Sparks Football Club
Where every child finds their confidence on the pitch, regardless of ability or experience. Football for the love of the game and the strength of community.
Every Tuesday evening at Warrior Square, something special happens. Children of all abilities arrive (some in proper boots, some in trainers, some confident, some shy) and for two hours, they're simply part of the team.
Sparks Football Club isn't about creating professional players or winning trophies. It's about giving every child the chance to play, to belong, to discover what their body can do and what their voice sounds like when they cheer for their friends.
Led by Head Coach Kele and Assistant Coach Gabriel, with support from dedicated volunteers, Sparks has become more than a football club. It's where friendships form, where confidence grows, and where families find community.
Football for Everyone
All Abilities Welcome
You don't need to have touched a football before. You don't need to be fast or strong or coordinated. If you can run (or walk, or move), you can play. We adapt to each child, meeting them where they are. Some children arrive as natural athletes. Others arrive unsure if sport is "for them." By the end of the session, they're all playing together.
Community, Not Competition
Yes, we play games (that's the joy of football). But we're not training for leagues or tournaments. We're training for life: teamwork, resilience, communication, celebrating others' success, handling disappointment, and showing up for each other. The competition is with yourself: Can you do something this week you couldn't do last week?
Mixed Ages, Shared Spirit
Our players range from 5 to 15, with younger siblings sometimes joining the fun. Rather than rigidly dividing by age, we create moments where older children mentor younger ones, where everyone finds their role, and where the team is whoever shows up that Tuesday.
Year-Round Now
Thanks to new funding, Sparks now runs through winter too. Rain, cold, or shine - we're there. Because consistency matters, especially for children who count on Tuesday being Sparks day.
What Happens at a Session
Every session is different, but the structure gives children security.
Warm-Up
We start together. Bodies and voices wake up. Energy builds. Everyone's included from the first moment.
Skills Development
Drills that teach ball control, passing, positioning, and movement (adapted to each child's ability). This is where individual growth happens.
Small-Sided Games
The fun part. Playing is how you really learn football. We rotate teams, try different positions, and emphasize trying over perfection.
Cool Down & Reflection
We end together. What went well? Who helped someone today? What will we work on next week?
Meet the Team
Throughout it all, our coaches and volunteers watch for the child hanging back, the one who needs encouragement, the one ready for a challenge. Football is the tool. Building confident, connected young people is the goal.
Kele Buay
Head Coach & SPARKS Football Club Manager
Progress Network CIC
Kele leads the SPARKS team, nurturing young talent through coaching, mentorship, and structured development. He is the owner of SystemX and a Level 4 Referee, with a strong background in youth work, leadership, and design engineering. Kele is dedicated to inspiring the next generation through sport, innovation, and community engagement.
Gabriel Arinze
Assistant Head Coach SPARKS Football Club
Progress Network CIC
Gabriel leads the SPARKS Over-10s team, designing engaging training sessions that build confidence, skill, and teamwork. With a professional background in the health sector, he brings care, discipline, and compassion to every role. Gabriel is deeply committed to supporting youth development and promoting wellbeing through sport and mentorship.
Claire Oram
Sparks Football Club Coach & Secretary
Progress Network CIC
Claire plays a key role at SPARKS Football Club and Progress Network, as Secretary helping create safe, supportive spaces where young people can thrive. A qualified Level 3 Personal Trainer and Wellbeing Coach with additional training in children's fitness and youth mental health, she's passionate about building confidence, strength, and community through movement and mindfulness. Empowering young people to grow inside and out.
What Children Gain
From fitness to friendship, from skills to self-belief.
Physical Development
Coordination, balance, and control • Cardiovascular fitness • Understanding their body's capabilities • Healthy habits and love of movement
Football Skills
Ball control and dribbling • Passing and receiving • Positioning and spatial awareness • Game understanding and strategy
Social & Emotional Growth
Working in a team toward shared goals • Making friends across ages and backgrounds • Handling winning and losing with grace • Speaking up, leading, following • Showing up even when it's cold or you're tired
Confidence
This might be the biggest gain. Watching a child go from "I can't" to "I did it" to "Can I try something harder?" (that's what Sparks is really about).
Who Is This For?
Perfect for children who:
- Love football or want to try it
- Need more physical activity and outdoor time
- Thrive in team environments
- Want to make friends and feel part of something
- Have energy to burn and goals to score
You don't need:
- Any football experience
- Expensive equipment (we provide bibs and balls)
- To be naturally athletic or coordinated
- To commit every single week (though consistency helps)
Just bring:
The Bigger Picture
Sparks has been part of the community longer than Progress Network CIC has officially existed. It started as an idea (that local children needed a place to play, to belong, to be active) and it's grown into something families depend on.
Many Sparks families also attend Green Arena Gardening Club. Some are excited about the upcoming Kings Rd Music Studio. We're all part of the same community, all working toward the same goal: helping every young person in St Leonards discover their potential and find their place.
Tuesday evenings at Warrior Square are loud, chaotic, joyful, and real. That's community sport at its best.
Frequently Asked Questions
My child has never played football. Will they feel out of place?
Not at all. Many children start with zero experience. Our coaches adapt to each level, and the mix of abilities means everyone's learning something new.
What if my child is very shy or anxious?
We see this often. Kele and the team are experienced at drawing out quiet children gently. Many of our most confident players started by watching from the sideline for weeks. That's okay.
Do they need their own football?
No - we provide all equipment. If your child has their own ball, they're welcome to bring it.
Can my younger child (under 5) join?
Younger siblings sometimes tag along if supervised by a parent. They can't officially register but can play on the side if there's space and they're safe.
My child plays for a team already. Can they still come?
Absolutely. Some children play competitively elsewhere and come to Sparks for the community feel. All are welcome.
Is there a girls-only option?
Currently Sparks is mixed gender. We're proud that girls and boys play together as equals. If demand grows, we'd consider additional sessions.
Can parents watch?
Yes! Many parents stay and watch from the sideline. Others drop off and return at 7pm. Both work fine.
"My son was so shy he wouldn't even look at the ball the first few weeks. Now he's the first one running onto the pitch every Tuesday. At school he's terrified of getting it wrong, but at Sparks he just tries."
Parent
St Leonards
Every young person in St Leonards deserves the chance to thrive.
Help us make it happen.