The FA have marked the start of the grassroots football season with a lively new short film that shines a spotlight on the unsung heroes who make the game tick away from the limelight.
Rather than focusing on elite football, the film follows four familiar grassroots characters – The Organiser (Sandra), The Ringer (Nick), The Coaching Parent (Rashida), and The Groundskeeper (Greg) – showing them swap their daily grind for the chaos and charm of matchday.
From carefully manicured pitches to nervy last-minute penalties, it captures the humour, stress and joy that only grassroots football can provide.
The film also drops in a few surprise cameos. Lionesses and Newcastle midfielder Jordan Nobbs pops up to showcase her skills to a group of wide-eyed youngsters, while Hashtag United star and football creator PK Humble whips out his signature dance celebration after teeing up a goal.
Things wrap up with the four grassroots characters lined up on their own patches of turf, accompanied by a heartfelt message thanking the volunteers, parents and players who keep local football alive.
Jordan Nobbs said: “Being part of this film reminds me of my own journey — starting out at grassroots clubs where I learned the fundamentals of the game. It’s what it’s all about: creating spaces where anyone, regardless of their circumstances, can fall in love with football and feel part of a team.”
James Kendall, The FA’s Director of Football Development, added: “The magic of grassroots football comes from the people who are part of it — the volunteers, groundskeepers, coaches and players. This film is testament to the tireless efforts of clubs and volunteers across the country as we mark the beginning of the 25/26 season.”
