This Saturday, a brand new football podcast will be launching and as part of their regular shows, they have committed to supporting FBB and promoting our work. The Half Time Oranges Football podcast launches on May 23rd with a discussion with Arsenal goalkeeping legend Bob Wilson OBE about all things Arsenal, the FA Cup and the evolution of the game.

The HTOFootball Podcast is run by Andrew Timbrell and Tom Cunliffe-Whitford. Andrew and Tom met at an Arsenal in the Community initiative some 22 years ago. ‘Arsenal Soccer Schools’ were summer holiday football coaching courses for u-12’s and were held across London. Andrew and Tom remained firm friends for the years that would follow - going on to share best man duties. 

Both Andrew and Tom see Football Beyond Borders as a fantastic choice of organisation to support for HTOFootball. Having grown up and attended the same state funded North London secondary school, Andrew and Tom have seen first hand the positive impact football and sport can have on young people. The school they attended was The Ravenscroft School, now established as The Totteridge Academy, where FBB run both a boys and a girls programme.

With football playing such a positive and progressive factor in both their lives Andrew and Tom have launched HTO Football with a clear purpose: to provide football debate and insight whilst promoting football as a vehicle for positive change. This is what led them to look for an organisation that they could support through their work.

Given the range of creative projects, engagement programmes and football initiatives that FBB run, both Andrew and Tom believe there is a real synergy with the ethos of HTOFootball and are incredibly excited about the collaboration opportunities. 

HTOFootball will be supporting FBB by:

• Making monthly donations to FBB - they've both generously signed up as monthly donors themselves already and will be encouraging their listeners to support FBB in whatever way they can!
• Co-promoting activities and initiatives through social media  
• Welcoming members of FBB on the podcast as guests to promote particular events or initiatives 
• Working with FBB to look for sponsorship opportunities

Andrew and Tom are delighted to be launching and supporting FBB through the podcast, saying: “The mission of FBB to positively change the lives of young people is one we wholeheartedly share. HTOFootball is incredibly excited to work with organisations such as FBB and to continue to highlight the positive impact football can have on so many.” 

Make sure you join the HTO Football journey on all your usual podcast platforms from Saturday 23rd May! You can follow them for regular updates on their Facebook and Twitter too!

The HTOFootball launch episode also discusses The Willow Foundation - the charity founded by Bob and Megs Wilson. Willow works with seriously ill young adults aged 16 to 40 to fulfil uplifting and unforgettable Special Days - many of which are connected with football. 

In the podcasts to come, HTOFootball will be speaking to a range of guests about all things football and community. From classic match day memories and terrace debate, to football finances and the state of the modern game as they continue to unearth stories about how football is driving positive change. 

FBB have recently launched our very own Virtual School to help support young people digitally during the COVID19 crisis. If you’d like more information on this, read this article.

If you feel able to support FBB during these difficult times, please donate here: https://www.footballbeyondborders.org/donate/