TALKING TO BEN SHORT OF JK SILVERTOWN

With grass roots football hopefully returning to some sort of normality soon The Cold End recently spoke to Ben Short who is the Manager and Chairman for East London based club JK SILVERTOWN who play in the Essex Sunday Combination.  

HOW AND WHY WERE JK SILVERTOWN FORMED? 
The club were formed in memory of our great friend James Kiely who died in December 2011. 

ARE ALL THE PLAYERS FROM THE LOCAL AREA? WHO TRAVELS FROM THE FURTHEST AWAY? 
Most players are from local area in Silvertown and North Woolwich with some moving out to around the Hornchurch and Romford area. I travel the furthest as I moved to Rayleigh in Essex last year. 

WHAT'S SILVERTOWN LIKE AS AN AREA NOW - HAS ANY OF THE OLYMPIC MONEY BEEN SPENT IN SILVERTOWN? 
It’s completely changed - old buildings are knocked down and new flats are put up in no time at all. The whole area feels like a building site at times. 

WHAT WAS YOUR BEST RESULT OF THE 2019/20 SEASON? 
Beating Barkingside who were undefeated and top of the league for a long while. 

WHAT WAS YOUR WORST RESULT OF THE SEASON? 
That will have to be Manor House in Essex Sunday Premier Cup  - It was just an all round bad day at the office. 

WHAT'S THE BEST THING ABOUT FOOTBALL AT GRASS ROOTS LEVEL? 
The getting together of players from all different backgrounds, from playing football together to becoming life long friends. Community spirit too which we are fortunate to have in Silvertown. 

WHAT'S THE WORST THING ABOUT FOOTBALL AT GRASS ROOTS LEVEL? 
I think more recently it's funding or how expensive things are - Pitch hire prices seem like robbery at times and I know this pre season most clubs are struggling to find pitches that are available and be able to afford it. 

WHAT'S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU'VE EVER BEEN GIVEN IN FOOTBALL?
Play with a smile and enjoy the game - I think that be should be the message right through football. 

HOW HAVE YOU AND ALL THE LADS BEEN GETTING ON WITH THE CURRENT LOCKDOWN SITUATION AND MISSING FOOTY?
Like every other club, we had some working and some at home not getting paid awaiting for government grants, but we’ve all chipped in and helped each other out if people were struggling for money or other bits. Things are slowly getting get back to normal now hopefully but we all still have to be sensible of course and football being back is a bonus! 

PLEASE CHECK OUT JK SILVERTOWN ON TWITTER @JKSILVERTOWNFC AND ON INSTAGRAM AT @jksilvertownfc 

I WISH JK SILVERTOWN THE VERY BEST OF LUCK FOR THE FORTHCOMING SEASON. I'M MORE THAN SURE THAT JAMES WOULD BE VERY PROUD OF WHAT YOU HAVE ACHIEVED IN HIS NAME.