The FA and England Football join forces with Michail Antonio to celebrate grassroots football volunteers

Through a new campaign launching today, The FA and England Football are highlighting the importance of these incredible individuals across the country with the aim of inspiring the next generation of grassroots volunteers to get involved.

West Ham United striker Michail Antonio – a player with a well-documented grassroots football story, having learned his trade at Tooting & Mitcham FC before getting his big professional break – has joined the campaign to celebrate the role of football volunteers. As someone who knows the grassroots game inside out, Antonio met a selection of the 14 volunteers to learn more about the positive impact that they have on players, clubs, and communities across the nation. The launch video also features football content creators Elz the Witch and JaackMaate and can be viewed below.

Grassroots volunteers including coaches, referees, grounds people, club secretaries and stadium announcers are crucial parts of the football pyramid and ensure safe and enjoyable environments for people to flourish. Sourced by football storytelling experts Goal Click, the volunteers featured in the campaign range from 13 to 73 years old and represent the diversity and breadth of skills on show throughout able-bodied and para football communities in England. The featured volunteers are listed below.

● Surekha Griffiths, 46: Referee, Middlesex FA
● Lipa Nessa, 25: Coach, Kick Off Football Academy
● Marcus Renzi, 39: Head Coach, Bishops Cleeve FC
● Karla Parker, 45: Club Secretary, Haringey Borough FC
● Archie, 13: Stadium announcer/coach, Faversham Strike Force FC
● Shelbee Clarke, 28: Coach/Inclusion Officer, SSG Celestials FC
● Alan McKenzie, 73: Groundsman, Bideford Blues & Appledore FC
● James Kelly, 24: Stadium Announcer, Solihull Moors FC
● David Terzza, 66: League Secretary, Harrogate & Craven Girls League
● Jonathan McNaughton, 32: League and Club Secretary, Langbaurgh League and Redcar CF
● Kelly Morris, 36: Welfare Officer/Coach, Richmond Town FC
● Tyra Mills, 23: Para coach and mentor, Watford Foundation and Fulham Foundation
● Raj Dhesi, 48: Head of Youth Development, Punjab United FC
● Sahida Ditta: Director of Football on The FA Shape the Play Programme

Michail Antonio, West Ham United striker, said: “I’m speaking from experience when I say that my football journey would have been totally different were it not for the time and effort of the grassroots volunteers who supported me along the way. Grassroots volunteers are at the heart of the game, and football games up and down the country wouldn’t be able to take place without them. 

“It was a pleasure to meet Archie, Surekha, Karla, and Raj, and to hear about the brilliant work they are doing for their clubs and communities. I’ve seen those positive impacts first-hand, and we’re hoping that this campaign will help to inspire more people to get involved.”

Surekha Griffiths, a volunteer referee who won England Football’s Match Official of the Year Grassroots Award in 2023, said: “I’ve found grassroots volunteering to be so rewarding. Every game I officiate is full of passion and energy, and I love being a part of that community. It doesn’t matter whether you are super knowledgeable about football, or you just want to chip in with some support for your local team every now and then. Anyone can get stuck in, and I guarantee most people who do won’t look back!”

13-year-old stadium announcer, Archie, shared: “I love football, so it was really exciting to meet Michail Antonio and show him how to do some stadium announcing! I’ve found that through volunteering I am able to enjoy the sport I love while helping out my local club. I learn a lot from it, and I really enjoy it too.”

James Kendall, The FA’s Director of Football Development, added: “Grassroots volunteers really are the foundation of our sport, and the people in this campaign represent just a small minority of the dedicated individuals out there committing their time to the game they love. Whether it’s committing to an hour a week, or a whole weekend, we see and hear the value of our volunteering network every single day. The best part is that anyone can get involved and become a volunteer.”

With the aim to retain and reward existing volunteers, the campaign participants will be invited to a once-in-a-lifetime experience at St George’s Park – the home of all 23 England Football teams – where they will get to observe training sessions and see the inner workings of the world class facility during a Men’s international camp. Further content will be published to document this experience. 

There are volunteering opportunities for all. To find out more information on how you can get involved and become a volunteer, please click below.