Papa’s Park Football Club kicks off free autumn sessions after summer success – starting Friday 9th September
Fifty young footballers registered for Papa’s Park’s summer coaching programme – and now the Brixton charity is making it permanent, with a free 12-week football club starting every Friday from …
Black News 
Fifty young footballers registered for Papa’s Park’s summer coaching programme – and now the Brixton charity is making it permanent, with a free 12-week football club starting every Friday from 9th September.
The summer sessions, coached by Sonny Black of Sporting Champs and formerly of Crystal Palace FC, were funded by Lambeth Council and Project Smith. Papa’s Park is a volunteer-run community playground on Pulross Road that has been a fixture of Brixton life since volunteers saved the derelict former council play area from developers in 2009.
Now on a 20-year lease from the council, the park is open 365 days a year and includes a playground, floodlit all-weather pitch, community hall, café and garden. The football programme is the latest addition to a space that has quietly become one of Brixton’s most valued community assets.
Young player Ammar said:
“It’s really fun, I have lots of fun learning about football, it’s made me want to do football more.”
– Ammar, young player
Four volunteers have since trained as community coaches through Football Association courses: parents Henna Ago and Tegha Kum, Michelle Killington of Empower.fit, and 17-year-old Brixton footballer Kai Watson.
“I’m so excited about being involved in this intergenerational project. I spent my youth in Papa’s and it’s a joy to be back here as a coach.”
– Michelle Killington, Community Organiser and coach
The club runs every Friday 5–6pm for 12 weeks and is open to children aged 8–13 of any gender, all abilities welcome.
If you’d like to support football for young people, Papa’s Park is crowdfunding (link below) to help keep the sessions free, supply kit, shin guards and other essentials. Fundraiser Jennifer Fleetwood told the Buzz that any amount, no matter how small is a great help, and the team are keen for people to leave their comments on the crowdfudning page, and give their feedback.
“Even a couple of pounds makes all the difference.
The support from the community boosts our spirits – we feel the love.”
– Jennifer Fleetwood, Fundraiser.
More Info
- Papa’s Park Football Club: every Friday 5–6pm from 9th September
- Crowdfunder: Keep It Up – Papa’s Football Club
- Papa’s Park
