PITCH PERFECT
For almost five years Goal Diggers have been campaigning for a review to the outdated “first come, first served” pitch booking system. A system that prevents teams that are new to the sport from getting a look in. These teams are predominantly womxn’s teams due to the FA’s 1921 ban on womxn’s football. We have raised the issue of pitch space with local councils, leisure centres, The FA, the Football Foundation and the press. For years we have been told all the midweek 11-A-Side pitch spaces in London are booked up. We have been told that we would be lucky to find a 9-A-Side pitch - so when we did find it (Holloway School), we clung to it, but we didn’t give up. We kept digging. We piled on the pressure and spoke to everyone and anyone in the press who would listen: from urging The Guardian to launch a nationwide investigation into the pitch issue - to countless articles in local papers - to Founder Fleur’s passionate Independent article.
It is due to these efforts that we have gained access to a new pitch space. Not only is this hugely important for us as a club on practical terms (the pitch is larger, more centrally located, better equipped and better surfaced than Holloway School) but also the visibility of us on this pitch space is of paramount importance. Until this block booking, no womxn’s teams were training on Haggerston Pitch. If pitches like this are used by men every night of the week, the effect is catastrophic. It means these spaces are seen as masculine and this simply re-enforces the harmful narrative that football is a man’s game.
We are ready to change this narrative. We are ready for our new training home.
NEW TRAINING HOME DETAILS:
Start date: Weds Sept 9th
Address: Haggerston Park, Yorkton Street, E2 8NH
Nearest Station: Hoxton Overground
Size: 11-A-Side (or 2 x 9-A-Side)
Surface: 3G Astroturf
Day: Wednesday
Time: 7-9pm
Toilets: Yes
Car Park: Yes
Changing rooms: Yes (currently closed due to Covid-19 restrictions)
For more details please see the Haggerston Park Astro-Turf document in the NEWS section of the app.
FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY
We want to be fully transparent with our members, this pitch is double the price of our old pitch and will cost our non-profit club an additional £5,500 a year. We will not, however, be increasing membership fees as a result of this added expenditure. We firmly believe that our membership must remain accessible and affordable to all - so that money is never a barrier which prevents womxn and non-binary people from playing football.
We will, however, be putting more of a focus on our donations page. Any donations would be much appreciated during these uncertain times when grants are scarce and added income from our fundraising club night, Murder On Zidane’s Floor, is no longer availabLe to us.
So what can you do? Please, PLEASE can you all share this page far and wide: https://www.goaldiggersfootballclub.com/donate
Please ask for donations for your birthday! Please donate for other diggers’ birthdays!
Please also add any ideas for fundraising and sponsorship here: https://forms.gle/7xx1UyBEWPGUbfs96
NEW COMMITTEE ROLE
We are also adding a new role to the committee: Grant Officer. This is in order to ensure we are able to access any possible funding opportunities which are available. The Grant Officer will also work closely with Treasurer Alex Rawn to oversee all things GDFC and budgets. More details about this role will be released this week but if this sounds like a role you could be interested in please email info@goaldiggersfootballclub.com. Every grant we can get will make all the difference to our club.
GDFC MAG ISSUE 2
GDFC Mag is back! In the second issue of our quarterly magazine, we explore issues around football and the theme of protest. You can read it online here or buy a hard copy until 31st August.
MONDAY SOCIALLY-DISTANCED SESSION AVAILABLE SPOTS
Want to get extra training in and are free tonight? We've got some free spots at socially distanced Mondays with Coach Josh. Training starts at 6.45 in Finsbury Park.
Priority is given to those not attending Wednesday sessions but all are welcome!
These sessions are a great way to get back into footie. Sign up now on TeamApp.
BIB FOR LIFE
In order to reduce equipment sharing every member gets a bib to keep. It's a Bib For Life.
At every session please wear black and bring your Bib For Life. Please also write your name and pronouns on your bib in as thick a sharpie as possible.
SOCIALLY-DISTANT SOCIALS
Hey Goals, the Social Secs are in planning mode for bringing back monthly GDFC socials that are accessible to all. All socials for the time being will be outdoors. If you have any ideas of a) a venue that can host us to run various socials from seats and b) an activity / social idea that can be run outdoors and limits contact, then please let us know! You can find both Beth Miles and Ellen Robertson on TeamApp.
FIXTURES + TRAINING
Upcoming Fixtures
Monday 24 August | GDFC v Victoria Park Vixens | Experienced Super5s | 20:00 | Mabley Green
Monday 25 August | GDFC v SCDM | Beginners Super5s | 19:00 | Mabley Green
Saturday 29 August | GDFC v Academy Dynamos | Very Experienced 11s Friendly | 10:00 | Raynes Park
Saturday 29 August | GDFC v Sporting Academy | Experienced 11s Friendly | 12:00 | Raynes Park
Fixtures Posts
Wednesday 26 August | 17:30 | Very Experienced 11s Friendly vs Academy Dynamos
Wednesday 26 August | 17:30 | Experienced 11s Friendly vs Sporting Academy
MERCH LOVE
Our GDFC charity LGBT(ees) are available until the end of August, so you've only got a week left to get yourself a breezy Tech Tee or a regular Cotton Tee. They cost £15 with £6 from each going to UK Black Pride. Buy them now from our Halbro online store!
PLAYERS OF THE DAY
North London Training Coach Amy and Farida Dankaro
East London Training Coach Josh and Rachel Nickolds
East London Training Coach Josh and Jess Collins