The Positive Touch: Football as Therapy
(A Project in conjunction with Positive Youth '98)
By John Wheelhouse, September 2010

In issue 4 we featured the fledgeling team set up by Mike Ferguson to promote the charity Football as Therapy / Positive Youth '98. After numerous set backs it might have been easier for Mike and the lads to pack up and find more established teams to play for. But far from it, Mike found a helping hand with Sean and Marie who provided a home for the team at the Dog and Gun pub on York Road. They entered a team in the Woodlesford Five a side league and won it and now are fully affiliated with the West Riding County FA and will play in the Raftery 2nd Division of the  Leeds Sunday Football League.  They're fully insured, have their own web site www.pitchero.com/clubs/fastdoggun/  and have their kit sorted and are looking forward to playing this season on Osmondthorpe Rec, where they've already been busy playing friendlies.

The majority of the lads are under 24, some have come through the Football as Therapy Program but the majority just recognise what a good project it is and are happy to support it. And as much of the focus of this issue is on the young, Mike is happy to let the lads do the talking. Jamie Hadland (16) from Crossgates, Dalton Fotherby from Osmondthorpe (17) and Adam Boyne from Seacroft (17) are the midfield trio hoping to help the team to a respectable first season.

Dalton played for Seacroft Colts but thought the move to open age football would   be more of a challenge: "I knew of a few lads already here and liked the whole idea of doing my bit whilst playing football."  

Jamie Hadland who was at Crossgates Lions, echoed Daltons thoughts: "Mike told me a fair bit about it and it seems a worthy cause. If it helps turn a few people's lives round that can't be a bad thing. I enjoy playing here, there's no pecking order, no favouritism. It's a good team to play a first open age season for."

Adam Boyne is also entering his first season of open age football: " I'd heard good things about the team and the lads, so I thought I'd give it a go. It's not a closed shop of players that have been here season after season, so everyone has an equal chance. I'm happy to be associated with the charity, it seems very worth while."

Last word goes to Mike. "We are a young team in every sense of the word. It would be nice if we could put on a decent show. We don't expect to win the league. There are a lot more established teams in the division with more experienced players. We'll have to learn quickly. We've had some good and bad results in friendlies; we've learned from them both.

Here at ELM we really hope Mike and the lads have a decent first season. Our only concern is what happened to the last team whose manager bleated on about "We're a young team with a young manager!"

www.positiveyouth.smartchange.org   

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