Why is #Friends central to everything we do?

Football is a social sport that blessed me with an incredible insight into so many powerful tools for life. From the utmost respect for referees and officials to communication and leadership.

#Friends is also not about hiding from the difficult truths of working hard for each other and letting your team mates know when they fall short. For in this type of friendship discipline is born so there is a collective value of #teamwork.

I also recall discussions with the Chairman of the local Weetabix League back in 2016 before we kicked off Fundamental. Recounting the story of a so called "academy" that came in for a few of my players that I coached back in 2007. The promise they made that it was just extra training and our players would remain connected to their mates they had grown up with since they were 4 years old. 6 months later, the team had folded and the players had gone to the "academy".

For this reason and many more #friends at Northants Fundamental Football Club, we believe in ensuring players remain at their grassroots teams and continue their journey of friends together.

We do this by

1. Respecting the boundaries between the days we train and when they play in the local leagues

2. Only transitioning our teams to the Midland Junior Premier League (MJPL) on Saturdays at U10s when their local teams play Sundays

And we are passionate about this as the memories and moments we create through sport and through football are like golden gems that can last a lifetime.

In 2019 I was personally blessed to play with my friends from back in Bristol and took to the field with 30 players after c. 30 years to raise invaluable funds for Alzeimhers Society. Incredibly thankful to Glyn Ashton for making this possible along with many others.

However, Glyn and more importantly Vernon (his father) was a cornerstone of my very early journey in football. We did not have a car and Vernon would travel down and pick up Ian Benjamin and I to go the games at Bromley Heath.

So #friends is more than respect. Its more than being nice to each other. Its more than creating memories. Because #friends is also respecting the boundaries between clubs, team mates and friendships born well before they come to Fundamental.

And for all my friends out there, my ears are here to listen, my heart is open to care and most of all and forever, you know that Ty will be there!

That's Fundamental!