Middlesex FA is proud to announce that Belsize Park Football Club has been named as its England Football Accredited Club of the Month for April 2023.

Belsize Park Football Club is a relatively new football club in the area. Growth has been organic but rapid. Belsize Park started with one group of boys, training once a week, in one of the boys' back garden, and is now a club of over 200 children, fielding 8 teams in the Watford Friendly League and a girls team in the Capital Girls League.

The club is run by Alexi Mavroudis and his team. Alexi discovered that many families were finding it difficult to find a club that catered for children that loved football, but were not at the level to play Sunday league. Belsize Park Football Club welcomed these children, knowing that with the right approach, they could be developed both technically and physically, enabling them to really love football and should they wish to, there would be an opportunity to eventually join a team.

The club represent Youth football for children aged 3 - 16 years old, while volunteer and coaching staff has increased from 4 to 14. They now have football training for girls and are part of the Weetabix Wildcats programme, and they have a girls’ team.

A spokesperson for Belsize Park said: “Being accredited is something Belsize Park Football Club is very proud to be part of. It reassures the members and parents that the club adheres to a high standard of practice. It attracts talented coaches which in turn then benefits the players. Access to support and funding has also enabled to the club to secure facilities and equipment which has a huge impact on the experience of the players.”

The club delivers exceptional football coaching for children of all abilities between the ages of 5 and 14, in a safe, inclusive and structured environment.

The key aims of the club are:

· To ensure football training of a professional and high standard is accessible to all children
· To maintain high standards and principles
· To make a real difference to the lives and wellbeing of local children, families and the community as a whole
· To provide a safe and fun environment for children to learn and play
· To promote socialising, sharing human values and the pleasure of practising the marvellous sport of football

It has taken a lot of hard work and dedication to get the club off the ground. Finding facilities for training and matches has been quite the challenge but after several years of working with Camden Council, the club has now secured two pitches on the Hampstead Heath Extension and a space for training. The coaching staff are fantastic, they are highly skilled, engaging, motivating and make the training sessions so much fun.

Via the FA Accreditation scheme, the coaching staff have access to a great range of courses and development tools to enable them to further their careers, which means staff retention is good and the club is seen as a good place for career progression.

The club has responded very well to the increased demand for girls football in the area and last year started a girls training session and has this season entered a girls team into the Capital Girls League. This is growing week by week and it is great to see the club adapting and growing to meet the needs of the community.

Congratulations to Belsize Park Football Club, from everybody at Middlesex FA!

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