12-year-old Musa Farah (centre) with his dad Farah (L) and Kingsley United's under 13s coach Wesley Butcher who makes sure the kids know school work is more important than football (Image: Patrick Graham/Liverpool ECHO)

Football coach determined to help kids on and off the pitch

Wesley Butcher is dedicated to inspiring youngsters through football

06 Dec 2023, 19:39 by Patrick Graham · Liverpool Echo

Football coach determined to help kids on and off the pitch

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A football coach is determined to help young people succeed on and off the pitch.

Kingsley United, originally called Tiber, formed over 20 years ago. Wesley Butcher was in one of the first teams, now a coach at Kingsley he works alongside assistant Kevin Rawcliffe.

Kingsley are based at Tiber pitch in Liverpool 8, on an artificial surface constructed about three years ago. This replaced the previous high maintenance grass pitch.

Kingsley’s under 13 coach, Wesley 43 told the ECHO: "I decided I wanted to be a coach because of my son, he plays in the team I manage. He wanted to start aged about seven and I stepped back for six months and had a look at what coaches were doing.

“I’ve played football all my life. I have never coached kids. It's still new to me now".

Wesley understands kids aged 12 and 13 can go through challenges, but he has the trust of their parents, especially in discipline.

He said: "It’s discipline to know right and wrong, to know school work comes first and foremost. If they’re behind in school I tell the parents to speak to me.

"I tell parents not to punish them by not sending them to games, let me deal with that. Parents doing it can have a bad impact, but if I do it I think the kids listen more and a lot change straight away. They both respect what I’m doing".

Musa Farah, a 12-year-old, left back and midfielder, has been coming to Kingsley since the age of three, he said: "Wesley helps us a lot and is a good coach. Sometimes he talks to me about school because I’ve got in trouble a little and he tells me education is first, and I now understand it’s more important than playing football.

Kingsley United under 13s team with coach Wesley Butcher (L) and Musa Farah (back row 4th from right) with assistants (Image: Wesley Butcher/Kingsley United)

"I like PE and design and technology, learning about patterns, decorations on buildings, clothing, lots of things. If I was not playing football, when I’m older, I would like to maybe be a teacher at my school teaching design and technology, even PE.

"I like coming here to see my mates, play football with them and enjoy time with them. I go to school with one. The others are friends outside school”.

At present the Kingsley team are fundraising for a tournament in May 2024 in Rotterdam, Holland which Wesley sees as "a once-in-a-lifetime experience”, that will broaden their perspectives and could potentially be lifechanging for some players. They’ve walked up Snowdon, done car washes, and more, to raise the £6k shortfall of their £18k target and have set up a GoFundMe.

Musa added: "If I went to Rotterdam it would be a good thing going somewhere with my team and if we were to win it would be a great thing. I’ve never been to another country before.

Musa Farah lines up a shot during training at Tiber pitch in Toxteth with Kingsley under 13s (Image: Patrick Graham/Liverpool ECHO)

"If I could not come to Kingsley it would be sad. It’s not just about football it helps me enjoy other things, making new friends, being good in school, about life and being a good person".

Farah, Musa’s father added: "They support the people and they also help me and my family. Kingsley and Wesley, they have helped my son since he was young and he enjoys coming.

"After a few years he will do as he likes in the subjects in school. Musa is in year seven, whatever he likes I will support and give him the confidence to do it.

"I come here on a cold night, like today, because I know Musa enjoys being here with the team, his friends, and all what Wesley does for him as a strong coach. He gives him great support, is a good man and has helped my son many times".

Musa Farah (R) and his dad Farah at Tiber pitch in Toxteth before training with Kingsley United under 13s (Image: Patrick Graham/Liverpool ECHO)

Wesley continued: "There are kids who have less than other kids, so we try and have enough to help them out. There was a family we helped out, not through football, but we heard were having a struggle, we did not know them, just something we heard about.

"My team put a message in our group and the reaction I got; clothing, jackets, cos they never had clothes and the children were getting picked on in school. The next thing I’m getting bags of clothes, food and parents buying trainers for them.

"It shows our kids not everybody is going to be as privileged as others. It's all about community with Kingsley and it always has been".

For information visit Kingsley’s GoFundMe HERE

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