OLLIE WATKINS AND GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL

Ollie Watkins is England’s new hero. His strike was the difference in last night’s nail-biting semi final victory over the Netherlands at EURO 2024. Introduced as a sub in the 81st minute of the game, Watkins’ pinpoint finish sped past keeper Bart Verbruggen and nestled in the far corner, with barely two minutes left on the clock. 

When called upon, Watkins was ready to step up. His individual moment of brilliance, turning his defender and trusting his instinct, won the game for the Three Lions. England Men’s team will appear in a second consecutive EUROs final this Sunday, and have a golden chance to end a 58-year trophy drought. 

Pundits and fans alike have been quick to celebrate the importance of the British football pyramid in this England team’s success. 

Watkins did not attend an elite, Premier League academy. He signed for Exeter City aged 11, and ten years ago he was playing on loan for Conference South club Weston-Super-Mare – the sixth tier of English Football.  

He’s not the only player in the England squad to have cut his teeth in England’s lower divisions either. Between the 26 squad players, they have amounted over 1,000 combined appearances in English Football League competitions. England Number 1 Jordan Pickford had loan spells at Alfreton Town and Darlington. Jarrod Bowen, West Ham star, started his career at non-league Hereford United.  

Undeniably, England’s progression to the final is built on the foundations of non-league and grassroots football. Without these grassroots clubs, this English squad would not exist. 

But, there is another side to the story. The cost of football is so high that many players are unable to reap its benefits. Across the country, but particularly in London, there are insurmountable financial access barriers to playing football.  

Many players, inspired by Watkins’ heroics against the Dutch National Team, will not be able to join their local grassroots team – simply because they cannot afford to do so. 

It raises the question “How many future England players are being unnecessarily priced out of the game?”

Bloomsbury Football is committed to overcoming these financial barriers. It is our belief that all young people deserve access to quality football coaching, facilities and the physical & mental health benefits that come from regular exercise. 

Through our unique financial assistance model, where fundraising and player subscriptions combine to subsidise the costs of others, Bloomsbury are aiming to engage 20,000 young players per week across the capital through our programmes by 2028. 

By giving as many young boys and girls the opportunity to get on the pitch as possible, we’re confident and proud that we’re helping more and more players fulfil their potential.  

And who knows, that might just be the next Ollie Watkins.