Safe Spaces

Kelsea Sunu, England

England Football and Goal Click have teamed up to create a powerful storytelling series spotlighting how grassroots clubs across England bring The FA’s five pillars of Respect the Standard to life. Nine clubs throughout the country have shared the behaviour-focused initiatives they take to promote positive change.

Kelsea Sunu is the treasurer and secretary of the men’s Sunday league team Zingers FC and plays for the womxn’s five-a-side team Wingers FC. Alongside her teammates, Kelsea ensures that accountability, respect, and inclusivity remain at the heart of both clubs.

My name is Kelsea and I am 27 years old from Hackney, London. I started playing football in primary school, joining my school’s girls’ team and competing in the borough five-a-side tournaments. I continued playing through Year 7, but unfortunately, the after-school football club was cancelled after Year 8 when I was 12 years old.

I mostly stopped playing football after that, aside from the occasional kickabout in the park with friends, until the lockdown lifted. Despite not playing, I have always loved watching football and have supported Arsenal for as long as I can remember.

At university, I played casual mixed games in the Sussex Downs. I was happy playing casually, but when my friends joined a seven-a-side league, I started watching and realised I wanted to play with them too.

Football is important to me because I truly believe it is a sport that brings people together through playing and watching. It creates community and connections while offering a sense of belonging.

Wingers and Zingers

I am currently the treasurer and secretary of Zingers FC, a men’s Sunday league team in the Camden Sunday League. I also run and play for Wingers FC, a womxn’s five-a-side team in the Goal Post League.

I joined Zingers FC in 2020 when my friends started the team after lockdown. At first, I was just helping behind the scenes, but my love for organising (and spreadsheets!) naturally led me to take on the treasurer role.

I started Wingers FC with friends to create space for womxn to play football, especially for those who, like me, did not have many opportunities growing up. Most of our players had little football experience, but the team has grown into a supportive space to learn, improve, and enjoy the game together.

What makes both clubs special is our strong sense of community. For Zingers FC, match days are about more than results; they are about friends, family, and supporters coming together to share the experience.

For Wingers FC, it is about breaking barriers for womxn in football while creating an inclusive, fun, and supportive environment. I am proud that we help bridge the gap in womxn’s participation by offering opportunities for fitness and personal growth. Learning the game and enjoying the process is as important as winning.

Both clubs prioritise respect, sportsmanship, and good behaviour on and off the pitch, and I am proud of that.

Leading By Example

Both Zingers FC and Wingers FC have always prioritised respect, sportsmanship, and a positive football environment. We have never had a formal turning point where we needed to change our approach to behaviour, but we have always been mindful of how we conduct ourselves on and off the pitch.

For Zingers FC, we have built a culture where behaviour is as important as performance. From the start, we emphasised things like shaking hands with opponents, respecting referees, and staying composed in tough moments. Maintaining these standards, even in competitive games, has been a challenge, but we have found that leading by example and holding each other accountable works best. A key part of this accountability is that players are responsible for paying their own fines for disciplinary actions faced in matches, reinforcing the expectation that players take ownership of their behaviour.

With Wingers FC, many players are new to football, so we have focused on inclusivity and respect, in addition to the rules and expectations of the game. We use positive language, see mistakes as part of learning, and start each match by introducing names and pronouns. This also reminds us to be mindful of our language, like saying 'player-on' instead of 'man-on'.

Both Zingers FC and Wingers FC aim to lead by example in inclusivity, respect, and grassroots football community. We want to create environments where football is for everyone, providing safe spaces for mixed-gender games and side-by-side men’s and womxn’s competitions where all feel welcomed and valued.

A great example of this was our charity tournament in July 2024, which brought together 16 men’s and womxn’s teams to compete in a friendly, inclusive atmosphere. It was about more than football - it was about connecting and enjoying the game. We hope this spirit continues in everything we do, inspiring others to embrace inclusivity and mutual respect and ensuring that football continues to be a game for everyone.

Beyond the pitch, both clubs ensure our respect extends to social media. A special mention to Nicole, our social media manager, who keeps our posts respectful, regardless of a win, loss, or draw because we believe that behaviour off the pitch is just as important as on it.

Everyone Contributes

For Zingers FC, a special mention goes to Toby, Tom, Nico, and Joe, who help shape the positive culture of the club.

Toby co-runs the club with me, captains the team, and handles referee communication calmly, setting the tone for how we want to be perceived. His ability to manage emotions in difficult moments is key to our values.

Tom and Nico are founding members, help with decision-making, and run the club alongside me. Most importantly, they play for Zingers. They bring a level-headed presence while encouraging teammates, boosting morale and keeping the right mindset. Even when injured, they are on the sidelines always supporting and motivating the team.

Joe has managed the club since we started 11-a-side, attending every training session and Sunday match. If he had working knees, he would no doubt be on the pitch too! His consistency, organisation, and commitment set the tone for professionalism and respect, ensuring we always carry ourselves well.

For Wingers FC, everyone contributes to our positive culture, but special credit goes to our more experienced players who help new players feel welcome, encourage fair play, and lead by example. Experienced players guide newer teammates on fair physical play and maintaining respect on the pitch.

Grassroots Values

At Zingers FC and Wingers FC, our core values are respect, inclusivity, camaraderie, and accountability on and off the pitch. We follow the FA’s Grassroots Code to enjoy the game, give respect, be inclusive, work together, and play safe.

Ultimately, our values are not just words. They are reflected in how we play, support each other, and interact with the wider football community in person and online.

As a grassroots club, we recognise the importance of FA initiatives that promote positive behaviour and help create a safe and respectful football environment. Campaigns like Respect, Respect the Ref, and Positivity Always Wins align closely with our values.

The Respect campaign has been especially relevant for us, reinforcing the importance of fair play and respectful communication with referees, opponents, and teammates.

We also strongly support the Respect the Ref, because referees deserve the same respect as teammates.

Grassroots football is vital in my community, offering opportunities to get involved, build camaraderie, and create shared experiences beyond the pitch. It is also a chance to stay active, reduce stress, and connect with others who love the game. We never regret turning up to train on a Tuesday night, even in the depths of winter or the pouring rain!