Rediscovering My Love Of The Game

Scarlett Chetwin, England

Scarlett Chetwin is a designer living in East London, and is the vice-captain and left back/winger for Hackney Wick Women’s FC. Hackney Wick FC is a football club in London aiming to bring people together by encouraging community cohesion, and creating opportunities for young people.

Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your football life?

My name is Scarlett Chetwin, and I play left back or left wing for Hackney Wick Women’s FC. I started playing football when I was around seven. At the time, I had a poster of Thierry Henry in my room, and a ‘Score’ t-shirt worn proudly across my chest. My parents had to wash it every night for over a month, as I refused to wear anything else. 

I played football for a few years (mostly with boys) until I gave up because I felt shy being a female in the game. A few years back, after I finished university and had got over my adolescent self-consciousness, plus with some encouragement from my dad, I Googled local teams in my area. I requested to be added to the Hackney Wick WhatsApp group chat and have never looked back.

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

The photos show the team over the last few years, training on Hackney Marshes and playing in our
league. We went through a few lockdowns as a team due to the coronavirus pandemic, which affected training, so the series was quite interrupted. Lots changed over that time, including team members who came and went. It is great to have the photos as a record of the shifting Hackney Wick team over the last few years. 

I wanted to show the game we love and all that comes with playing together as a team. Wins, losses, injuries, celebrations and at the heart of it all, a community.

Bobby Kasanga (our founder) does some great work in the community and has an interesting backstory. He set up Hackney Wick FC as a semi-professional club after being released from prison, as a way to inspire young people in a similar position. Football has the amazing ability to connect people. It offers a community structure, and both hard and soft skills on and off the pitch. Some of the players are also involved in community work alongside training and matches, offering voluntary work in the local area. I think for Bobby, belief in people, second chances, and a supportive community are key to his success with Hackney Wick FC.

What is your favourite photo?

There are three members of the team celebrating with pure joy on their faces. We had just come 2nd in the league for the 3rd time and even though we felt robbed for the top spot once again, we were all super proud. I also love the photo of our right winger watching a game from the sidelines. With rolling subs, we all take turns to watch - her face describes the feeling perfectly.

I would say my overall favourite is the photo of our captain Shae getting her face painted on the train to the Women’s Euros Final at Wembley in summer 2022. That game meant a lot to so many people and seeing the Lionesses bring it home with our HWFC family was unforgettable. It brings back all the emotions from the day, in the best way.

What role does football play in your life and in your community?

For me football is so humbling. Watching people improve week on week, both personally and as a team, has been so rewarding. It is nice to have goals that are not work related, or overloaded with pressure. It is a moment to switch off from work, mental health struggles, and anything else taking up brain space. You can really see that in the whole team too. It is therapy.

For the wider community, it is equally important. It is a space to connect with others, exercise regularly, and develop new skills.

What are the opportunities for women and girls to play in your community?

From what I have seen there are many more opportunities for women and girls to play than there were when I started, especially in London. Lots of women’s teams popped up after the Womens’ World Cup in 2019 and I imagine it will be the same after the Lionesses’ Euros win. There are plenty of leagues at all levels and it is a very welcoming community. I hope this is reflected in the rest of the UK, and across the world.

What impact has Hackney Wick had on you?

It has been amazing meeting all my teammates. I see them more than lots of my friends and family, and it is unlikely we would have met if it were not for our love of football. We all play for different reasons and Hackney Wick has brought us together in an inclusive space free from judgement. We have seen members grow up, celebrate job successes, win awards, travel to Europe and so much more together. I feel lucky to have the team as a support system on and off the pitch - even if it is as simple as a conversation about what is for dinner on the bus home from a game.

What ambitions do you have for the future?

In the short term, I would love us to win our league. We have come so close and deserve it! It would give the team important recognition and an acknowledgement of how far we have come together. In the longer term, it would be great for Hackney Wick to build numbers for a regular 11-a-side team. Then generally, I would love to get involved in giving back to the community by coaching the next generation of female ballers.

What do you think the future looks like for football in your community?

I am so hopeful for the future of women’s football. Although there is a long way to go, progress has accelerated massively in the last few years. I have proudly watched the stands fill up to support Arsenal Women in the last year alone. The work to get more schools to offer girls football as an option in PE fills me with hope for the next generation, and big clubs are finally seeing the value of investing in their women's side. 

As always we need more funding, more coverage, and equal opportunities for women and girls in the game. It is time we were taken seriously. And this extends to all women in sport. I will always wish 11-year-old me had not let the existing obstacles get in the way of my enjoyment of the game, but picking it up later in life and being surrounded by such amazing talent, determination, and community spirit is enough to make up for it. I am super excited for what is to come.