Generations of football
194. Charlie Scott
A 65 year old local sporting hero founded Newcastle’s East End Football Club and has helped thousands of young people play ‘the beautiful game’.
Charlie Scott, a delivery driver from Walker, founded the East End Football Club 19 years ago and, from humble beginnings, the club now boasts 520 players of all ages and abilities, keeping a generation of youngsters out of trouble and involved in the community.
In 1995 Charlie and his son Kelly were looking for things to do and started a regular kick about with other youngsters from the Walkergate area of the city. Meeting each week, more young people started joining the group and it soon developed to become a bustling hub of the community. Today the East End Football Club has 32 teams, including one disability team and 62 volunteers coaches, staff and managers to keep the club running. Charlie has attracted sponsorship from Nike, who provide discounted kit and grants to train the volunteer coaches. He has also fostered a strong relationship with Newcastle United and Sunderland United clubs who both provide free tickets for Charlie’s players. In 2004 Newcastle East End Football Club became an FA Charter Standard Community Club – an accolade give to clubs which provide a high quality football experience.
Charlie, now the Vice Chairman of the club, still makes the trip to the former Swan Hunter site seven days a week to support the teams. He continues to help to organise the summer camp supported entirely by volunteers, where nearly 50 children attend each day to brush up on their football skills.
Charlie has also been instrumental in helping to raise tens of thousands of pounds for local charities. In just one football match in July this year, nearly £2,000 was raised to provide a local baby with flat head syndrome with a medical device to encourage the skull to grow symmetrically. Last year the Club also raised more than £3,000 for the Children’s Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital.
Prime Minister David Cameron said:
“By founding the East End Football Club, Charlie has given thousands of youngsters the chance to play football and to become part of a close knit community in Newcastle’s east end. Charlie has devoted countless hours to building the club up to an astonishing 32 football teams and has also helped to fundraise for important local causes. He thoroughly deserves this Point of Light award.”
Charlie Scott said:
“I feel very shocked that an ordinary person like myself could receive this award. I feel privileged and honoured, but could not do without the help of our club volunteers”