Exciting Changes at the Compound: A New Chapter for Our Club

Today was supposed to be my day off, but as anyone involved in grassroots football knows, there’s rarely such a thing. Instead, I found myself at the compound with our ever-reliable volunteer maintenance officer, newly retired odd-job man and big brother all rolled into one. The main task? Dismantling the huge goals that have served us well over the years. They’ve been a real feature on our pitches, but space is at a premium, and it’s time for something more practical. Fortunately, Pelsall Villa have snapped them up, so they’ll get a new lease of life elsewhere.

In their place, we’re introducing new folding goals, a much more manageable option for our growing club. Sarah, who wears more hats than anyone I know Club secretary, vice chair, club shop guru has gamely taken up the challenge of assembling the new ones. She’s drafted in her son George to help, and rightly so. George and his adult team will be joining us in September as Brownhills Community Colts - Old Horns, but he’s already rolled up his sleeves and is getting stuck in ahead of time.

Throughout the day, we had a steady stream of four-legged visitors. The compound seemed to be the highlight of every dog’s walk, with curious noses sniffing around and tails wagging in approval. It’s lovely to see our little corner of the community bringing people and pooches together.

As the day wore on and tiredness set in, I was especially grateful to see Joel, our Under 9s Assistant Coach, arrive with his son for a kick about. Never one to miss an opportunity, I swiftly ‘volunteered’ him to help carry the goals back into the compound. His willingness like so many others perfectly sums up the spirit of our club.

These changes are just the start of a brighter, more practical future for everyone at the club. It’s days like these that remind me how much grassroots football depends on volunteers working together, sharing the load, and making sure everything happens behind the scenes. Here’s to the next phase and to everyone who gives their time and energy to keep our club thriving.