Cathkin Blazes - The Importance of Grassroots Sport
This is a dispatch from Nuala Neary,Global Ambassador for Project: Wander Bra, based in Scotland. Our ambassadors provide global perspectives on the impact of sports, in partnership with the Women’s Sports Foundation. Follow Nuala’s adventures @ncneary
Since starting this ambassador programme, I have been so excited to tell everyone about the amazing football team I coach. Cathkin Blazes is an inclusive community football club based in the Southside of Glasgow, one of Scotland’s most diverse neighborhoods. It was founded in May 2021 to provide people with a chance to reconnect with the safety of outdoor sports post-Covid. Cathkin Blazes’ aim from the start has been to create a gender-inclusive safe space within football while also removing the pay barrier, making sessions free for all and beginner-friendly.
Through the past three years, this team has provided a community for people who have experienced barriers into sport in the past, whether it be due to gender, race, sexuality, or financial. This is not just a football club, it is a family that encourages and uplifts each other to take up space in sport and enjoy football together in a friendly, supportive, and funny environment. The growth of Cathkin Blazes has been incredible, starting off with six people playing in the park to 303 players in our group! As well as regular training, we take part in a weekly 5-a-side league, monthly 7-a-side and 11-a-side, and away tournaments. Earlier this year the team won its first award, the sport and recreation category at the Proud Scotland Awards. After the awards were presented it was extremely emotional hearing about the messages the judges received on how this team has changed their lives, and it reaffirmed the importance and impact grassroots sports can have on groups of people.
As a club we make sure that we partake in regular outreach work to give back to the community we are based in. Cathkin Blazes regularly takes part in the Leap Sport Festival Fortnight, which is a LGBTQ sports charity that hosts open sessions for people to come try football and get to know people on the team. Last year we hosted three free, gender-inclusive sessions for survivors of sexual assaults where we also had a support worker present to ensure our participants got the most out of our sessions. The sessions were a great success, with the participants joining Cathkin Blazes and becoming a valuable support system for one another. Other taster sessions included football for the Roma community and participating in the refugee festival, putting the club within the heart of the community.
The best way to understand what this team means is to get to know the experiences of our players. I asked some members to answer a series of questions on their Cathkin Blazes experiences and all the answers were a great insight on what we are all about. People joined Blazes for a number of reasons, a common theme was they wanted to play fun, beginner-friendly football within a chill environment. One player mentioned that it was a way of building friendships when they first moved to Glasgow and they loved how everyone made them feel included. Community was another theme within the responses, people joined as they feel that the team has a great sense of community and everyone involved helps motivate one another. A player added how they were in desperate need of a new experience in football, mentioning, “Blazes is open to any and all people interested in playing football regardless of their ability, identity or background. I’ve seen Blazes players being encouraged, praised and having fun regardless of their performance in training sessions, in competitive games, and even off the pitch, and I so desperately needed that in my football experience. I am so grateful to everyone who makes CBCFC what it is, and especially to those who encouraged me to join.”
The next question was about everyone's favorite thing about being part of Cathkin Blazes. There was an overall theme of the friendships that have evolved throughout people's time playing and everyone is there for the same reasons: to enjoy football, build skills, and just have fun together. Match days are a highlight for people who play with Blazes, it is always nice to see teams from the Glasgow inclusive football community coming together and experiencing the inter-team support we all have for each other.
“My favorite thing about being part of Cathkin Blazes is the community and the sense of belonging to something bigger.”
There are so many incredible things about Cathkin Blazes that make it so special, such as how everyone involved is on the same wavelength, creating such a supportive atmosphere. There was a shout-out to the committee highlighting all their hard work to keep everyone playing football and how they deal with any reports of gender exclusivity. Gender inclusivity is an integral ethos within the team to make football a safe environment for all. One player mentioned that the non-football stuff is what makes the club special to them. Outside of football, whether it be needing help with job hunting, housing, providing contacts, leading items, or DIY, there's always someone ready to help and a big shout out to the fabulous parties we host. (Our DJs are great!)
“Being surrounded by a group of grounded people who are optimistic, look out for each other, inspiring, and actively lift each other up.”
The final question to the players was about what they have gotten out of Cathkin Blazes since their first session. There were comments on how it has given them an enjoyable form of exercise on a regular basis, which in turn has improved their confidence. Joining the team has helped people feel happier, made them feel more connected to the local community, providing a weekly focus, and rekindled their love of football. People having a much more fulfilling experience within sport really highlights how important teams like Cathkin Blazes are. Sport should not make people feel excluded, and results are so clear that when you remove participation barriers how successful it can be.
“I have got so much out of Cathkin Blazes - I’ve never felt so fit and healthy, my mental health has improved so much and I’ve made wonderful friends.I’ve got a bit better at football which gives me a great feeling of achievement.”
Since I joined in 2022, I have had nothing but positive experiences with this team.It truly feels like a found family who have given me the best coaching experience I have ever had. I constantly praise them on how they are the best team I have ever coached in my many years with other clubs. Cathkin Blazes is a club that offers the most unique football experience, a club that is open to all no matter your background, no financial barriers, and the best vibes in Scotland that I feel unbelievably lucky to be a part of! The power of grassroots teams can not be understated! If you are inspired by our story, or want to keep up with what we are up to, you can follow our Instagram at @cathkin.blazes. BLAZES FOR EVER!
