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Men’s football Social Footy kicks off again at City of Liverpool FC

HAVING been out of action for several months, City of Liverpool FC in the Community resumed their Social Footy sessions this week, aiming to get people back together in a safe environment following lockdown.

Social Footy is a relaxed, slower-paced, light-hearted kick-about geared towards bringing the community together through football regardless of age or ability, echoing the message of inclusion that runs through the club.

The most recent sessions have been held at the PurpleHub, using the facilities provided at the King George V Sports Complex in Huyton, which was recently taken over by the club to provide sport and activities for the wider community. Social Footy is a perfect fit.

“It’s about inclusion, it’s about having accessibility and having a platform that links football with that sense of community,” the club’s welfare officer, Mike Caulfield, told the Morning Star earlier this year.

“Social isolation is a massive problem, especially in middle-aged to older males, so somebody having something — whether its playing football on a Sunday or watching football on a Saturday — can help give them that sense of belonging.”

This feeling of social isolation naturally increased during the coronavirus pandemic as people had limited contact with friends and family during lockdown.

City of Liverpool continued to work off the pitch during this time, despite the cancellation of their 2019-20 season. They set up a food parcel delivery service to help the most vulnerable in the region, as well as setting up a PPE fund.

But, save for the occasional video call, individuals were often restricted as to who they could visit in person, and many were confined to their homes even if they weren’t isolating due to Covid-19.

With things easing up slightly, the club have worked hard to make sure these important social sessions can resume in a safe manner. This has been aided greatly by the facilities now provided by the club at the PurpleHub.

“It’s been a difficult time for everyone across the country,” COLFC in the Community director, Michael Meadows, tells the Morning Star.

“With mental health becoming a primary concern in the current climate, we felt it was important to return as soon as it was safe to do so. 

“We initially set up the Social Footy initiative with the goal of providing a safe space for people to have a laid back kickabout to kick-start fitness goals and make new friends.

“Cultivating an environment where participants can help build a community around them is as important right now as it was when we started Social Footy in 2018.”

Lockdown meant this was put on hold, but the group stuck together online, and what began as a walking football session is now a group that interacts on and off the pitch, and one which anyone can join.

The sessions also provide an opportunity to exercise outdoors, which is as important for mental health as it is for physical wellbeing.

“We kept in touch throughout lockdown via WhatsApp and often the lads were talking about how difficult it was not getting out of the house to keep fit at our weekly kickabout,” adds Meadows. 

“Particularly as many were now working from home and not seeing faces other than those in their household.

“Since we resumed it has been great to see so many regulars return. It’s been particularly heartwarming [that] the lads at sessions  [are] simply asking how each other are, which is an important conversation for us all after the past few months.”

Participants have spoken of their relief of being able to get back out and speak to others in person rather than online, and face-to-face socialising in an enjoyable, relaxed environment.

The sessions now run twice a week at the PurpleHub, at midday Sunday and 7pm on Wednesday evenings. More information can be found via the @COLFCCommunity Twitter account.

The City of Liverpool FC membership window is open until the end of March and anyone interested in supporting the club and becoming a member can view the different membership packages online at cityofliverpoolfc.co.uk/memberships/ or by searching “City of Liverpool membership.”

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