Fundrasing, Football & the MFC Foundation

 Hazel Jones Jeranji, Middlesbrough

To mark Football Welcomes month, Goal Click teamed up with Amnesty International UK for a special series telling stories from refugees across the country through football. Now in its fifth year, Football Welcomes, supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, celebrates the contribution players from a refugee background make to the game, and highlights the role football can play in creating more welcoming communities for refugees.

We worked with five partners of the Football Welcomes Community Project - Leicester City in the Community, Liverpool County FA, Middlesbrough FC Foundation, Aston Villa Foundation, and Club Doncaster Foundation.

With Middlesbrough FC Foundation, our storyteller was Hazel Jones Jeranji, originally from Zimbabwe.

My name is Hazel Jones Jeranji. I am originally from Zimbabwe. I live in Middlesbrough and work for the North of England Refugee Service as an Advice worker.

What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?

I took photos at North Shore Academy where we play football in the evenings on Thursdays (we are currently playing at Goals due to the pandemic). In one photo you can see my daughter Stephanie - she is 13 years old. I wanted to show how dedicated I am to football and that my daughter is following in my footsteps. She loves football.

I also showed Alen, a fundraiser for the project. We met about a year ago when I went to the Foundation offices. Alen does a good job fundraising for the project so I wanted to show our appreciation of his hard work.

When and why did you start playing football? Who did you play with?

I started playing football in 2016. I have always loved football since I was little. My dad was a manager for local teams back in Zimbabwe. In 2016, we wanted to make a difference and have women compete in the Justice First football tournament. It payed off because we were recognised by the MFC Foundation. They approached us and asked if we were interested in taking football to the next level and get proper training. We started training with the Foundation the following year in 2017. We played in the tournament again in 2017, 2018 and 2019. 

Which is your favourite photo and why?

The photo of the shin pads is my favourite because they were provided by the FA. For us to be recognised by the FA is something big and it is an honour. 

Why is football important to you? 

I am usually busy during the week and Thursday nights are the only nights I can forget about my busy schedule and have fun with others while playing football and meet new people. Football has also made me famous! My daughter is well known at her school because most of her teachers know that she plays football with her mum. My daughter was also given an opportunity of becoming a child mascot during the England v Brazil game because of her involvement in football.

What role does football play in your life at the moment?

Football has an important role in my life at the moment because it keeps me fit. Lockdown has meant that we have been piling on the calories and when we started playing football again in the summer, I started to feel fit and happy again. Seeing people that I had not seen in months also contributed positively to my mental wellbeing. 

How important is football in the community you live in?

Football brings people together. Our team members are from different backgrounds and there is no discrimination. 

What ambitions do you have for the future?

To win the next Justice First Tournament and then bigger tournaments after that.