02/10/2026
Like most people in Epping, the Bell had no real relevance in my life for most of the time it was used for housing asylum seekers.
Then came the horrible incident with Kabatu. Thankfully arrested and deported.
Epping went nuts. It was disturbing to see anyone from the hotel become fair game for some. We all saw the social media clips of lads from the hotel having things thrown at them, or being punched and kicked, spat at.
Me and the missus started having walks up the road with the intent to have a chat with anyone we came across from the hotel. Just to let them know there were people in Epping who didn't feel the same way and were there to help and show compassion.
Initially everyone we came across avoided any sort of interaction, walking along, eyes down, worried for how people would treat them
Only after we reassured that we just wanted to say hello and see how they were would the lads even look at us. Always with relief, and a couple of times with real joy on their faces.
Long story short(ish), I thought I wanted to do something for these guys, just give them a bit of normality in their lives.
For quite a few years, I've managed a grass roots football team, and I know the power football has in breaking down barriers and bringing people together. So the easiest thing for me to do would be football sessions.
I asked one of my senior players (H) if he would help me and he was happy to get on board.
On our first day there we were shown to a very small courtyard inside the boundaries of the hotel. I mean tiny. Max 15 x 30 m. And about 35 lads turned up, so it was a squeeze. Not ideal.
What was interesting was how the lads grouped with people from their own country. Even within the hotel they were looking for some sort of safety.
A wide range of abilities, and a wide range of fluency in English meant it took time to get going, but we did.
Over the weeks, the sessions flowed much better. A couple of lads with very good English helped when complicated things needed explaining. And most satisfying, the groups broke down. Everyone was cool with everyone. We were told by hotel security that this had spilled out into general hotel life, and there was more bonding between lads that previously had nothing to do with each other.
The boys were having fun and our sessions had become a focal point for their week.
We also found we had some decent players.
The weeks went on. The lads continued to enjoy. Of course some were being moved on or rejected, so as the numbers in the hotel diminished, so did the numbers coming to training. But it was a pretty consistent 25% of the residents coming to train each week.
Word reached us of a mini 8-a-side tournament being hosted in Forest Gate (big up Clapton FC). The teams were all made up of people with the short straw; asylum seekers, refugees, homeless men, impoverished young adults.
We spoke to the lads and said we wanted to enter the tournament. This news lifted them so much. There was constant talk of it around the hotel. No one was late for training, everyone was taking it serious. A couple of the lads started arranging extra sessions during the week, mimicking the drills H and I gave them.
Some dared to venture out in the evenings just to play football in a field and get used to more space.
Bell FC was forming.
Even those who didn't play were getting involved. Flags were made of all the nationalities within our squad.
A couple of lads put a bit of a dance together for entertainment !
Some local contacts reached out to friends, charities, even Premier League football clubs to get everyone kitted out.
The day of the tournament came. The boys were buzzing.
Local volunteers shipped all the lads- players and supporters - to Forest Gate, kits were presented, shin pads reluctantly worn and the English weather did its bit with rain, sun and hail storms all coming within the space of about 4 hours.
The teams were split to gauge their levels, a few short games played and then divided into two groups, each playing for a trophy.
The team was full of enthusiasm. They played well but their first time in a competitive match showed and they lost 2-0.
I've managed for years. I know the result doesn't always reflect the performance. But for the lads it was different. This was the tournament, they didn't have next week to enjoy, or a season ahead to look forward to.
"Today" meant everything to them.
Me and H had a chat with the team, pointed out some small improvements they could make and encouraged them they had played well and would see the benefit.
Lifted they went out again. And lost 1-0.
This was not how it was meant to go. To see the optimism drain was sad to see.
Then one of the residents ( Y ) who had come to support his friends got an email to say his asylum claim had been denied.
To be honest losing a game of football became less important.
We all hid from the hail for a bit, and tried to comfort Y.
The football didn't need any discussion. The lads were playing well. We knew it would come.
But they didn't have another chance, lose the next game and it was over for them.
When they went out for kick off, Y grabbed an old snare drum, and, banging it, started chanting "Bell FC" over and over.
I was amazed that at such a difficult time his priority was to support his friends.
The rest was like a film. The boys narrowly won their next game 1-0. But it was the lift they needed.
The next game they blew away the team they had lost their first game to, winning it 3-1.
The football was flowing, simple things were done right, tackles were won cleanly and the combinations were what we had spent weeks doing in our small courtyard.
They could not be beaten.
Bell FC progressed to the final, another 3-1 win but more nervy than it sounds with the final goal coming very late in the game. But they had won it. Champions !!
Having something to focus on, something so positive to look forward to was obviously a huge benefit for the lads.
The self motivation for exercise and the mental health aspect were massive.
When the Bell was emptied earlier this year, it obviously made organising things a bit more difficult, but we have managed to play a full 11-a-side friendly and hope to have some more throughout the season.
One of the lads from Bell FC played for my Sunday team last year, and is now playing and doing very well for a grass roots football team local to where he was moved to, and another has gone on to sign for a step 5 team.
I still speak to them all regularly, and meet up every now and then.
I can honestly say being involved with these lads has enriched my life incredibly.
I am forever grateful.
Coach
