This summer, VERSUS has teamed up with Kitlocker to launch ‘Grass to Grace’, an editorial series celebrating the power of women’s grassroots football — and the communities that make it thrive. Partnering with Hamster FC, TBC FC and Bend It Like Peckham to spotlight their stories, identities, and the culture they’re building on and off the pitch through custom kit design. ‍

Hamster FC is more than just a grassroots club, they’re a collective. Whether it’s collaborating on photo shoots, creating zines, or showing up for each other off the pitch, the Hamster family aka ‘Hamily’, bring a DIY ethos to everything they do. Founded by Swedish duo Maria Maleh and Annie Alvin, the London-based team has built something rare: a safe, international, queer-friendly space where the love of the game meets artistic expression. A sentiment sewn into the heart of their collaborative kit design in partnership with Kitlocker and VERSUS. 

For years, Hamster FC players turned up to training and matches in whatever kit they had at home – their best blacked out shirts matched with pink hair bows and homemade accessories. But now, they’ve been given the opportunity to create a kit that is fully and unapologetically them. It’s soft and strong. Pink and powerful. And it tells the world exactly who they are. 

VERSUS sat down with Hamster FC members Maria, Annie and Lidia to talk about friendship, football, creative freedom — and what it means to finally feel seen, represented, and united through a kit they designed themselves.

Why is having access to proper kit so important to your team?

We have always put emphasis on the play before anything else, and our kit became a  project that grew slowly. We would rock up in our favorite black tops for the first couple of years, and over time personal Hamster accessories would creep in, a little pink hair bow here and there. Once the team formed into a solid crew, and we felt confident in our Hamster boots, we created our first one, it was a real turning point, we wore it to our first international tournament in Lisbon. The sense of pride, unity, and excitement was huge! It gave us a strong presence on the pitch with pink. It’s nice to have created a new pink kit to continue on our journey with.

What message do you think your new Kitlocker kit sends to the wider football world?

Lidia: That football and kits can look and feel however you want it! We are unafraid to mix softness with strength – our love of pink, our name being Hamsters, our determination to support one another and do our very best. It all encompasses that idea.

What are some challenges your team has faced in getting resources or recognition?

Maria: Funding is a huge factor on how we could develop as a team and community. We need funding to pay for league fees, pitch hires, kits and balls. We would love to see more brands and initiatives involve the grassroots community in open conversations, to see where their support is needed and how to avoid the disconnect, and instead build long term partnerships.

What’s one thing you wish more people understood about grassroots football?

Annie: One thing we wish more people understood about grassroots football is, it’s not just the foundation of the sport, it’s the heartbeat of entire communities. It’s easy to focus on elite players and major leagues, but every superstar starts somewhere. We wish more people saw grassroots football not as “just the beginning,” but as something worth investing in, protecting, and celebrating in its own right. For us it’s something we would have never dreamed to be a part of, we both started playing as kids and stopped playing as teenagers and thought that was it. Grassroot is forever! 

‍What does the phrase “Grass to Grace” mean to you personally?

Lidia: For us it means growth, in our own ways. It can be from winning a trophy, finding new team mates that become your best friends, to scoring your first goal. It’s about remembering where we started and where we are today, and appreciating the journey that we have been going through together as a team.

‍How does this moment – receiving a custom kit and being featured in a campaign – reflect your team’s journey?

Maria: Being able to create a kit is an incredible opportunity, it’s a way for us to collaborate within the team and get something to wear on the pitch that reflects the Hamsters. We are all very into DIY and pushed to find ways of how to make the kit our own. It translates into our journey of how we always work hard and try to find new ways of doing things within football visuals.

Where do you hope to take the club in the next few years?

Annie: We would love to host community open kickabout sessions and play more international tournaments! Hamster merch would be fun to release to the world.

If you could send one message to young players coming up in the game, what would it be?

Maria: Keep it going! And if that’s not enough, the football world is much bigger than just being a player. Branch out and explore all different roles within football such as reffing, coaching, photography, design and journalism. The football world is endless and there is space for more girls and women in all areas.

What would you say to other grassroots teams who are doing important work but flying under the radar?

Annie: Don’t rush, it’s totally fine to take your sweet time to build up something that feels authentic and true to you and your team. Connect with other teams, to uplift and support each other, that’s also important, if you have questions about how to find funding or work with sponsors, and see another team doing it, reach out and ask for some advice — we are all in this together. 

‍Inspired by these stories, and the kits that the clubs wear? Get yours from Kitlocker here.

VERSUS: Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your role within the team?

‍Maria Maleh: I’m Maria, I’m co-founder of Hamster FC – with Annie. Outside of the club, I’m an art director and graphic designer.

Annie Alvin: I’m Annie, I founded Hamsters with Maria six years ago, and when I’m not playing as a striker, I work as a set designer. 

‍Lidia Montoya: When I’m not protecting our goal! I code, paint and take pictures. I joined Hamsters a couple of years ago after helping out for some time – the best decision I ever made was “formally” joining the team!

‍How did your team come together, and what inspired its formation?

Maria: Our team came together quite naturally. We met through a mutual best friend from Sweden and connected instantly over our shared love of football and similar values. We both wanted to create something rooted in the joy we both find in playing football. From there, the team grew organically, mostly through friends and friends of friends. From day one, our priority has been to create a space where everyone feels welcome, where the focus is on having fun and lifting each other up.

What does your club represent beyond football?

‍Annie: Friendship, creativity and fun. (We also love cute animals and boardgames! Haha!)

What kind of impact is your club having in your local community?

‍Maria: We love to connect with likeminded clubs, and be a part of a bigger community. We try our best to support other teams, when they need extra players, spare match tickets or borrow goalie gloves, and in return we get the same – it’s a beautiful thing we got going. We just want more women to start playing and we are here if you need somewhere to start!

How does being part of this team support the players on and off the pitch?

Lidia: For us, it really feels like being part of a family or as we call it, the “Hamily”. We’re a small group from all over the world, but this team has become a constant source of support for everyone involved. It goes far beyond football, we spend time together off the pitch, collaborate on creative projects, and show up for one another when needed.

Can you share a moment or story that shows the positive change your team has made?

Annie: One of the most impactful changes our team has made is creating a safe and supportive space that goes far beyond football. Many of our players have spoken about how the team has helped them through personal challenges, whether it's mental health struggles, stress from work, or difficult life situations. Having a few hours each week to disconnect, be active, and feel part of a community has been incredibly meaningful for a lot of our players. 

How does it feel to put on a kit that represents your club’s identity?

‍Maria: It’s honestly one of the best feelings! From the start, our aim has been to bring joy into football and putting on a kit that reflects that spirit is really powerful. It’s a reminder that no matter the outcome on the pitch, we’re here to enjoy the game, support each other, and have fun. The kit has become a symbol of what we stand for as a club.