• What are the main benefits of taking up football as a young person in the UK?
Outside of playing the most exciting and thrilling sport the benefits of taking up football at an early age is that it’s great for your health and also players that are exposed to football at an earlier age traditionally develop and perform better at a much higher level. Players also form amazing bonds and lifelong friendships.
• How do you see the skills and mentality that football teaches manifest themselves in the day-to-day lives of your players?
The blitz encourages the development of key skills which we see demonstrated both on and off the field. We see improvement in listening, questioning, motivation, leadership, Teamwork, Communication, Time management, organisation, planning, coaching, and mentoring. Many current and former players help develop younger and newer players by being role models, mentors and captains.
• What part do you believe football and the skills/discipline it teachers, can play in benefiting wider society?
Football is the most inclusive and diverse sport with players of all abilities, sizes and experience all welcome. Due to the club location, we attract players from every part of London and beyond. The exposure to playing in a national league and with an international coaching staff, players gain a lot that helps them and their local communities.
• The Blitz U19 programme has won three National Championships in a row and seven in nine years, what do you put that success down to?
Hard work by all concerned! The simple truth is that you need to understand the why . Once you know the why you can create the how and what. A successful team is a result of planning and all the stuff behind the scene
• Football is a growing sport in the UK, with the NFL Academy and the opportunity to play college ball in the US being legitimate options, how do you prepare your players for this step up?
Preparing young people for life is a key outcome of what we do. We use football as a platform to develop life skills as well as developing their passion, appreciation and football knowledge. Our program taps into former players who have played at a higher level and reintroduces them in the capacity of Mentors.
• Despite its growth, football is a minority sport in the UK, how do you recruit when there are so many other sports available?
Recruitment is the most difficult aspect of the sport, with a limited budget to advertise and visit local schools and youth clubs.
We utilise players networks, social media, and poster campaigns. Every year we graduate around third of our players (too old) and so when recruiting we attempt to highlight the benefits of the sport and attempt to make it affordable (cheaper than most sports or recreational activities).
• Where would you like to see the game and your programme in the next 5 years?
I would like to see the sport being played ( 11 man football ) in schools around London and having a school league. The U19 teams in London would support schools in their area and act as a feeder (satellite clubs). The model would be replicated around the country. You would run Teams by school years (or combined years).
If you or someone you know would like to get involved we have several new player events for all age groups:
Taster One 'learning the game' 13-17 year old
2nd February 2020 10:30-13:00 at Finsbury Park Stadium
https://webcollect.org.uk/blitz/event/taster-one-learning-the-game-13-19
Taster One 'learning the game' 15-19 years old
2nd February 2020 10:30-13:00 at Finsbury Park Stadium
https://webcollect.org.uk/blitz/event/taster-one-learning-the-game-15-21
London Blitz Preseason - New Player Session 19+ years old
2nd February 2020 13:00-16:00 at Market Road Pitches, Islington N7 9PL
https://www.facebook.com/events/247526236230132/
