Players from the Saints Foundation's SO14 Active project.
The international language of football is one that most people are fluent in, however the trials and tribulations of race, conflict and environment causes many issues beyond the 90 minutes on the field.
To help mend fences, drop barriers and give a chance to a group of promising footballers, the Southampton team of Woolston Wanderers has been formed and Voice FM is proud to be their official sponsor for the opening season.
As team manager Shiraz Zawahir put it “A majority of the players that we have are coming from a refugee and asylum-seeking background, especially from the refugee and open access football sessions at the Saints Foundation at the SO14 Active project.”
“We have another group of players that have been around the Wessex Football League and other various leagues within Hampshire Football. These players have been promised a lot, but the negative experiences have made them almost give up on football and fallen out of love with game.”
Woolston Wanders aims to mend these hurts and give this band of players a platform where they can come in and start to rediscover the love and passion for the game.
Sponsorship Debut for Voice FM
As far as Voice FM is concerned this was a no-brainer regarding sponsorship as station manger Xan Phillips explained: “We’ve worked with Shiraz via his connection with Saints Foundation, and when he told us about the stories behind the players, these matched the community values of Voice FM making this a very exciting time in the station’s evolution.”
They same sentiment was expressed by Woolston Chairman Jamie Morgan: “As chair of Woolston, I’m absolutely thrilled to work with Voice FM to bring attention to our open access sessions for anyone from any background to to play football for free (in association with the Saints Foundation) and our mental health football projects which are still currently being planned fully.”
“We are also thankful for the introduction to Marcus MacCormack (Voice FM sports presenter) who has been taking pictures for our team and genuinely excited to be part of the project with us!”
For the season ahead Shiraz is excited about the team’s attitude: “They are really hungry and keen to prove a point.”
So is Shiraz. “I'm one of the coaches who stepped away, Two years ago I'd had it with the politics and everything behind the scenes of various clubs. Even though I had my coaching badges and was well qualified, I just never could get a break.”
Photo by Marcus MacCormack
Every Game Is A Derby
Players, coaches and management have a point to prove, and they are going to do the hard way with in the Mid-Solent League. With all the opponents based in the Portsmouth area, every game will be like a local derby.
Their sights are set high, as far as league and cup are concerned aiming for the double, but also as far as the community is concerned.
“The aim of the club is to make football accessible for anyone and everyone, regardless of their financial situation,” Shiraz told Voice FM. “We want to create, as a safe environment for people to come in, enjoy playing football and, to make almost a career, I would say.”
“We have an inclusion fund that we set up so they can play, they can enjoy themselves. And if there are higher clubs that see them and they would like to acquire their services and they'd like to move, they could even make a living.”
“We hope to progress. To establish ourselves as a Wessex League club. We are in the right direction and ready to be a change, a change within the broken system of league football.”
Kraftwerk, Live in Southampton, 1981: Were You There?
