“Football Club’s Family Hub Phenomenal, Says Parent” that could appear in a local newspaper or club magazine:

Football Club’s Family Hub Phenomenal, Says Parent

When local mother Sarah Jennings took her two young children to a community open day at Riverview United Football Club last spring, she expected a few football drills, maybe some face painting, and the usual jumble of raffle tickets and tepid coffee.

What she found instead was something much more impressive — a bustling, purpose-built “Family Hub” that’s rapidly becoming the heartbeat of the club and wider community.

“It’s phenomenal,” she says, smiling as her youngest proudly displays a Riverview United sticker on his jacket.

“We’ve been to so many sports clubs where families are treated like an afterthought.

Here, we’re made to feel like part of the team.

My kids never want to miss a weekend.”

A New Chapter for the Club

The Family Hub was officially opened in April 2024 after two years of planning and fundraising.

The £1.2 million project was supported by local sponsors, council grants, and a grassroots facilities initiative from the Football Association.

What started as an idea scribbled on a napkin during a parents’ committee meeting has become a vibrant, multi-purpose space that serves players, parents, and the wider community alike.

The building itself sits beside the main pitch — a modern glass-fronted structure that includes a café, soft-play zone, homework area, sensory room, and several meeting spaces used for workshops and after-school clubs.

On match days, the hub is filled with families watching the action through panoramic windows, cheering on the players rain or shine.

Club chairperson Mark Holloway says the project was about “redefining what a local football club could mean to its community.”

“Football’s always been about more than just the game,” he explains.

“We wanted a space where everyone — parents, grandparents, toddlers, even people who’ve never kicked a ball in their lives — could come together. It’s about connection, wellbeing, and belonging.”

Building More Than a Fan Base

The Family Hub offers a calendar of activities that extend far beyond sport.

On weekdays, it hosts “Little Boots” toddler sessions, mindfulness mornings for parents, and after-school homework clubs supported by local university students.

Weekend mornings feature breakfast meetups for families before the youth fixtures kick off, while evenings are often booked for birthday parties or community film nights.

For many families, especially those new to the area, the hub has provided a vital sense of belonging.

“I moved here from Manchester just over a year ago,” says parent Ahmed Khan, whose daughter plays for Riverview United’s Under-9s. “We didn’t know anyone.

But through the hub we’ve met other parents, the kids have made friends, and it’s given us a real community. It’s not just football — it’s family.”

Even the local council has taken note. Councillor Emily Rojas, head of community development, praised the initiative as a model for how sports clubs can tackle social isolation and promote wellbeing.

“Spaces like this bring people together,” she said during a recent visit.

“They offer somewhere warm, welcoming, and inclusive — especially important during the cost-of-living crisis. The club has created something special here.”

Inclusive by Design

One of the standout features of the Family Hub is its commitment to accessibility.

The sensory room, developed in consultation with disability charities, provides a calm environment for children who might find match-day crowds overwhelming.

The café offers affordable, healthy options, and all facilities are wheelchair accessible.

Head of Community Engagement, Laura Benson, says inclusion was “non-negotiable” from day one.

“We didn’t want to just tick boxes,” she explains.

“We listened to families — those with children with additional needs, single parents, carers, grandparents — and asked what would genuinely help them feel welcome.

The result is a space that’s comfortable and adaptable for everyone.”

That philosophy has extended to the club’s football programmes too.

Riverview United now runs girls’ development squads, walking football for over-60s, and “Mixed Ability” sessions where players with and without disabilities train together.

Economic and Social Impact

Beyond the smiles and selfies, the Family Hub has brought tangible benefits to the area.

Since its opening, local businesses have seen increased weekend trade, and several parents have found part-time work or volunteer roles through the hub’s community network.

A recent independent review commissioned by the council estimated that the hub contributes more than £350,000 a year in social value — from improved health outcomes to reduced social isolation and increased community volunteering.

For Sarah Jennings, however, the value can’t be measured in pounds.

“My son used to be really shy,” she says. “He wouldn’t talk to other kids.

Now he’s part of a team, he’s confident, and he can’t wait for training. I think that’s what this place does — it brings people out of their shells.”

Looking Ahead

The success of Riverview United’s Family Hub has inspired other clubs across the region to follow suit.

The FA has already invited Holloway and Benson to share their blueprint at its upcoming Grassroots Innovation Summit.

Plans are also underway for a “Green Goals” expansion next year, featuring solar panels, community gardens, and environmental workshops.

For Holloway, it’s all about sustainability — not just environmentally, but socially too.

“If we can create a space where young people feel supported, parents feel included, and the community feels proud, then we’ve done our job,” he says.

“Football might be the spark, but what it ignites goes far beyond the pitch.”

Back in the café, the Saturday morning buzz is in full swing.

Children in club colours dart between tables, parents chat over coffee, and volunteers in bright yellow jackets prepare for the afternoon’s fixtures.

The sound of laughter blends with the distant thud of a football being kicked across the turf.

For families like the Jennings, it’s more than just a sports club — it’s a second home.

“This place has changed our weekends,” Sarah says, watching her kids wave to their teammates. “It’s where memories are made. Honestly, it’s phenomenal.”