Hackney Wick FC Face Becoming Homeless and May Have to Leave the Borough to Find a New Ground

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The club will have to leave their current ground in April.

Feb 6, 2020
Jacob Davey
Words by
Photography by

One of London's most important community clubs, Hackney Wick FC, face being homeless next season, with founder Bobby Kasanga saying that they might have to cut ties with the borough.

Since 2015, Bobby Kasanga has diligently undertaken a project which has seen Hackney Wick FC get kids off the streets and playing football with distinct aim to become the symbol of anti-youth violence activism in London. The club is entirely run by volunteers, with 230 active players across 18 teams of differing age groups.

VERSUS have previously partnered with the club for their annual all-star charity match, and linked up with Nike London, Made to Mention and Hey Big Man Creative to create two wavey new jerseys designed by local kids to give back to the community last year.

HWFC will no longer be able to play home games at the Haringey Borough FC stadium once the season ends in April. The club have been groundsharing in north London as an emergency measure this year after an agreement to play at Clapton FC's Spotted Dog ground was cancelled at short notice, costing the club £4,000.

https://twitter.com/HackneyWickFC/status/1222552423371288577

https://twitter.com/HackneyWickFC/status/1222551968171941888

The only offers of new homes at the minute include playing in Wormley, Hertfordshire, and a groundshare with Witham Town in Essex – but for a club so deeply rooted in helping young people and the community in Hackney, the search is on for finding somewhere closer to home.

Two stadiums in east London have been identified, but neither of the owners of The London Marathon Community Track stadium or Leyton FC's old ground in Lea Bridge Road have been convinced to allow them to move in so far.

Hackney is the only borough in London without a football stadium, and Bobby spoke to the Hackney Gazette about the problems he's encountering attempting to try and find a new ground for the club.

"There are issues in east London in general. There are so many teams ground sharing. One stadium has three teams sharing it," Bobby told the Gazette, "I don't think they understand the value of it. It's not just football, it's education and the ethos. Most of our kids are aged 17 to 25. We are giving youths the chance of being scouted. We have had three go to Colchester in the last few months.

"We are producing these kinds of players but if you can't play in your own borough you can't do it. People don't want to travel to Wormley. They said: 'Where the hell is Wormley? We take a minibus for away games now but if we had to do that for home games it's another added cost and we couldn't then pay expenses."

"We keep hearing about youth violence. We are trying to give them the opportunity to go on and have careers even if they are not in football. It's about what can we offer them. Our profile is getting bigger. But with all these things what are we getting in return? We're not getting much love. If we had a ground at Mabley Green all the people who can't afford to go and support these big clubs could come down and watch their local team. It would bring the community together."

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvjxRlUDb-I/?utm_source=ig_embed

While Hackney Wick FC may not have a stadium, the club have lots of heart - having recently made the semi-finals of the local cup. We're wishing all the best for the club's run in the competition and their fight to find a new ground.

No items found.
No items found.

Hackney Wick FC Face Becoming Homeless and May Have to Leave the Borough to Find a New Ground

The club will have to leave their current ground in April.

Feb 6, 2020
Jacob Davey
Words by
Photography by

One of London's most important community clubs, Hackney Wick FC, face being homeless next season, with founder Bobby Kasanga saying that they might have to cut ties with the borough.

Since 2015, Bobby Kasanga has diligently undertaken a project which has seen Hackney Wick FC get kids off the streets and playing football with distinct aim to become the symbol of anti-youth violence activism in London. The club is entirely run by volunteers, with 230 active players across 18 teams of differing age groups.

VERSUS have previously partnered with the club for their annual all-star charity match, and linked up with Nike London, Made to Mention and Hey Big Man Creative to create two wavey new jerseys designed by local kids to give back to the community last year.

HWFC will no longer be able to play home games at the Haringey Borough FC stadium once the season ends in April. The club have been groundsharing in north London as an emergency measure this year after an agreement to play at Clapton FC's Spotted Dog ground was cancelled at short notice, costing the club £4,000.

https://twitter.com/HackneyWickFC/status/1222552423371288577

https://twitter.com/HackneyWickFC/status/1222551968171941888

The only offers of new homes at the minute include playing in Wormley, Hertfordshire, and a groundshare with Witham Town in Essex – but for a club so deeply rooted in helping young people and the community in Hackney, the search is on for finding somewhere closer to home.

Two stadiums in east London have been identified, but neither of the owners of The London Marathon Community Track stadium or Leyton FC's old ground in Lea Bridge Road have been convinced to allow them to move in so far.

Hackney is the only borough in London without a football stadium, and Bobby spoke to the Hackney Gazette about the problems he's encountering attempting to try and find a new ground for the club.

"There are issues in east London in general. There are so many teams ground sharing. One stadium has three teams sharing it," Bobby told the Gazette, "I don't think they understand the value of it. It's not just football, it's education and the ethos. Most of our kids are aged 17 to 25. We are giving youths the chance of being scouted. We have had three go to Colchester in the last few months.

"We are producing these kinds of players but if you can't play in your own borough you can't do it. People don't want to travel to Wormley. They said: 'Where the hell is Wormley? We take a minibus for away games now but if we had to do that for home games it's another added cost and we couldn't then pay expenses."

"We keep hearing about youth violence. We are trying to give them the opportunity to go on and have careers even if they are not in football. It's about what can we offer them. Our profile is getting bigger. But with all these things what are we getting in return? We're not getting much love. If we had a ground at Mabley Green all the people who can't afford to go and support these big clubs could come down and watch their local team. It would bring the community together."

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvjxRlUDb-I/?utm_source=ig_embed

While Hackney Wick FC may not have a stadium, the club have lots of heart - having recently made the semi-finals of the local cup. We're wishing all the best for the club's run in the competition and their fight to find a new ground.

No items found.
No items found.

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News

Hackney Wick FC Face Becoming Homeless and May Have to Leave the Borough to Find a New Ground

The club will have to leave their current ground in April.

Words by
Jacob Davey
Feb 6, 2020
Photography by
Example of image caption
Image caption goes here

One of London's most important community clubs, Hackney Wick FC, face being homeless next season, with founder Bobby Kasanga saying that they might have to cut ties with the borough.

Since 2015, Bobby Kasanga has diligently undertaken a project which has seen Hackney Wick FC get kids off the streets and playing football with distinct aim to become the symbol of anti-youth violence activism in London. The club is entirely run by volunteers, with 230 active players across 18 teams of differing age groups.

VERSUS have previously partnered with the club for their annual all-star charity match, and linked up with Nike London, Made to Mention and Hey Big Man Creative to create two wavey new jerseys designed by local kids to give back to the community last year.

HWFC will no longer be able to play home games at the Haringey Borough FC stadium once the season ends in April. The club have been groundsharing in north London as an emergency measure this year after an agreement to play at Clapton FC's Spotted Dog ground was cancelled at short notice, costing the club £4,000.

https://twitter.com/HackneyWickFC/status/1222552423371288577

https://twitter.com/HackneyWickFC/status/1222551968171941888

The only offers of new homes at the minute include playing in Wormley, Hertfordshire, and a groundshare with Witham Town in Essex – but for a club so deeply rooted in helping young people and the community in Hackney, the search is on for finding somewhere closer to home.

Two stadiums in east London have been identified, but neither of the owners of The London Marathon Community Track stadium or Leyton FC's old ground in Lea Bridge Road have been convinced to allow them to move in so far.

Hackney is the only borough in London without a football stadium, and Bobby spoke to the Hackney Gazette about the problems he's encountering attempting to try and find a new ground for the club.

"There are issues in east London in general. There are so many teams ground sharing. One stadium has three teams sharing it," Bobby told the Gazette, "I don't think they understand the value of it. It's not just football, it's education and the ethos. Most of our kids are aged 17 to 25. We are giving youths the chance of being scouted. We have had three go to Colchester in the last few months.

"We are producing these kinds of players but if you can't play in your own borough you can't do it. People don't want to travel to Wormley. They said: 'Where the hell is Wormley? We take a minibus for away games now but if we had to do that for home games it's another added cost and we couldn't then pay expenses."

"We keep hearing about youth violence. We are trying to give them the opportunity to go on and have careers even if they are not in football. It's about what can we offer them. Our profile is getting bigger. But with all these things what are we getting in return? We're not getting much love. If we had a ground at Mabley Green all the people who can't afford to go and support these big clubs could come down and watch their local team. It would bring the community together."

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvjxRlUDb-I/?utm_source=ig_embed

While Hackney Wick FC may not have a stadium, the club have lots of heart - having recently made the semi-finals of the local cup. We're wishing all the best for the club's run in the competition and their fight to find a new ground.

No items found.
No items found.

Related

Hackney Wick FC Face Becoming Homeless and May Have to Leave the Borough to Find a New Ground

The club will have to leave their current ground in April.

Feb 6, 2020
Jacob Davey
Words by
Photography by

One of London's most important community clubs, Hackney Wick FC, face being homeless next season, with founder Bobby Kasanga saying that they might have to cut ties with the borough.

Since 2015, Bobby Kasanga has diligently undertaken a project which has seen Hackney Wick FC get kids off the streets and playing football with distinct aim to become the symbol of anti-youth violence activism in London. The club is entirely run by volunteers, with 230 active players across 18 teams of differing age groups.

VERSUS have previously partnered with the club for their annual all-star charity match, and linked up with Nike London, Made to Mention and Hey Big Man Creative to create two wavey new jerseys designed by local kids to give back to the community last year.

HWFC will no longer be able to play home games at the Haringey Borough FC stadium once the season ends in April. The club have been groundsharing in north London as an emergency measure this year after an agreement to play at Clapton FC's Spotted Dog ground was cancelled at short notice, costing the club £4,000.

https://twitter.com/HackneyWickFC/status/1222552423371288577

https://twitter.com/HackneyWickFC/status/1222551968171941888

The only offers of new homes at the minute include playing in Wormley, Hertfordshire, and a groundshare with Witham Town in Essex – but for a club so deeply rooted in helping young people and the community in Hackney, the search is on for finding somewhere closer to home.

Two stadiums in east London have been identified, but neither of the owners of The London Marathon Community Track stadium or Leyton FC's old ground in Lea Bridge Road have been convinced to allow them to move in so far.

Hackney is the only borough in London without a football stadium, and Bobby spoke to the Hackney Gazette about the problems he's encountering attempting to try and find a new ground for the club.

"There are issues in east London in general. There are so many teams ground sharing. One stadium has three teams sharing it," Bobby told the Gazette, "I don't think they understand the value of it. It's not just football, it's education and the ethos. Most of our kids are aged 17 to 25. We are giving youths the chance of being scouted. We have had three go to Colchester in the last few months.

"We are producing these kinds of players but if you can't play in your own borough you can't do it. People don't want to travel to Wormley. They said: 'Where the hell is Wormley? We take a minibus for away games now but if we had to do that for home games it's another added cost and we couldn't then pay expenses."

"We keep hearing about youth violence. We are trying to give them the opportunity to go on and have careers even if they are not in football. It's about what can we offer them. Our profile is getting bigger. But with all these things what are we getting in return? We're not getting much love. If we had a ground at Mabley Green all the people who can't afford to go and support these big clubs could come down and watch their local team. It would bring the community together."

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvjxRlUDb-I/?utm_source=ig_embed

While Hackney Wick FC may not have a stadium, the club have lots of heart - having recently made the semi-finals of the local cup. We're wishing all the best for the club's run in the competition and their fight to find a new ground.

No items found.
No items found.