FC Marylebone sides are playing weekly matches in the Camden Youth League, the Camden & Islington Youth League, and the Regent’s Park Youth League

A TOP grassroots football club is giving supporters the chance to get their hands on a whole host of goodies, including tickets to see Arsenal take on Liverpool in the Women’s Super League, as well as signed Real Madrid and Barcelona shirts.

Organisers from FC Marylebone are counting down the days until they host their second big fundraiser with the goal of helping to support disadvantaged young players from across the capital.

Last year’s event proved a massive success, raising nearly £8,000 which went towards scholarships, subsidised football camps, coaching development and expanding girls’ football.

Young players, parents, coaches and supporters of the club are now gearing up to do it all over again on Friday, March 7, at the Lord Mayor’s Parlour at Westminster City Hall in Victoria Street.

Ticket-holders will be treated to a fun night of food & drink, as well as a raffle and an auction, with lots including tickets to see England’s World Cup qualifier against Albania in March, and seats for the semi-finals of the HSBC Women’s Tennis Championships, which will be held at The Queen’s Club in June.

Explaining the more serious targets behind the fundraiser, FC Marylebone founder and chairman, Edmond Grezda, said: “We’re really looking forward to another fantastic evening, bringing together our community to support our young players. The funds we raise are crucial to ensuring that we can continue offering football for all, especially in an area like Marylebone, where space is both limited and expensive.

“Keeping our membership fees unchanged while providing top-quality coaching and facilities can be a challenge in the current climate, and this fundraiser plays a huge role in continuing to facilitate this.”

Since forming in 2019, FC Marylebone has become a fixture in local competitions, tackling weekly matches in the Camden Youth League, the Camden & Islington Youth League and the Regent’s Park Youth League. The club caters for boys and girls aged from three to 14 years old, and “is dedicated to making football accessible to all children, regardless of background, gender, or financial circumstances”.

The benefits of their first fundraiser in 2024 included full scholarships allowing three girls to play for an entire season for free, discounted fees for three more girls, and allowed 13 children to take part in the club’s Easter camp for free, while two players joined the club’s May camp and four players took part in their October camp, also for free.

It also allowed the club to invest in FA Level 2 coaching certifications for their coaching staff.

Regan Fitzgerald, who plays for FC Marylebone’s Under-10 boys’ team, is among the youngsters who have thrived at the club, benefiting from 50 per cent discounted fees and free half-term camps every holiday for the past two years.

The talented midfielder said: “I love playing at FC Marylebone. The coaches are amazing – especially my coach, Anton. I’ve learned so much from him, and training three times a week is something I always look forward to. Playing matches against different clubs is also really exciting.

“The highlight of my time at the club has to be our trip to AC Milan with my teammates. Playing on their football grounds was an unforgettable experience.”

• Tickets for the fundraiser cost £65, with raffle tickets costing £10. To find out more visit: https://fcmarylebone.com/pages/fundraiser