To everyone who turns up to junior, youth and non league games, cheering on, their child, grandchild, nephew or niece or their local team, stands behind the barriers, walks through the turnstiles, lines the pitch, or simply loves the game. Ask yourself why do the volunteers, coaches and managers bother?

That’s a genuine question many volunteers are now asking. They don’t do it for money. There is none. They don’t do it for recognition. There is little. They do it because they love football and want to do some good for their team, club and community.

They do it to give something back. They give their time, hours you don’t see. They give their money, often more than they should. They give their energy, every single Saturday, and Sunday rain or shine. Often they leave their own families, all so that on matchdays others can enjoy a game, a pint, a pie, a cup of tea or coffee, or if you are lucky a breakfast sandwich and of course a sense of belonging to a team, a club or the local community.

That’s what junior, youth and non-league football is supposed to be. But, more and more, that spirit is being chipped away. Instead of appreciation, sometimes volunteers are met with abuse. Instead of respect, sometimes they’re met with hostility or confrontation.

It’s becoming a growing problem across football. Volunteers giving up their free time, are being shouted at, sworn at, and disrespected. Property is being damaged. Rules put in place for everyone’s safety are ignored, mocked, or challenged by people who simply don’t want to or think they should follow them.

Whilst adults can be just as bad, a lot of this poor behaviour is coming from youngsters. The same youngsters volunteers are expected to safeguard. The same youngsters volunteers put policies in place to protect. Yet when people are challenged, calmly and reasonably, volunteers are sometimes met not with support, but with confrontation and verbal abuse, including from parents and guardians.

“You can’t speak to him like that—he’s a kid.” But where are those same voices when that “kid” is shouting abuse at volunteers? Where is the accountability? Where is the parenting?
Respect works both ways.

Volunteers are not there to be abused. They are not there to be undermined. And they are certainly not there to be made to feel like the problem for simply trying to maintain a safe, enjoyable environment for everyone.

Too often, there are no consequences, no boundaries, no responsibility. Volunteers are the backbone of junior youth and non-league football. Without them, there are no coaches, no managers, no first aiders, no welfare officers, no linesmen or women, no turnstiles, no stewards, no tea bar, no matchdays and ultimately no game.

And clubs and teams are already seeing it, people don’t want to step forward and help anymore. Why would they? They see what current volunteers deal with. They hear the abuse. They watch the lack of respect.

So we come back to the question, why do volunteers bother? Because they still care and believe in local clubs and teams, representing their towns. villages and communities.

Make no mistake, there is a tipping point. If this behaviour continues, volunteers will continue to walk away. And if volunteers walk away, clubs will struggle to operate. And if clubs can’t operate… there is no football.

So to everyone:

Fans – Support your club with pride, not abuse. Respect the people giving their time so you can enjoy your day.

Parents and guardians – Take responsibility. Teach your children respect, accountability, and how to behave in public. Don’t defend poor behaviour, challenge it.

Managers and coaches - set a good example to your players, parents and supporters with your own words and behaviours.

Young supporters – Passion is welcome. Abuse is not. Know the difference.

Because if we lose respect, we lose everything that makes junior, youth and non-league football special. Volunteers don’t want thanks, don’t want praise, they just want a game and a club everyone can be part of and proud of.

At Darlaston Town we urge everyone to play their part in making the wonderful game better for everyone.