Mandy Forbes

I met Mandy at a meeting in 2005 in my role as a social inclusion football coordinator.. she had set up a team on her local estate in 2004 as a direct response to the fact that her son and his friends were getting into trouble and had nothing to do on the Somerford Estate in Christchurch. straight away her egergy desire and passion to use football as a tool to keep lads on the straight and narrow was clear. She was not about winning at all costs or finding the best players. she was about communtiy inclusion and making people feel part of something positive. 6 years on Mandy has guided the club to developing more n more teams .. 2 adult teams , under 18, under 15,under 16 , ladies teams and now twynham tigers for uner 9's which features some of the kids from the dads who featured in her first ever team have all developed and had chances to play in structured football and been part of a dream she has brought together councillors , housing officers and police to be part of her committee.. she is a matriarchal figure on her estate a mum , a wife and a grandmother. she works tirelessly fund raising for the club and the local community , she is selfless in her giving and always gives lads who mess up a chance and another chance..she volunteers with the local search and rescue teams giving up her weekends and being called out in the middle of night.. she has won awards for her outstanding contributions bbc sport unsung hero runner up and home office to name a couple. wonder woman! I stepped in to run the team/club in July 2003 when the manager walked away leaving them high and dry before they had even played their first game.