
Sassco’s 11-a-side team sprung into action in 2002, developed from a set of players from the different 6-a-side teams, who were playing in the Sassco Leagues since 1999.
The team never really achieved a great deal in terms of silverware, coming close in a final in their second season. However, the events undertaken by Sassco far surpass any other teams in their generation. Pioneering Adidas team kits from overseas, recording 11-a-side games in widescreen, customised soccer balls developed in Asia, overseas football tours and prestigious friendlies against Northern League teams and teams from outside their own leagues.
The team is still active and recently played at the Stadium of Light, as well as regular friendly games against local opponents. For one of their most recent games, five players from the original line up back in 2002 were present.

Another poor first half lets the team down. I found out afterwards that Oddfellows contained a few of the Jolly Potter lads. So Lesson 1 is don’t go by last season.…

Charlie notches up a hat-trick. Bearing last season’s opening friendly in mind, I opted for a large squad and one by one, the numbers dwindled (as expected). But that’s what…

A year-long diary captures the journey of me, an Indian-origin, British-born soccer manager leading an all-white team in an amateur football league in Sunderland during the 2003-2004 season. This narrative is…

A republishing of an old article, mainly because this was the first time a retro “Telstar” ball was used in any form in any English league game at all levels –…

A pioneering docunmentary from the early 2000’s, covering a day in the lift of a grassroots team. Unusually, the focus is on the background rather than the football itself, and the…