Nestled in the county of Hertfordshire, some eight miles north of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, is Cheshunt FC’s nondescript soccer training ground.
Money is tight for teams in the Isthmian League Premier Division, the seventh tier of England’s expansive soccer pyramid where Cheshunt plies its trade. One person must do the job of many, and its players are part-time athletes who need day jobs to pay the bills.
Over the past week, the De La Salle football team has brought a different kind of football – one with pads and helmets – to the team’s grass pitch as the Concord powerhouse prepares for its Tuesday matchup against NFL Academy in London.
De La Salle high school football players pose with a Cheshunt FC scarf on the team’s Hertfordshire training grounds (Photo courtesy of Cheshunt FC)
And with it, Cheshunt FC general manager Ria Hicks told the Bay Area News Group in an email, has come an influx of money that could be the difference between promotion and relegation for the club that was founded in 1931 and is currently 21st in a 22-team table at 1-2-4. .
“It opens up opportunities to improve our facilities, invest in the squad, and make the overall experience better for both players and fans,” said Hicks, who did not specify how much money the club received to host the American high school team. “It’s a win-win and adds to the excitement around the club.”
The game has also created internal interest in America’s game among those at a club nicknamed “The Ambers.”
“We’d absolutely love to attend if we can get our hands on some tickets,” Hicks said. “Hosting NFL teams has definitely sparked excitement, and now everyone at Cheshunt FC is eager to catch a game.”
Despite his team’s slow start to the season, Cheshunt’s GM said the club, which counts Jeremy Bisau and Vas Vasilou as some of its top players, still has high hopes for the season.
“With huge ambitions for our stadium and one of the largest youth football programs around, we’ve got boys’ and girls’ teams from ages 4 all the way to adults,” Hicks said. “We’re a club with heart, and while we may be small, our dreams and dedication are anything but!”
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