CHAIRMAN'S WORD

As we bring the curtain down on what’s been a brilliant 2024/25 season, I’d like to offer a warm Tigers JFC welcome to everyone joining us today. It’s been a long campaign – in all weather, rain, wind, sunshine (sometimes all in one match!) – but every minute spent watching our kids out there having fun has been well worth it.

This season, Tigers Junior Football Club has been buzzing with activity – we’ve supported 60 teams across more than 1,000 games in the Echo Junior Football League, the Brentwood League, the Brentwood Sunday League, the Essex County Girls’ League and the Essex County Women’s League. And we're proud to now have teams flying the Tigers flag in the Junior Premier League (JPL) too – a fantastic step forward for the club and a great opportunity for our players to challenge themselves at an even higher level.

Our Cubs and Wildcats section is again going from strength to strength, with over 150 children taking part this year – and the female side of the club is booming! We're set to field over 25 girls’ teams next season, which is absolutely phenomenal. And I haven’t even mentioned our disability section or our women’s and mens’s teams. All going towards our FA 3 star accreditation, something the club is extremely proud of.

On a personal note, my wife Lisa and I along with Mick & Barbara Spooner were all honoured at the Havering Mayors civic awards for our outstanding services to the community with Tigers JFC. We were all extremely proud, but we never forget what grass roots football is all about – keeping our young players active, having fun, and learning to play and love this amazing game.

Today’s tournament follows FA guidelines and gives every team a chance to play competitively and maybe even take home a bit of silverware to show off during the summer holidays. Winners and runners-up will be picking up medals after their final games at the registration tent – so make sure you head there if your team’s been on fire today!

I want to thank Robin Naish, our tournament coordinator, who has put in the hours to make today happen – and to all the clubs other volunteers who’ve worked tirelessly behind the scenes to pull this together. None of this works without them.

We always have a third team in all games today too – the match officials! Please show them the same respect you’d show your own players – they’re here to help make today fair and fun for everyone. Many of our refs are kids too so remember this please and support everyone on the pitch.

Lastly, thank you all for being here and supporting grassroots football. Enjoy the day, get behind the kids, and we hope to see you again next season.

Keith Di Palma
Tigers JFC Chairman