'Nobody gets laughed at, we just enjoy a kickabout'

"Nobody gets laughed at. There's all different skill levels here, and we can just enjoy having a game for playing the game's sake."

That's the verdict of Joe Evans, who set up his own non-competitive football club in Burton-upon-Trent after getting fed up with not being selected for matches.

He believes his group - which is regularly packed out - offers a home for those who might not otherwise get an opportunity play.

"Doing something like this regularly, meeting new people, doing something locally within the community with people – for me, that's priceless," one player said.

Many of the members have said they too felt it was difficult to find a team that would accept them, and this group has been life changing for some.

Another said: "We all just turn up and kick a ball around for a bit. It's that simple, really."

As well as helping people feel included, there are big health benefits stemming from the initiative.

Now, Mr Evans wants to expand the games beyond Burton-upon-Trent.

"There's a lot of people out there that love the game, like me - I love it but I'm not fit enough to play it properly," he said.

"All of these guys have either got time constraints or fitness and skill constraints."

He said there was a big gap for participation amongst those who are unable to join a club who would otherwise face not being able to play at all.

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