Grenfell Athletic FC take on Merseyside Fire Rescue Service on Pre-Season Tour
Grenfell Athletic FC, the football club proudly stitched into the Grenfell community, today announced plans for a pre-season tour as they prepare to face Fire Service football clubs from four cities between Monday 26 July and Monday 2 August.
Founded shortly after the fire in 2017, the club was created as a community hub by local man Rupert Taylor who saw that the people of the Grenfell area needed a positive outlet to help them through a time of tragedy.
Now, four eventful seasons later, the tour will give the team the chance to experience football on a national scale, bringing together Grenfell survivors, those bereaved by the tragedy and fire-fighters in one place. The tour aims to renew their unbreakable bond, create new relationships, and build beautiful story-telling moments that go beyond football.
Kicking off with a behind closed doors training session in Suffolk, at the training ground of Ipswich Town FC on Monday 26 July the team will then journey north to take on Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service FC. The opening match will take place on Wednesday 28 July at Birtley Town Football Club, Durham Road, Birtley, DH3 2QW, with a 3pm kick off.
Moving south, the team will then arrive in Manchester for a 7pm kick off on Friday 30 July, taking on the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service at Abbey Hey FC. The team bus then rolls on to Merseyside for the penultimate match of the tour against Merseyside Fire Team, this time a 7pm kick off at Bootle FC on Monday 2 August (Bootle FC, L30 1NY).
The team will then venture home for an emotional tour finale which will see a reunion match in London this August against the London Fire Service team, who’s squad contains some members of the Red Watch who fought the tragic fire that night in 2017.
Fans are invited to attend the matches to help support the cause. While admission is free, all money raised from donations collected at each match going towards funding the future of the club with aspirations to kick off junior and women’s sections firmly on the horizon.
Speaking on the launch, founder of Grenfell Athletic FC Rupert Taylor said: “The opportunity to go on a pre-season tour with this club means so much to everyone involved, from the players to the management staff and of course the Grenfell Athletic fans who we cannot wait to share this experience with.”
“It will be an emotional experience to share the pitch with those that put their life on the line in 2017. By spending time together as a team and travelling all over the country representing our club, we have a chance to reflect and build on the legacy of Grenfell Athletic for next season and many more seasons to come.”
After the success of its previous shirt launch back in December 2020 the club, which currently plays in the Middlesex County football league, has fused its dragon symbol with the iconic swoosh for a fresh new home kit for the new season that is now available to purchase via Kit Locker. All proceeds from shirt sales will be put back into the development of the club.
Grenfell Athletic FC would like to thank Nando’s and Accor Hotels for their generous support of the team throughout the tour. You can show your support for the club by visiting @GrenfellAthletic_FC
To purchase a Grenfell Athletic home 21/22 shirt visit Kit Locker.com
