Adem Ali, a teacher and former semi-professional footballer, has been recognised for his outstanding contributions to grassroots football in his local community by being awarded with Nationwide Building Society’s Mutual Respect Award.
As the Club Director at Haringey Girls Academy, based in the Tottenham area of North London, Ali has worked tirelessly to create opportunities for girls from deprived backgrounds to play football and succeed in the sport.
When he founded the club in 2017, girls were still very much a minority in football, however he had a vision to change that and give girls a platform to succeed. He personally takes charge of the U16 team currently, but he also looks after all the club’s administrative duties and liaises with all players, parents, and officials.
Under Ali’s stewardship, Haringey Girls Academy has won an outstanding eight National ACES titles, making them the most successful ACES club ever. The club has been invited back for three more tournaments this year, and Ali is hoping to make it eleven wins this year.
When asked what his biggest highlight at Haringey Girls Academy was, Ali said: “Being able to see girls who possibly couldn’t play before, whether that be because of financial, travel, behavioural, or parental barriers, is what makes it all worth it. Alongside all the coaches and other fantastic people involved at the club, we always try our best to help and support the girls with their journeys.”
In the current cost-of-living crisis, accessibility to grassroots football is harder than ever for low income families. However, Ali has ensured that Haringey Girls Academy is one of the cheapest clubs in London for what they offer. Completely non-profit, the club makes a total of £0 at the end of the year, and Ali doesn’t take a wage.
Ali’s philosophy is based on mutual respect, whether that be towards players, coaches, parents, refs, or the opposition. He’s adamant their players can become coaches, and as soon as they’re of age, he provides them with the opportunity to do coaching courses. The club now has three qualified refs and seven qualified coaches. They’ve never had any issues at the club like fights, something that Ali is very proud of. For him, the definition of respect is respect for the game itself.
Ali was taken by surprise when he found out about the award, saying: “I only found out after I received an email from the parent who had nominated me! I’m grateful for the recognition and hope I can continue to have an effect on as many people as possible in the game.”
When asked about advice for girls looking to get into grassroots football, Ali said, “Give it a go, you’re never going to know if you love something or not if you don’t try. For new players, I always recommend starting at the level that is good for you to enjoy. You don’t want to go straight into a high level as you probably won’t enjoy it. If that means starting low and working your way up, then so be it. It comes back to respecting the game and the skill levels within it.”
Paul Hibbs, Head of Advertising at Nationwide Building Society, commented: “Mutual respect in grassroots football is integral for its longevity. We launched this initiative as part of our wider Respect programme with England Football to recognise and honour those driving forces within the grassroots community, and we’ve already seen fantastic results.
“The overall Positivity Score has strengthened within the grassroots community, with 67% of individuals now agreeing that their grassroots football experience is more inclusive, safe, and enjoyable. Amongst those involved, coaches, parents, and volunteers have the highest Positivity Scores. With that in mind, Adem Ali is more than deserving this month for his commitment to the young girls at Haringey Girls Academy and their development.”
Adem Ali hopes to continue improving grassroots football by introducing two more teams to Haringey Girls Academy next season, providing further opportunities for young girls to get involved.
As a partner of The FA’s Respect Programme, Nationwide Building Society aims to thank those who have gone above and beyond to build mutual respect within grassroots football, making society more tolerant and inclusive.
Each month, Nationwide gives nominees the chance of winning the Mutual Respect trophy and two tickets to an upcoming England football team game. Its panel of judges then decides the winner each month, based on what the nominees have done to promote mutual respect, either on or off the pitch.
