EAST RIDING FA CLUB OF THE MONTH – JANUARY 2023

The East Riding FA Club of the Month award recognizes the clubs in our county who are going above and beyond to create a fun, safe and inclusive environment for people to play and enjoy football.

The winner of this award is Men City. Men City is an affiliated football club created by East Riding FA and aims to provide opportunities for men to play football regardless of ability, age, or fitness.

These clubs are doing extraordinary things to support their community and are supported by volunteers who work tirelessly for the benefit of others.

Since its inception over 500 different people have accessed the sessions the weekly kick abouts with them providing a fantastic opportunity for people to not only play game t game but also socialise and create friendships.

Regular Men City Participant Rob Doles said, “Men City provides me with the opportunity to play football on a casual basis without the need to commit to weekly sessions or matches. Since I’ve started playing again my fitness levels have increased and I’ve got to know quite a few of the lads socially.”

To help increase participation across all age groups Men City run three weekly sessions with two of them age specific. Every Monday night people aged 21 and over have their own specific kick about as do men aged 40 and over. On a Saturday they run another recreational kick about which is open to anyone aged 18 and over.

Men City founder Chris Johnson said “The East Riding FA recognised that the reason most men stop playing football isn’t because they no longer like the game, its because of time constraints and accessibility. Men City addresses these issues and creates a friendly non-committal environment that welcomes all players.”

Away from the weekly recreational small sided sessions Men City also organise monthly 11a-side fixtures. These fixtures have proved to be successful in giving men opportunity to play the traditional format of the game for the very first time. The games are open to anyone who attends the Men City kick abouts with squads selected randomly rather than by ability.

Men City 11-a-side player George Wilkin said, “I would love to play Sunday League football but because of work I can’t commit to joining a team. Men City has given me opportunity to get back out on the pitch with out having to commit to playing week in week out.”

Over 80 people now take part in the weekly Men City sessions with participants able to book places through Eventbrite. Numbers are limited at each session so there is always a guaranteed number of people playing with people split into teams randomly upon arrival. For more information about Men City and to find booking details then please click here.

Men City will now receive a nomination for Club of the Year at the 2023 FA Grassroots Football Awards.

If your club deserves recognition for the work, it does then please click here and make your nomination for next month’s award.