Talk FC

26/08/2026

⚽💚 PLAYER FOCUS | Meet Leo Gowing 💚⚽

Every player has a story.

Our TALK FC Player Focus series shines a light on the people behind the football – why they joined, what they get from attending, and what being part of our community means to them.

For our next Player Focus, we meet Leo Gowing. At just 29, Leo has become a familiar face at TALK FC and perfectly captures what our sessions are all about.

Leo comes along to spend time with some really great guys, play football and have a laugh along the way. ⚽😂

But what started as simply turning up for football has become something much more important.

Leo openly admits that he didn’t initially see TALK FC as something he particularly needed in his life. Now, though, he can’t imagine his weekly routine without the inclusion of TALK FC.

And that’s the beauty of what we do.

Whether you’ve had a brilliant week or everything outside of football feels like it’s going wrong, Leo knows that turning up to TALK FC is something he’ll never regret.

He’s also become a huge advocate for what we do, having recommended TALK FC to countless others – and he plans to keep doing so.

Leo’s words perfectly sum up the power of the TALK FC community:

“No matter how rubbish things outside may be on that particular day, I never regret taking some time out and turning up to TALK FC.”

That’s more than football.

That’s connection, friendship, belonging and looking after each other. 💚

A massive thank you to Leo for being part of the TALK FC family and for helping make our sessions what they are.

⚽ More Than Football. It’s Family. 💚

26/08/2026

Given the interest from our pilot sessions run in July, we are pleased to announce another Talk FC 50+ session is taking place Sunday 20th September at 3pm!

As part of our mission to use football to bring people together, improve wellbeing and tackle isolation, we're inviting local men to join us for a FREE session at Harrow Lodge Park.

Whether you've played football all your life, haven't kicked a ball for years, or simply fancy meeting some new people and getting active, Talk FC 50+ is for you:

✅ Gentle, friendly football
✅ Meet new people
✅ Improve physical and mental wellbeing
✅ No pressure, no judgement, just good company
✖️ Not quite ready for bowls or walking football just yet!
📍 Harrow Lodge Park - near the Lakeview Palace Cafe
📅 FREE session

Sunday 20th Sept
👥 Men aged 50+
Drop us a message if you are coming along.

26/08/2026

Even though we are in peak school holidays and people are taking their well earned annual leave, plenty of lads have been turning out for our sessions. Good company, good football and great conversations. That is what it is all about.

Our programmes run as follows:
Mondays @ Noak Hill 8-9.30pm
Tuesdays Powerleague Fairlop 7-8.30pm
Fridays Powerleague Romford 8-9:30pm

Please do reach out to get involved.

22/08/2026

Brilliant session down at FNF in Romford

Great turn out, great football and most importantly a great check in with a perfect balance of laughter and time to talk about what really on your mind!

Keep talking lads…

21/08/2026

⚽🔥 THE PREMIER LEAGUE IS BACK… AND SO ARE WE! 💚

Friday night. Football is back. And what better way to celebrate than getting your own game on? 👊⚽

Tonight sees the Premier League return with Arsenal v Coventry at 8pm — the curtain-raiser to another season of drama, goals and football debates! 🏆

But before the big boys take centre stage…

IT’S TALK FC FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL! 💚

📍 Powerleague Romford
⚽ Friday Night Football
🤝 Good football. Good people. Good conversations.
🧠 Football is the vehicle — wellbeing is the goal.

Whether you’re an Arsenal fan, a Coventry fan, or couldn’t care less who wins tonight… come and get involved! 😂

No pressure. No judgement. Just lads coming together, playing football and looking after each other.

The Premier League is back.
Friday Night Football is back.
TALK FC is ready. 💚

19/08/2026

⚽💚 PLAYER FOCUS | Meet Neil Shayle (MBE) 💚⚽

Every player has a story.

Our Player Focus series shines a light on the people behind the football – why they joined TALK FC, what they get from attending, and what being part of our community means to them.

For this one, we turn our attention to Neil Shayle (MBE) – or as we like to call him, 26 + VAT! 😂

Neil joined TALK FC after already being aware of The Proper Blokes Club and its weekly walks and talks. But when he spotted the football element to TALK FC, he knew this was something he wanted to be part of.

Since joining, Neil has become a familiar face within the group, enjoying meeting new people, keeping active and being part of a brilliant group of lads.

But Neil isn’t just here to play… he’s also one of our referees! 🟨🟥⚽

And with Neil’s refereeing skills being so sharp, we’ve even had to get Specsavers involved! 👓😂

We’re delighted to have a little TALK FC x Specsavers partnership when it comes to Neil’s officiating. Because when you’re making calls with that much confidence, you need to make sure you can actually see what happened! 😂

Whether he’s blowing the whistle, joining in on the pitch or simply having a chat with the lads, Neil brings plenty of character, humour and positivity to TALK FC.

Neil sums up what TALK FC is all about – friendship, connection, staying active and creating a space where people can simply be themselves.

As Neil says, the lads he’s met through TALK FC are now friends, and without TALK FC it’s highly doubtful he would have met them.

That’s what this is all about.

💚 More Than Football. It’s Family. 💚

13/08/2026

Up the chatters ⚽️💚⚽️

The 2026 finalists are here! 🏆

A huge congratulations to all the businesses who have made it through to the final.

We can’t wait to see everyone at the awards ceremony in September!

https://orlo.uk/iJzyo

12/08/2026

We did a thing! We have only gone and been shortlisted as one of the finalists for this year’s Havering Small Business awards!

Talk FC will be at the awards presentation in September but just to be shortlisted and recognised for the work and impact we are trying to make is fantastic.

We have been running for just over a year and this is testament to every lad who has attended one of our sessions and everyone who has supported us.

Scott Johnson Chris IllingworthRoss MarshallNeil Shayle