"This is an opportunity for a lot of kids to come round, step outside the house in a safe environment where they can play football and have fun with their friends."
Nathaniel Chalobah
Fulham midfielder
This month saw the official opening of a new football facility on the Roupell Park estate, which will host Fulham FC Foundation football activities for the people of Lambeth.
Fulham FC Foundation have been delivering activities in partnership with the Roupell Park Resident Management Organisation (RMO) since 2017, on a concrete pitch in Brixton Hill. Over the past 12 months, that partnership - in conjunction with the Football Foundation, the Premier League and the Veolia Environmental Trust - has funded the development of a new 3G multi-use games area facility for the local community to use.
On Tuesday 12th April, an official opening event was held, hosted by the Roupell Park RMO and Fulham FC Foundation, with a showcase of different football activities and remarks from local dignitaries. Representing Fulham FC were Nathaniel Chalobah, First Team midfielder, and Mike McSweeney, Fulham FC Foundation CEO.
Nathaniel, who was born in Sierra Leone and moved to Lambeth as a young child, reflected on his own journey and the benefits of facilities such as this to people in the local area.
“Football was my escape in terms of meeting friends and making friends," he said. "I actually grew up across the street from here and we didn’t really have these sorts of pitches at that time, until I moved to Gypsy Hill where we had this type of pitch and that’s how I started to develop my skills.
“For me, most importantly it gives kids a different stimulation. When you’re young it’s very easy to just be indoors and play your PlayStation all day. But if you can come out here, meet your friends and get some exercise, it’s incredible really.”
Mike McSweeney explained the role Fulham FC Foundation has working with local community partners to support projects like this: “It’s absolutely fantastic. We’ve been working on this project for the best part of four years now and to be here, seeing an amazing facility will really make a different to this estate and the young people we want to engage. Our role is to inspire and engage and create meaningful pathways for young people.”
This project would not have been possible without the efforts of Paul Smithers, Fulham FC Foundation’s Youth and Communities Manager who tragically passed away earlier this year. Paul was involved in this development from its inception, as a tireless advocate for young people living on estates across South-West London. Paul’s passion and influence were often mentioned by those who spoke at the event, while one of the bench seats at the new venue bears a plaque in memorial of Paul.
This brand-new facility will host a number of Fulham FC Foundation sessions each week moving forward, including our Premier League Kicks, Premier League Girls Kicks, Pan DisAbility, More Than A Game Football and Walking Football programmes.
To find out more about Fulham FC Foundation’s work in the community visit our Impact Dashboard.
