Our Story

This is Charlie, our founder. He’s a lifelong Arsenal fan, North London born and bred. 

Those first visits to Highbury and kickabouts after school proved to him the magic of football. The passion, the community, the excitement – he was hooked. 

Charlie shared his love of the game with kids through coaching. He saw first-hand the positive difference playing football was making for his players. 
 
They became not only physically healthier, but were making new friends and becoming more confident and happier – all by playing football regularly. 
 
That’s the magic of football. But, Charlie saw a problem. 

The simple fact is not everyone has equal access to a football pitch. Barriers like the growing cost of kit and coaching, the lack of weather resilient facilities and poorly organised sessions still prevent young people from participating in organised football. 

And when kids can’t access the uniquely life changing power of football, we all lose out.

That’s why Bloomsbury Football Foundation was born. One simple aim: to make the magic football accessible and affordable for any young Londoner that wanted to play. 

Charlie coached the first ever Bloomsbury session himself on a pitch in Camden Town. Four players attended – two paid, two did not. The ethos that no player will be turned away has stayed ever since. 

Bloomsbury Football has grown a lot since that first session. Now, we run sessions across nine London boroughs and are immensely proud to coach over 6,000 boys and girls every single week. 
 
Every single one of those players can apply for financial support, meaning 25-100% discounts off our programmes – part of our commitment to make football accessible for everyone.