findings from the research ongoing with the club and provide an example of youth-led research involving Northumberland FA and NE Youth.
The North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness, opened the event and shared her passion for grassroots sports clubs, then Dr Stephen Crossley from Durham University talked about the initial findings from the research, followed by an open debate which heard the views of a range of stakeholders involved with grassroots football, including researchers, policymakers, volunteers, and funders. The event was part of the Economic and Social Research Council's (ESRC) Festival of Social Science which encourages the sharing of academic research with public audiences.
Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor commented:
Football is in the North East's DNA and clubs like Wallsend Sports Club are where the region's passion and love for football is nurtured. But local clubs' contribution goes go way beyond playing sport: they are rooted in our communities, support families, bind people together and create opportunities where there would otherwise be none. I'm inspired by the work of Wallsend Boys ad Girls Club and so many like them right across our region. As Mayor I will support them and recognise the contribution they make to our region and way of life as the UK's Region of Sport."
Dr Stephen Crossley talked about the first trench of research which included Trustee and key individual interviews, archival work and parent and carer’s survey, he also went on to explain future research paths which will be taken next year. Young people from Voice FC also took the stage to talk about their experiences of grassroots football
Stephen Crossley commented:
"We're really interested in better understanding the value of clubs like Wallsend Boy's Club, which have often been supporting and working with families for many, many years, and the impact they have on people's lives. Many families' lives revolve around training sessions and kick-off times at weekends and it is often an important part of their weekly routines. For many children, training and matches will be the favourite parts of their week. Grassroots football often makes the news when things go wrong, or when there is abusive behaviour towards coaches and referees, but it would be good to recognise, and shine a spotlight on, the positive elements of it a little more often."
Ultimately, the research group hope to evidence and highlight the value of grassroots football clubs to a wide range of individuals and communities.