RPT FC crowdfunder gets players back on the pitches

The COVID-19 pandemic hit RPT's Football Academy hard, with the club losing 30% of our annual participation fees during the lock-down. We were facing the prospect of downsizing the programme and cutting teams if we didn’t raise the £20,000 needed to fill the gap, and with the help of Sport England and 180 different RPT donors, we smashed our target, raising £20,730 (before Gift Aid), ensuring we’ll be back on the pitches in September.

Our Football Academy has been running for 10 years, and this year will be welcoming our 10th team as we introduce a new group of Under-6 players to football for the first time, giving many of them their first taste of organised sport.

We have more than 120 players aged 4 to 13, who all train twice a week and compete competitively every weekend and throughout the summer. While RPT FC teaches young players how to be great footballers, our programme is about much more than that. It's about being a good friend, a good teammate and a good sport, with respect, responsibility, aspiration and resilience all embedded in our teaching. 

'Playing for RPT makes me feel proud and happy because they have helped me become better at football. I enjoy each session of football and taking part in matches.' — Tre, age 7

Since it started, our Football Academy has engaged more than 300 boys and girls in fitness and wellbeing sessions, teaching teamwork and the joy of exercise, and we work with most of our players from the age of 4 until they 'graduate' from our academy. We are working to becoming a full Under-6 to Under-15 academy in three years' time, meaning that well be supporting some of our players for more than 10 years.

As our teams develop, so does our coaching: we now have 10 qualified coaches all with a minimum of FA Level 1 training.

Whilst still a grassroots club, RPT F.C. is respected across London. Fifteen of our players have trained with or been signed to professional clubs, giving our local children a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pursue their dreams.

We’d like to thank everyone who supported our campaign, enabling our young players to return to the sport and routines that they love. When we return to the pitches in September, everything will be delivered within Covid-Safe guidelines, ensuring our players remain happy and healthy.

To see our campaign, click here.

'I have been at RPT since I was six years old. Throughout these years, I have learnt so much more than just football. RPT has helped me to build character and certain aspects of the game have taught me about qualities that apply to life in general. RPT is unique. RPT is so much more than just a football club.' — Danny, age 12