When grassroots football came to a sudden halt due to COVID, it left a large sporting hole in the lives of local children, but now it’s returned in all of its glory, we caught up with one of Barham FC’s coaches and committee member, Tom Wilson.
Barham FC’s journey started in 2017 when a few of the grown-ups in Barham decided to organise some regular football-related activities to bring the children of the village and the surrounding areas together, and this year they’ve added an adult section welcoming both a men’s and a ladies’ team.
Tom’s work with the club began a couple years ago, helping coach The Cubs, a group of the younger children between 6 and 10 years old. We sat down with Tom to find out why Barham FC makes a great grassroots club for local children and adults alike, and how our readers might be able to get involved.
What do you enjoy most about being involved with Barham FC?
“In many ways picking one single thing is so hard because there are so many incredible things I have taken from the club. First and foremost it has to be all the people I have met; the children whose smiles light up training, the parents who put in so much effort to bring them along on a cold rainy winter’s day, the committee members who work day and night to keep the club moving forward, as well as the coaches and players.
“The children train and play their games at The Bear Trap in Barham, surrounded by fields and nature and it really is quite a sight to behold.
“At the heart of the ethos of the club is inclusivity and fun. We believe that every child and adult should have equal opportunity to play football and be involved. I can’t emphasise enough how the club is all about fun and inclusivity. Winning and losing is judged in those terms and not by how many goals are scored or conceded.”
How crucial are volunteering parents and guardians?
“The simple answer is that volunteers are the lifeblood of the club; without them there would be no club. At the end of August, we held a “pitch ready day” and we had parents with grass-strimmers, mowers, line markers, the lot.
“It takes a lot of hard work to run the club and we are always on the lookout for volunteers. The club has grown exponentially over the last 6 to 12 months and this means an ever-increasing workload. We would be absolutely delighted to hear from anyone who would like to get involved with our great club.”
What makes Barham a pleasant community to be a part of?
“In many ways Barham Football Club reflects the community it serves; Barham has a huge family feel to it with some incredible people, always willing to help out. The Parish Council has been incredibly supportive of the football club, leasing the land that we play on and helping in a huge number of ways, and Bridge Parish Council has kindly allowed the ladies to make use of their pitch and pavilion. I spent my whole childhood growing up in the area and I now enjoy watching my three children flourish in the community.”