'Football-for-all' maxim heralds new era of football
2005-12-11
FootyJapan
"I just wanted to play football with my friends," says Sid Lloyd, Managing Director of the football marketing company Footy Japan Ltd. "At that time, although there were plenty of good team around, there wasn't a set-up to fully accommodate them. I had been captain of the British Football Club for about 8-years and decided to hand the reigns over to my deputy and start my own international football league," says Lloyd.
The first season of the Tokyo Metropolis League kicked off in 2003 and, in its third season, currently has 24 teams playing in two divisions based on England's Premier and Coca Cola Championship Leagues. Thus, for some teams at the end of each season, the very real chance of promotion and relegation exists.
Many of the teams that play in the TML, like the Swiss Kickers, The British Football Club and France FC, have national designations, however, most of the teams have a healthy mix of members from all over, including local Japanese players. Many of the 24 teams also hold their own mid-week (evening) training sessions that usually involve an hour or two of 5-a-side (futsal). The TML organizers also host regular professional training sessions, run by Leigh Manson (UEFA B Coaching License) open to all members of the TML.
As well as the league, there are also cup competitions, 5, 6 and 7-a-side tournaments, not to mention an assortment of parties and events to look forward to throughout the season. The TML has become a major community hub in Tokyo (in part because the TML membership card that each player receives allows for sizable discounts in local watering holes always encouraging a post-game/training beer) and offers its members, not only great football, but also a support network like no other.
Not wishing to rest on his laurels, Lloyd will have his work cut out for him over the next few years as he explains.
"I plan to expand the Tokyo Metropolis League and its operations to facilitate a TML All Star team to play against J-League clubs, a Masters (over 35s), Ladies and Kids league as well as an international 7-a-side tournament, similar to those running annually in Shanghai, Manila and Phucket that attract the likes of Manchester United and other top teams in their down time. Part of the league's success has been in its ability to attract sponsors without which the everyday operating costs would be far too high to pass on to the teams an annual international tournament would certainly help bring in more sponsors and help to enhance the size and quality of the league. Did I also mention my company runs a football school for children?"
Lloyd's enterprise, Footy Japan Ltd, employs the services of four full-time partners and also includes the running of a rapidly expanding kids football school - The British Football Academy Tokyo.
FootyJapan
The British Football Academy Tokyo opened its doors in 2004 to provide quality and affordable football classes for children aged between 4 and 18 yeas old. The classes are all age and ability specific and all are welcome regardless of experience, gender and nationality. Although the classes are coached in English, kids from all over the globe attend, making for a veritable multicultural environment.
Currently the British Football Academy Tokyo hold after school and weekend classes at the Yokohama Country and Athletic Club in Yamate, Yokohama, at Tokyo International School in Tamachi, Tokyo and at Sarugaku Elementary School in Daikanyama, Tokyo and if all goes well new locations will be popping up throughout Japan.
Leigh Manson, the Academy Director and UEFA qualified coach, has been coaching professional teams for over 11-years and has been involved in youth development projects all over the world. Manson believes that the rapid success of the Academy is due to each and every session having a finely tuned balance of fun and structure, as he explains.
"The sessions aim to be fun, first and foremost and the kids enjoy themselves so much they hardly seem to realize that their fundamental soccer skills are improving from week to week and this is of paramount importance to the future of their development as footballers. If a young child isn't provided with an enjoyable environment when they first kick a ball, they will always have negative connotations associated with football, this will never happen at the Academy, it's simply too much fun, albeit structured fun not just for the kids, but also for the coaches and parents as well," he says.
The British Football Academy Tokyo is run in accordance with the Scottish, English and European Football Associations and in many cases the children are coached (in English) in the same vein as professional youth academies in the UK and this is the attraction for many of the expat parents enrolling their children.
FootyJapan
The British Football Academy also holds football camps for youngsters during all school holidays throughout the year. The camps are typically 3 or 5-days of football-fun, culminating in an award ceremony on the last day, during which the attendee's technical and sporting achievements are certified and prizes awarded.
Upon registration all kids receive a British Football Academy uniform and a badge showing which class they're in (Bulldogs: 4-6 year olds, Lions: 7-9 year olds, The Academy: 10-13 year olds and The Academy Stars: 14-18 year olds). As soon as they put on their red strips, they become part of a team and there are no outsiders or strangers. Newcomers are soon made to feel welcome and the parents seems to thoroughly enjoy the sessions too - in part because they provide a regular opportunity to socialize with people who are sharing similar experiences to their own in Japan.
More information can be found at: www.footyjapan.com / 03-3770-0288
