Grass Roots Football was the brainchild of Frank McKenna, he wanted a way of getting the 'Hard To Reach' kids off the streets to give them something positive to do with their time.

Although this is why it first started the people involved in running the project wanted to branch out and involve children/adults from all over Hull who would not normally mix together. They all started to come together once a week on neutral ground to play a sport they all loved, and to put their differences aside. From there we found it an ideal opportunity to bring in ethnic teams (of which we now have many). Although not accepted immediately by some, all now mix extremely well.

It is now really encouraging to see children and adults from all backgrounds and different areas of Hull and surrounding villages come together and interact with each other, were normally they wouldn't.

The Story So Far...

We started Grass Roots Football with only two boys leagues, under 16s and over 16s, with twelve teams in each league. We then added a mixed junior league and a girls under 16s competition which meant there were now a total of 52 teams involved. We have undergone more re-structuring for the forthcoming season to accommodate further teams.

Where We Are Heading

We are hoping to bring in a new competition were we have the best teams from the Grass Roots leagues, challenge teams from other leagues in the area to play for a major established trophy. Further to that challenging teams from the region, other regions and possibly beyond.

From another perspective also we are also keen to see those involved become more active in the running and organising of the Grass Roots league. Charity events are also something the Grass Roots would like to become more involved with. After the girls teams had a successful bucket collection at a Hull City home match which they collected a substantial amount for the mother & baby unit of the Hull Royal Infirmary. All our teams, including the boys are actively seeking other ways to raise money for charity.

Grass Roots Football is a division of the overall goal, Grass Roots Sports. The aim of Grass Roots is eventually to offer a range of sports. Being the nation's favourite, most loved game football was the obvious choice to lay the foundations. There were the facilities, staff skill and knowledge along with vast immediate interest to get the project off the ground.

What’s new to Grass Roots

Due to the great success and the sheer mass of youths wanting to join we have had to add extra leagues we now have a junior boys, under 14’s and a under 18’s league, with around 600 youths attending each week at the Gemtec Arena. We have now branched out and have a under 13’s team in the Hull Sunday Boys League and for their first season are doing quite well. We also have a girls team which grew too old to play in our leagues and so we formed a new team which are sponsored by Banks Harbour Public House, and put this team in to the East Riding Women’s league, some of these girls where considered ‘hard to reach’, they didn’t take to authority figures, and never really stuck at anything, these girls all aged between 14 – 18 have made all at the grass roots proud as they turn up for training every week and although they have not won a game yet still turn up with their heads held high and play their game every week which has earned them a great deal of respect from other teams in the league.

The People Who Made Grass Roots Happen

There are a few people to thank, in no particular order;

Kim Hepple [Active Youth & Sports Development] - if it wasn't for her continuous support, help, guidance, advice and funding the Grass Roots Football would not be the success it is now;

Andy Tate [Vulcan Arena Manager] - for all his support and help in making sure we had the splendid facilities available and providing security. We feel he has helped us more than he had to in making Grass Roots a great success. Also many thanks to Jo for her continued help and support;

Hull Daily Mail - thanks to the Hull Daily Mail for their past and present coverage on the Grass Roots Football leagues;

John Cooper & Dave Gregory [KC Stadium Committee] - for enabling the girl's charity collection to materialise and making it such a successful day;

A big thank you to all staff involved in the running of the Grass Roots Football for their continuous support and hard work;

Apologies go out to anyone we may have forgotton to thank.
We must also thank the most important people which are the teams themselves!
Well done for your hard work and commitment!

KEEP IT UP!