Let Us Play asks Epsom & Ewell Colts

Epsom & Ewell Colts FC, a grassroots football club that has been a staple in the community for years, is facing an impending crisis due to premier League Club’s foundation. 

Blenheim High School, a core training venue for Epsom Colts girl’s grassroot players for over 20 years, has cancelled their booking at short notice to make way for their selective Chelsea FC Foundation. This decision affects 170 girls from Under-8s upwards who now have no place to train and
play the sport they love. This is not the first time Epsom & Ewell have experienced such issues, with Chelsea being given preferential treatment over our previous existing bookings at Nonsuch Girls School.

The club, run solely by local volunteers, has provided access to football for boys and girls for half a century. They do this not only for the love of the game, but because they know how essential it is to our community, and the physical and mental well-being and of our young people. Often, their teams are the crucial ‘third space’ that children and young people need
outside of home and school.

Nicola Brown,Head of Women and Girls Development at Epsom and Ewell Colts. said “It’s hugely frustrating – having run every single initiative from Wildcats to Squad Girls, to encourage girls to play football, and to have increased our numbers in the club (from a
handful to 364 female players), to then have to undo all of that hard work because we have lost our training venue to Chelsea. It feels like a real kick in the teeth”, “It is not the kind of comradery that we need in girls and women’s football.’’

Mary Sheard, a parent from one of the U8’s Girls team said, “Caitlin was really looking forward to getting back to training with her football team after the summer, so we are really upset that their training venue had been lost. The girls in the team have formed such a great supportive bond, and they are all so worried about what will happen to the team.’’

The loss of the venue is being felt throughout the year groups.
Steve Luff, Manager and parent. said “This decision undermines the very essence of community sports. Grassroots football is the lifeblood and future of the sport, nurturing young talent and fostering community
spirit,” “It’s a grave mistake to prioritise commercial interests or go for the cachet of a professional club over the development of local athletes,
who represent the true future of football.”

He continues: “Our U18 girls grassroots football team faces immense disappointment as we have been ousted from our local school training facility and replaced by a professional club.” The vice-captain of the team, Elsie added “So much for encouraging girls, (and boys) football. How disappointing.’’

“The decision to displace our players in favour of a professional club’s pathway after so many years has been hard to take. It also goes against the objectives and aims of the
school listed in their last annual report,’’ said Pauline Russell, Chairwoman of the Club. ‘It
does not feel like the school has considered the needs for their facilities by the local community, which would have improved the lives of local inhabitants as noted in their Trustees’ report. We’d also welcome further conversations with Chelsea, to see if they could support us
with our venue crisis.”

Epsom & Ewell Colts Club has been actively campaigning for additional facilities and funding to meet the growing demand in the local area for many years. With no guarantees of new sites being built, the recent development only exacerbates the problem, leaving our young athletes without a suitable venue, potentially for years to come. The shortage of training spaces in the area has already been a significant challenge for
grassroots sports clubs over the years. Christchurch United, a local church-led mini soccer centre has also suffered from the recent changes at Blenheim.

With charges rising 220% to account for the expenditure to resurface their pitch, it is now unaffordable for the club to continue their sessions there. They are also now looking for an alternative location for their Saturday morning sessions – no small task when venues with availability are
scarce.

Pauline continues to say “Sports play a critical role in the development of young people, offering not only physical benefits but also teaching vital life skills such as teamwork, discipline, and resilience,We are calling on the
community, local authorities, and Chelsea FC to recognise the importance of grassroots sports and to work with us to find a solution that allows these 170 girls to continue their training on Thursdays without disruption. We are not against the development of a professional academy, and we have had many players selected from our club to further themselves at academies, but it should not come at the expense of displacing grassroots players who rely on these facilities. We need to look after this ecosystem and protect the
sport at grassroots level.’’

When Blenheim School was contacted regarding the issue, they were apologetic but steadfast in their decision. An offer was made to reinstate a two-hour slot on a Tuesday until Christmas, but that only helps four teams that will face the same issue come January.

If any local schools, clubs or venues can help with their training crisis, please contact
[email protected]

A petition has been set up if you like to sign it CLICK HERE

Press release supplied by Epsom & Ewell Colts.