Grassroots heroes

I’m rather weary of national scandals. Instead, I’ve been thinking about the simple, salt-of-the-earth local life. Let’s go grassroots.

Our city loves sport. Yorkshire Cricket Club is making the headlines for all the wrong reasons at the moment, but grassroots sport is strong. Indeed, Sheffield Football Club rightly boasts to be the global home of grassroots football.

There’s something very special about the longevity of local sports and children’s teams. Some have been running for generations, regardless of the up’s and down’s of the wider world. My local tennis club was founded in 1907. My 15 year old son started playing Sunday league footy for Millhouses Juniors, now he plays in a local 5-a-side league. Perhaps one day his own kids will play locally too.

Playing sport is mostly inexpensive (unlike attending professional matches!), it is great for physical and mental health, for building community, for a sense of purpose and passion. I’d like to say it is good relaxation, but I never noticed that amongst the Sunday league parents agonising on the touchline!

In 2009, Network Church Sheffield set up the Sheffield Christian Youth League for local lads to play 5-a-side football in a wholesome environment. Run and refereed by volunteer young adults who are Christians themselves, it is open to all. The managers and leaders turn out week in, week out, to enrich the lives of teenagers. They have created an ethos of fair play, respect, and clean language. That is quite unusual.

The message of faith is there too, for those who are interested. Saint Paul in his writings used the metaphor of sport. “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.” (1 Corrinthians 9)

Nobody is expecting God to influence their football games, but Christians are keen to share their sense of connection to deeper meaning and purpose in life. Afterall, spiritually and sport are not mutually exclusive. Just listen to thousands of fans on the Kop singing in unison at a Sheffield ground.

We salute our unsung volunteers and those who help others get into local sports. Truly grassroots heroes.

Photo by Ruben Leija on Unsplash