From Half a Team to 150 Dreams: The Chadderton FC Revolution
How Three Dedicated Volunteers Transformed Lives Through Women's Football in Oldham
In the heart of Oldham, an extraordinary transformation has unfolded at what was once a traditional men's football club. What began with just "half a team" of hopeful girls has blossomed into a footballing revolution that now supports over 150 women and girls—a perfect example of how the National Lottery's £6 billion investment in grassroots sport has been "game-changing for women and girls' sport."
This remarkable journey, powered by the £30 million raised weekly by National Lottery players for good causes throughout the UK, exemplifies how grassroots investment creates pathways from local pitches to international tournaments. At the centre of this transformation stand three individuals whose vision and compassion have changed countless lives: Peter Connolly, a junior's section committee member. who witnessed a complete metamorphosis; and Mike and Sophie Julien, the husband-and-wife coaching team whose personal commitment has created something truly special.
The Club Vision
Peter Connolly has occupied a unique vantage point throughout Chadderton FC's metamorphosis. Initially starting as a coach for his sons U7 team and graduating to the club committee for the junior section, he has watched the club evolve from a traditional men's football establishment into an inclusive community hub that serves families across Oldham's diverse communities.
"We have always had a small number of girls playing in mixed teams but started the girl's section a few years ago with just half a team," Peter recalls, his voice carrying both pride and wonder at the journey. "Within two seasons, we'd grown to five teams. Now we have a complete pathway from our youngest girls all the way through to our women's team in the Greater Manchester Women's Football League."
The transformation has been nothing short of revolutionary. What once was a club struggling to field even a partial girls' team now boasts teams across multiple age groups, supported by National Lottery funding that has provided the foundation for extraordinary growth. This investment, part of the £30 million raised weekly by National Lottery players for good causes throughout the UK, has created opportunities that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago.
"The National Lottery funding hasn't just improved our facilities," Peter explains. "It's changed how we think about what a football club can be for its community. We're not just developing better players; we're helping create better people—more confident, healthier, and connected to something bigger than themselves. Every girl who walks through our doors proves she's Made for This Game."
The Coaches Who Care
Behind every success story are the individuals who make it possible. For Chadderton FC, that driving force comes from Mike and Sophie Julien, whose extraordinary commitment has shaped the club's inclusive ethos.
Mike, a former Manchester City academy player, brought footballing credibility to the project when he set up the girls' section at Chadderton—a club that previously had no female teams. Having managed his under-14s girls' team for over five years, he was recently appointed as Chadderton FC Women's manager, cementing a development pathway that ensures girls can progress from grassroots through to senior football.
"We found it a bit easier with the girls. They listened more. They concentrated more. They took on board what we were telling them a lot more," Mike explains. His coaching philosophy extends far beyond tactical instruction. "I've always said that I don't bother about trophies or winning. It's about enjoying the game and progressing, playing well—that's what comes first, before the trophies."
Before Christmas, Mike's dedication was recognised when he was named Runner-up Coach of the Year for the Female Pathway at the Manchester FA Awards—acknowledgement of his exceptional contribution to women's and girls' football development.
A Partnership That Inspires
Sophie's journey represents one of the most compelling aspects of the Chadderton story. What began as supporting her husband's coaching has evolved into total commitment to the club's mission. She now coaches alongside Mike, plays for the newly-formed women's team, and serves on the juniors committee—embodying the inclusive spirit that defines modern Chadderton FC.
The couple have had "a whirlwind of a journey recently," as Sophie describes it—becoming parents, getting married, and creating the new women's team, all while maintaining their dedication to the girls' teams. Mike founded the girls' section at Chadderton and opened the Women's Division this year.
As a qualified Mental Health First Aider, Sophie provides crucial support for vulnerable players. "My mental health first aid qualification is actually through my job outside the football," she explains, "but I chose to take the course because it's something that I personally struggled with previously in my life as well, and with the volunteering of grassroots that I do, I wanted to make sure that I could then offer help to girls who feel, unfortunately, the way that I possibly felt one day as well."
"It's become a proper family affair," Peter observes. "They got married and had a baby during this time but never stopped building the women's and girls' section. That kind of dedication is what grassroots football is all about."
Sophie's commitment earned her "The Equal Game Kitemark" from Manchester FA, recognising her support for girls and women in football and dedication to inclusivity.
Creating Safe Spaces
The impact of their work extends far beyond trophies and league tables. Mike and Sophie have created an environment where girls facing various challenges can find support and belonging.
Two recent arrivals to the club in 2024 perfectly illustrate this transformative power. Both girls had experienced significant difficulties—one had been told at a previous club that she "wasn't good enough" and should quit football, whilst recovering from a serious injury. The other was facing severe bullying that eventually led to home-schooling.
"Mike and I spent months coaching one of the girls, gaining her confidence back, making her smile, hearing her laugh again and slowly becoming a bright star playing a game she loved," Sophie explains. For the other girl, who started as a complete beginner and was "extremely nervous," they provided one-on-one coaching until "she progressed amazingly and made it into the team and has finally made friends, true friends, that love and respect her."
The coaches' support extends beyond football. When one girl developed health issues preventing her from training, "she is still welcomed and made to feel still part of the team. She watches games and even was included in the end of season presentation receiving her trophy happy and smiling."
As one parent explains: "The kindness and support given made her feel like she was welcome and belonged to something nice. Chadderton FC, Sophie & Mike have been my daughter's saviour. The difference this made to her mental health is amazing and I truly do not know where we would be now without Mike and Sophie."
Infrastructure for Dreams
The transformation has been made possible through substantial National Lottery investment that exemplifies the £6 billion invested in grassroots sport across the UK. A £950,000 National Lottery grant through the Football Foundation's Lioness Fund supported the creation of the £1.4 million 3G pitch that serves as the club's heartbeat, whilst additional grants have supported equipment and development programmes—part of the over £50 million committed to The FA since 2012 to support women's and girls' football.
"The pitch has become a focal point, not just for football but for bringing people from different backgrounds together through sport," Peter explains. The facility has enabled dedicated women and girls' nights at the stadium, providing multiple teams with professional-standard training environments.
A further £10,000 National Lottery Community Fund grant created new meeting room facilities, expanding the club's community offering to include mental health support and other vital activities.
A Legacy in Motion
As Chadderton FC prepares to participate in the "Big Football Day on the Cobbles" at Coronation Street on 12th July—the day before England plays Wales in the Women's Euros—the impact of Peter, Mike and Sophie's work will be showcased on a national stage as part of The FA's nationwide campaign encouraging more women and girls to give football a go.
The club's ambitions continue growing, perfectly aligned with The FA's commitment to unlock equal opportunities for women and girls in football. Plans to introduce Wildcats sessions for the youngest girls and further expand their offering throughout all age groups demonstrate how initial National Lottery investment has created sustainable, ongoing benefits for the community—part of the broader movement where over 90,000 grassroots sports projects have been funded nationwide.
From the under-11s coached by Vinnie O'Connor and Martyn Swaine to the under-16s also led by Mike and Sophie Julien, each team represents a community where every girl knows she's Made for This Game—supported by the millions of National Lottery players whose weekly contributions make such opportunities possible across England.
The Power of Belief
The Chadderton FC story ultimately demonstrates what happens when passionate individuals are given the resources to pursue their vision. Peter's administrative dedication, Mike's coaching expertise, and Sophie's holistic support have combined to create something that extends far beyond sport.
For girls who have joined the club, many from diverse backgrounds and facing various challenges, Chadderton FC represents hope and opportunity. The inclusive environment Mike and Sophie have created enables young players to form meaningful friendships and develop confidence that extends far beyond football.
As Peter reflects on the transformation he's witnessed: "It's brought the whole community together. The pitch has become a focal point, not just for football but for bringing people from different backgrounds together through sport."
In an age when community institutions face unprecedented challenges, the Chadderton FC story offers a powerful reminder of what's possible when vision meets opportunity, when passion encounters resources, and when individuals choose to invest their lives in the dreams of others.
The revolution that began with half a team has become a movement that touches hundreds of lives—a testament to the transformative power of sport, community, and the National Lottery funding that makes such stories possible across the UK every single week.
