PERSONAL ELTHAM Football Mum
With the football season back in full swing, Adam Gilham speaks
to Sally
Dolan, who makes it all happen for youngsters locally
How did you get involved in youth football?
My eldest son Matthew, who was eight, came home one day and said he wanted to play for a local side, Villacourt Rovers. As a parent I got involved in or- ganising social events.
When did you start on the admin side?
I became junior secretary, then senior
secretary and we built the club up to 30 teams from men's down to Under 11s. Then when my youngest son, Christo- pher, left the club I was asked if I'd like to go on the committee of the Bexley League.
Have there been many changes to grassroots youth football?
While I was with the Bexley League,
the Football Association introduced mini-soccer for the Under 7 to 10s. It's seven-a-side and was very unpopular at fi rst with clubs. I thought it was a good idea and could see that children would be more involved.
What did you have to do? We worked closely with the FA to
make smaller pitches marked out just like the full sized ones. Today, all children playing football start with mini-soccer.
When was the SELKent league formed?
Just over 10 years ago, I decided I
wanted to form my own league. I sat in bed one night worrying about it and then registered it with the London FA the
26 Ken Pickerell, league chairman, Mrs Sally Dolan, league secretary, and Sir Geoff Hurst.
bus company of the same name. We got a few complaints on email from people saying they had had a terrible journey or were unhappy with the new fares.
What benefi ts do the children get from playing football?
They learn not just how to play foot-
ball but life skills too. Football is a com- petitive sport and life is competitive. They learn how to win or lose or draw.
Your work with the league is totally voluntary. What drives you?
Watching six year olds playing football makes it all worthwhile. Each September
award to us and it was a very special day. What does the future hold? My next passion is to get league
football up to the age of Under 21. Most junior leagues only go up to 18 and then they become seniors playing against men of all ages.
And what of your family, Sally? As well as my husband Terry - who
is semi retired - and my two grown up sons, I have one beautiful grand daugh- ter - who HATES football. For her every- thing is pink and it is fantastic!
Help keep Eltham tidy! Put your litter in bins.
next day. My friend and colleague John Mew came up with the name. We cover the London Boroughs of Greenwich, Bex- ley, Bromley, Lewisham, Southwark, and as far as Dartford and Gravesham. In the fi rst season we had 68 teams from Under 7s to Under 10s. This season we will have 482 teams from Under 7s to Under 18s. That's something in the region of 6-7,000 local children, boys and girls.
Were there any teething problems
at the start? When we came up with the name
SELKent we hadn't thought about the
SEnine
when the new under 7s start is almost like giving birth. They look tiny and their shorts are lower than their knees but they play with smiles on their faces and watching them enjoy it is magical.
What has been one of the main highlights for you in the SELKent League?
Being awarded the FA Charter Stand-
ard last season. It means a lot us being recognised by the Football Association for meeting the strict criteria for the wel- fare of children and the running of the league. Sir Geoff Hurst presented the
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