Crystal Palace Fans Honour Victims of Croydon Tram Crash
Football was not my main focus when Crystal Palace played Manchester City on Saturday 19th November.
Crystal Palace fans paid tribute to the seven victims of the Croydon tram derailment.
Being from Croydon, and a life long Crystal Palace fan, hearing about what happened that Wednesday morning came as a complete shock.
I couldn’t help but feel the emotion the community.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe seven victims of the Croydon tram derailment accident were remembered before the game during a minute silence by both clubs, fans, management and staff. An extra remembrance was paid to the two victims who were Palace fans, Dane Chinnery and Phil Sears during the game. This was done by a minute applause, which was heard around Selhurst Park in both the 19th and 57th minute to represent their ages.
Embed from Getty ImagesCrystal Palace made a statement a day after the incident saying “this was a terrible event in the heart of Croydon and we stand with the community at this difficult time”. The Crystal Palace match programme cover was dedicated to the Croydon tram derailment disaster. Crystal Palace FC have also promoted a JustGiving page which is to help raise money in an effort to support the families and community affected by the incident. Manchester City have also shown their support to the page to help those affected, so far 877 supporters have raised £23,500.
Embed from Getty ImagesAs pressure builds on Crystal Palace due to their poor form in the Premier League, some football fans could be forgiven for only focusing on that. But that was not the case for Palace fans, who know the strength comes from community. If anything should be taken from this incident it is that anything can happen at any time. The importance of football during this time provided support and a sense of community in such a difficult and emotional period for the community of Croydon.
Premier League Football Foundations
The Arsenal Foundation
By using the Arsenal name to inspire and support young people since 2012 in north London and across the globe. Their mission is to help young people fulfil their potential. They have worked with a range of partners to renovate a total of 14 pitches in recent years used to deliver football programmes that aims to delivers a meaningful social change.
Embed from Getty ImagesAFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust
Formed in 2001, AFC Bournemouth Community Trust works in partnership with AFC Bournemouth. They aim to provide individuals with any form of physical and/or learning difficulties, the opportunity to learn to play football. The AFC Bournemouth Ability Counts senior team were crowned Champions of the 2015/16 Dorset Counts League.
Embed from Getty ImagesBurnley FC in the Community
By using the power of the football club, Burnley FC in the Community are able to transform people’s lives for the better. Their work is channelled into five key areas; sports, education, health, social inclusion and community facilities. Also it is an award winning charity; receiving the Johnstone’s Paint ‘North West Community Club of the Year’ in 2016.
Embed from Getty ImagesChelsea FC Foundation
Chelsea Foundation, formed in 2010, uses the power of sport to motivate, educate and inspire to support communities and individuals both at home and abroad. They work on a range of areas focusing on employment, education, social deprivation and crime reduction youth offending. They were awarded the Advanced Level of the Kick It Out Equality Standard in 2015, this was for their work tackling discrimination within the game, fighting racism and all forms of prejudice.
Embed from Getty ImagesCrystal Palace FC Foundation
Crystal Palace aims to make a difference in the local community by representing all that is good about South London; its pride, passion and diversity. The Foundation was proud recipients of two nationally recognised awards in 2015, for Best Community Scheme and Football Club Diversity, as they were recognised to be a club that uses football to promote inclusion, diversity and participation beyond traditional barriers.
Embed from Getty ImagesEverton in the Community
Everton in the Community aim to use the power of sport to motivate, educate and inspire people in their local community to improve their life chances. Since 2010 they have provided development opportunities for thousands of participants, whilst also winning numerous awards.
Embed from Getty ImagesHull FC Community Foundation
Hull FC Community Foundation offers a range of projects under their four key principles – Participation, Education, Health and Social Inclusion. They use both football and rugby league to raise spirits and unite different ages, sexes, ethnicities and socio-economic groups. They work closely with the club to drive participation and engagement in the sport, helping to nurture players and fans of the future.
Embed from Getty ImagesLiverpool FC Foundation
Liverpool FC Foundation delivers a range of initiatives that inspires people from all walks of life to make positive change happen, for themselves and their communities. They believe in bringing the community together and raising aspirations. They engage the community both locally and globally by using people’s passion for football and Liverpool FC.
Embed from Getty ImagesLCFC Foxes Foundation
After a strong year of fundraising last season the LCFC Foxes has new partnerships with five charities. Aiming to give back to its community by raising important funds for a range of different local charities. This makes a difference to children and young people, health, education and human services in Leicestershire.
Embed from Getty ImagesCity in the Community
Since the 1986, City in the Community has used football to create opportunities and build futures. They attract young people by using award-winning programmes focused on three areas; Health, Education and Inclusion. They currently engage with more than 40,000 local people and deliver over 13,000 project hours every year.
Embed from Getty ImagesManchester United Foundation
Manchester United Foundation uses the power of football to engage and inspire young people to build a better life and unite the community. They have almost 18,000 total participants and have raised £1.4m through fundraising.
Embed from Getty ImagesMFC Foundation
MFC Foundation began in 1996 and uses their brand to engage with all member of the community. In April 2015 they received a Mayor’s award in recognition for their service that they provide to their local community. They provide programmes and initiatives designed to engage the most disadvantaged Teesside communities.
Embed from Getty ImagesSaints Foundation
Saints Foundations aims to harness the passion of the Club and fans. Saints Foundation inspires, supports and delivers positive change and equality of opportunities for young people and vulnerable adults across the local area. The have engaged with thousands of young people and vulnerable adults each year, whilst also investing £1.5 million into the local communities in the local area.
Embed from Getty ImagesPotters Foundation
The Potters Foundation is an exclusive members club. The aim is to give the fans a closer link to Stoke City but also to create awareness and income to support the Academy. For £2.25 per week fans are given 10 unique numbers that enters them into cash draws. Benefits include a free big screen birthday message and priority ticket purchasing and much more.
Embed from Getty ImagesFoundation of Light
Established in 2001, the purpose of the Foundation of Light is to change the lives of children, young people and their families. They are responsible for raising over £4 million every year to help run their programmes. They have won multiple awards for their ground-breaking sports, health, community and education programmes.
Embed from Getty ImagesSwansea City Community Trust
The Trust gives the opportunity for the Swans to work where they are needed in South Wales’ communities. Since 2008, the Trust has successfully developed sport, educational and health projects, all designed to improve life for the individuals in the local area.
Embed from Getty ImagesTottenham Hotspur Foundation
The Foundation offers different projects covering multiple issues like employment skills, community development, health and wellbeing, education and equalities and inclusion. The programmes aim to engage young people across diverse communities to build self-esteem and improve life chances.
Embed from Getty ImagesWatford FC Community Sports and Education Trust
The Trust was established in 2004. Their mission is to make a positive difference for all through sport and learning. The values for the Trust are passion, innovation, professionalism, inclusivity and integrity.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Albion Foundation
They have created a reputation for delivering high quality programmes, where their main principles include making a difference and raising aspirations, connecting West Bromwich Albion FC to the community and growing the local community.
Embed from Getty ImagesWest Ham United Foundation
The Foundation aims to promote the clubs core values though its programmes. It has developed over the past two decades, working with more local people than ever before. The key aims include breaking down barriers to sports participation and connecting the community through football.
From The Bench
I have been privileged enough to have attended a few of Crystal Palace DS Eagles training sessions on Wednesday evenings at 6-7pm. Sessions are based at Monks Hill Sports Center in South Croydon.
DS Eagles got a taste of their first match experience when they played Fulham Badgers in a friendly match.
After speaking to Hayden Habgood who went to support DS Eagles in their first game, he had this to say:
“It was really important to both teams but in particular DS Eagles as it was their first game.”
Parent, Sam, kindly answered some questions about her son, Max, and his love for playing football.
Q: Why do you think it’s important for young people with Down’s Syndrome to participate in football?
A: When I was pregnant with Max, we had no idea that he was going to be born with Down’s Syndrome. So when he was, I set about reading everything I could about Down’s Syndrome/learning disabilities. One of the best…and most life-affirming lines I read was ‘different does not mean worse’. So why shouldn’t he play football like most other young boys therefore….he LOVES playing, he loves going to watch The Eagles play, he loves having the affinity to a team. But all this aside, if you’ve got Down’s Syndrome, you need fewer calories than ‘typical’ people. So logically, you either need to eat less or play more sport. Max loves his food so he needs to keep playing sport!
Q: How important do you think the game between DS Eagles and Fulham Badgers was to both teams and parents watching?
A: Very important. Hugely exciting for everyone.
Q: How easy/difficult was it to find sporting activities for your child with a disability in your local area?
A: Personally, I’m like a dog with a bone in terms of finding sporting outlets for Max. But it’s really not made easy for parents to find these opportunities. That’s a real shame.
Q: You saw a video of your child score the only goal from a free kick during DS Eagles game against Fulham Badgers, can you please explain how you felt seeing that.
A: Like the proudest Mum in the world!
Is the Premier League Failing Disabled Fans?
The start of the new season shows a third of Premier League clubs are still set to miss their own deadline to meet basic access standards for disabled fans.
Only three Premier League clubs have meet accessibility guidelines. To upgrade the facilities of the other 17 clubs it would cost £29m.
Embed from Getty ImagesHowever, with the revenue from broadcasting rights increasing over the next three years to £8.3bn, and summer transfer window where clubs spent £1.165 billion on players. Nevertheless, the richest clubs in the league have accepted they cannot reach accessibility guidelines.
Embed from Getty ImagesEven Liverpool FC have proudly opened their new Main Stand, spending £100m. These improvements do not reach the requirements, Liverpool FC decided not to comment.
Joyce Cook, chair of Level Playing Field, has called this delay “unacceptable”. All Level Playing Field efforts are focused on removing these barriers in all sports.
There are 12.4m disabled people in the UK, with an estimated spending power of over £60bn per annum. It is safe to say they are not getting their money’s worth, when it comes to watching football.
The match day experience for a disabled supporter can be an awkward one, as they sometimes have to sit mixed in the stands with the opposition. Steve Snelling, Wheelpower Inclusive Sport Advisor has stated “Disabled people should have the opportunity to enjoy the sport they love in the same way as anyone else”.
An accessible stadium demonstrates the commitment a club has to the whole community, whilst also inspiring disabled supporters to participate in sport themselves.
Is it time to forget about England’s Iceland defeat?
Former England manager Roy Hodgson says players must move on from the shock Euro 2016 loss to Iceland.
Hodgson quit after the 2-1, last-16 defeat in June, but still believes the team can achieve in the future.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe shock Euros exit for England against Iceland, ranked 34th in the world and with a population of just 330,000 is described as one of the darkest moment in England’s football history.
Former captain, Alan Shearer at the time described the defeat as the “worst performance” he has ever seen from the national team.
Roy Hodgson told BBC Radio 5 live’s Sportsweek “I just hope they’re going to be given the chance to be good and not constantly held back by people trying to lay the sins of the past upon them”.
Embed from Getty ImagesRoy Hodgson added that he believes Gareth Southgate comes into the job with a lot of credibility and can take the team forward.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis brings the question is it time for us and the players to move on?
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