Dad takes U11 girls team to the top of the league

A dad who took over his daughter’s football team in 2022 has taken the group of talented young players to the top of the league, winning all major football competitions in their region and remaining unbeaten for 40 games.

The U11 Raiders Girls team, based at the AFC Lewisham club in Eltham Road, Eltham, have not lost a match in the Kent Girls and Ladies Football League (KGLFL) for two seasons.

To date the team are unbeaten in 40 matches, including friendlies.

Yemi Bello, 47, who lives near Lee Green in Lee, Lewisham, took on the role as head coach of the team his daughter – Tia-Rose Bello, 11 – plays for in, October 2022.

He said: “The team was losing quite a lot and some of the other parents suggested I have a go at coaching.

“They went from a team that lost every match to a team that has won every match.

“It’s remarkable, we have such a diverse team and they’ve been fantastic.”

At the end of Mr Bello’s first season, while playing at Long Lane Football Club in Dursley Road, Kidbrooke, the Raiders girls finished the KGLFL Red Winter League unbeaten.

Mr Bello said: “I think it’s about discipline and parents being on board in regards to mindset.

“When I took on the team some of the girls struggled to communicate properly, but now we’ve worked on that and they all work together really well.

“Some of the girls hadn’t played football before and now we have girls playing with Crystal Palace.”

But the team’s success has not come without challenges.

In June 2023, the Raiders moved from their Long Lane club to AFC Lewisham – where they became the club’s first girl’s team.

Mr Bello said: “The move was a challenging time for players and parents. In effect, we had to set up the team again.”

Not all families decided to make the move, which resulted in the squad being reduced from 13 to 8 players.

Despite the setback, that same month the team played their first tournament for the new club and won AFC Lewisham its first ever girls football trophy.

Throughout the rest of the season the team were able to increase their squad by inheriting girls from within the club who had played for boys teams as well as tapping into local undiscovered talented girls.

AFC Lewisham then hosted its first ever girls football tournament, inviting seven girls football teams from the KGLFL and Tandridge leagues.

Mr Bello said: “They won every game, conceding only one goal in eight matches.

“Working with the girls I can see how winning these games has helped them believe anything is achievable with focus and teamwork.”

Mr Bello is now looking for a new sponsor for the remainder of the current season (2023-24) and for next season (2024-25).

Pictured top: Back left, Mr Bello with the U11 Raiders Girls team with team welfare officer Susan Paterson far right (Picture: Yemi Bello)