Ep.42 Jeroen Verheggen | Lessons from Caversham AFC: The Value of Local Action

In this episode, Jeroen Veheggen, Chair of Caversham AFC, shares how the club has grown into the largest grassroots football organisation in Reading, supporting over 800 players across all age groups. Jeroen talks about his journey from parent volunteer to Chair and the club's mission to provide inclusive, community-driven football. He highlights the challenges they face with outdated facilities and the ongoing efforts to secure investment and council support for vital improvements. The episode also touches on the importance of volunteer support, the club's approach to communication, and how they are working to strengthen ties with the wider community. Jeroen leaves listeners with a powerful message about the value of getting involved in local causes and the difference that community-led action can make.   TIME CODES 00:00 Greeting 00:39 Introduction to Jeroen 02:57 The structure of Caversham AFC 04:09 Caversham AFC is run by volunteers 05:03 The problem with Caversham AFC's Premises 08:19 Funding for new premises 11:01 Help needed to support development of Caversham AFC 12:03 It's not all about winning 13:28 Caversham AFC's role in the community 15:18 How internal communication works at Caversham AFC 17:38 The distribution of Caversham AFC's newsletter 18:10 How people can help Caversham AFC 19:38 Final thoughts