Frequently Asked Questions
All the latest information and answers to your frequently asked questions
Junior Reds are a Football Association (F.A.) Charter Standard Community Club. What does this mean?
The F.A. operates an accreditation scheme designed to improve the playing experience for all involved in “grassroots” football. The highest standards are required in areas such as Club organisation; sustainability; player discipline, quality coaching – all conducted in a safe and secure environment. Junior Reds have proudly held the highest award for almost 20 years and are a full member of the F.A. Community standard. We are committed to playing our part in making our football environment safe, fun and inclusive by raising standards and in providing football to as many people as possible with teams for all abilities.
My son/ daughter is just starting to play football. Where is the best place to begin?
Our two Saturday Soccer Clubs – one for Boys and one for Girls – are the ideal place to start for children from age 5 to 10. These casual based groups for ALL abilities provide foundation stage instruction for in the skills of the game, conducted in a friendly and supportive environment. The groups meet for an hour on a Saturday morning at Bexleyheath Academy (post code DA6 7DA). Once a player is interested and is ready for competitive football, we try to accommodate them into one of our existing or newly formed teams playing matches on Sundays as a further step in self-development. Membership in a team’s requires greater commitment, often with training on a Saturday and a match on a Sunday from September until the following May. Saturday Soccer Club details can be found on the relevant pages in this website.
How do I join Junior Reds as a player in a team?
If you are interested to join one of our teams and you believe your child is beyond the Saturday Soccer Club foundation stage please directly contact a Team Manager or submit an enquiry using the form in the “Join us” section. Contact details for Team Managers can be found on this website “Team” pages. Players are then invited along initially to join our training sessions if a vacancy exists. Players must be prepared to uphold Junior Reds high standards in terms of our values, reliability and behaviours. Additionally, players must be willing to learn and develop as both football players and in the social skills associated with group activities. Teams start for children from age 6 through to Under 18s and then into Adult football.
How do I know in joining a team the age group applicable for my son or daughter?
The key date is the 31st August. To determine the correct age group, assess your child’s age at this date. They are then eligible for the team for the year above for the whole season ahead. If, for example, your child is aged 6 at the 31st August they would be eligible for the Under 7s. If aged 7 at the 31st August then the Under 8s applies and so on.
Do Junior Reds have Girls only teams?
Yes – we have various Girls only teams from ages 8 to 18, all playing in the Kent Girls and Ladies Football League. Girls can also play in the Selkent or Tandridge Leagues as part of mixed teams up to certain ages if preferred.
The teams for my child’s age group do not have any current vacancies. What can I do?
Many of our Managers are happy for players to train with a team despite there not being a current vacancy. This is a useful option to enable a child to still be involved and experience the team environment. If interested in this please speak with the relevant Team Manager for your child’s age group. Another possibility is for a Parent or other Adult to form a new team in your child’s age group, which then gives greater opportunities for all. If you are prepared to do this, or know someone suitable, as a Team Manager please contact the Club to discuss. We will provide full support in setting up a new team.
I have a group of players interested to form a new team. Is this possible?
We would consider the formation of new teams from existing groups in all age groups as often friends socially prefer to stay as one unit. To consider this we would require to conduct an interview and any potential formation would be subject to satisfactory disciplinary conduct and financial management assurances. Interested people need to be fully aware the costs and commitment involved in the formation of new teams.
Do Junior Reds have a fixed home for training and playing pitches?
Junior Reds play and train at a variety of venues across Greenwich and Bexley local Authority Council areas. We are committed to sharing our resources across these areas in order to reach as wide a range of players as possible, rather than being based in one area and so having a limited reach. We have found this is the most convenient way for players and their families. Many of the younger age group teams train at Bexleyheath Academy on Saturday mornings with older teams training midweek at floodlight venues. Details of where our teams train can be found on our individual Team pages.
Our mini-soccer home ground is currently based at Danson Youth Centre in Bexleyheath.
When and where are games played?
Games are played on Sundays. Junior Reds play in several local leagues with the majority of matches played across South East London. The Girls teams play in the Kent and Girls League so travelling across the Kent County area is required. Our home grounds for matches take place at several venues in the London Boroughs of Bexley and Greenwich.
How much does it cost to join Junior Reds?
Junior Reds membership fees are some of the lowest in the local “grassroots” football Community. Our fees are £240 per annum, being £20 a month paid continually whilst in membership of the Club. An initially £25 “Joining fee” is also payable as a contribution for the player kit. It is possible to pay the full fee at the season start.Our two “Saturday Soccer Club” groups operate on a different basis as these are casual based on a simple “play-and pay” arrangements when your child attends.
How are the player membership subscriptions used?
Running youth football is very expensive, with substantial pitch and training hire costs, Referee fees, insurance, F.A. and League Affiliation fees, player kit and equipment. An eleven aside team costs in excess of £3,000 per year and mini soccer teams approximately £2,000. The average hire of an eleven aside pitch is £100 per game and the hire of floodlight astro/4G midweek for training is £50 an hour. The Club is a non-profit organisation, so all membership subscription funds are used to pay the operating costs. Junior Reds Managers/ Coaches or Club Officers are not paid for their services.
I am thinking to sponsor a team? What are the benefits and how much does this cost?
All sponsorship is greatly appreciated. We welcome sponsorship of all kinds and are flexible in designing a package to match your contribution. Sponsorship is used specifically by the team and not the wider Club. Past sponsors have contributed to training kit, equipment and team building events not covered by membership subscriptions. The main benefits for the Sponsor include publicity through our website (we have many “hits”/views) and business logos on clothing. Importantly there is a benefit of satisfaction in supporting the wider Community and in helping with the motivation of our Manager/ Coaches in the support you can provide. If you are interested in sponsoring a team please see our Sponsorship page in this website or talk to your Team Manager in how best you can help.
I have incurred a F.A. fine for a booking or dismissal. Should I pay?
Junior Reds is an F.A. Charter Community Club and expects the highest behavioural standard from players. If F.A. fines are incurred through misconduct we would require these to be paid by the player and not by the wider Club membership. Junior Reds would pay the initial fine to prevent this fine increasing and expect the player to reimburse the Club.
Are Team Managers/ Coaches and Club Officers paid?
Team Managers/ Coaches and Club Officers are not paid. All are volunteers giving their time for free. Junior Reds always values player and family support and appreciation for the hard work and dedication of all those helping Junior Reds on and off the pitch.
Are Team Managers and Coaches qualified?
Junior Reds Team Managers and Coaches are required to be FA qualified after an initial period of time. They are required to undergo Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS/ CRB) checks to ensure they are suitable to work in youth football and to deal with any safeguarding concerns.
How do I become a Team Manager or Coach at Junior Reds?
There is no need for previous experience as full support will be provided. You do not therefore need initially to have obtained a basic Coaching qualification. Effective communication with players and reliability in attendance are more important than technical football knowledge. We will try and accommodate volunteers based on availability and areas / age groups of interest and relative experience. All volunteers will need to be DBS/ CRB checked. Regrettably posts are unpaid. Please contact Club Chairperson, Clive, on 07504 264 157 or email clive@juniorredsfc.co.uk for details or by using the enquiry form on the “Join us” page.
I would like to help in a general administrative (non-football Coaching) capacity?
We always require reliable helpers in a great many administrative areas, which then lightens the load for the very few volunteers we have. Roles are varied requiring different skills and include help in such areas as Club ground development, external funding, membership subscription management, communication/ social media and publicity. If interested to help – even with just a couple of hours each week – please speak to Club Chairperson, Clive, on 07504 264 157.
I am worried about a Player’s welfare, a Manager/ Coaches’ behaviour, or something else. What can I do?
We have a page dedicated to safeguarding. Take a look at this and importantly, speak to our Designated Safeguarding Officer – Angela Wood (07968 946 256), should you have any concerns. We act in confidence and with impartiality in all instances. All our Team Managers/ Coaches are subject to Disclosure Barring Service (DBS/CRB) checks and receive guidance on child welfare issues.
Does the Junior Reds kit belong to me?
All playing members are issued with two shirts (one red; one white), shorts and socks. These are for use purely on match days and not for training. The kit belongs to Junior Reds and needs to be returned to the Club on leaving. This helps keep our costs and subscriptions levels low. The expectation is that players properly take care of their kit so our team representation standards on match days are uniform and maintained. Some teams have sponsors and with these we often fund training kit including rain jackets. We do not supply shin pads so these need to be separately purchased by players and must be worn at both training and match sessions.
Is there an annual Presentation of trophies?
We hold a Presentation of trophy event at the “Valley” ground of Charlton Athletic Football Club usually in late June each year. This gives the Club an opportunity to thank all players for representing Junior Reds in the season just gone and is our appreciation of their commitment. All players receive a squad trophy and three members in each team are specially recognised in the award of “Players’ player”; “Manager’s player” and “Sportsperson” trophies. Unfortunately, with Government COVID-19 restrictions for mass gatherings Presentations have not been held for seasons 2019/19 and 2020/21.