A brand new team representing the local community in Notting Hill have started their maiden season in style.
Portobello Football Club have just begun their inaugural season in Division Two of the Middlesex County Football League.
The innovative club is an exciting new project birthed from the vibrant markets, energetic carnival and artistic residents of Notting Hill.
Founder Calum Opere-Hoyal, who lives just 30 seconds from Portobello Road, set up the club during the pandemic to celebrate his passion for the area.
He said: “I’m very local to the area and when the pandemic happened, nobody was recruiting in football so I decided to start my own football club.
“I have a foundation of knowledge, I’m a creative person and have a good eye for design so I knew what would work.”
This creative eye is evident in the bright colour, funky shapes and unique design of the team’s kit which challenges the status quo in non-league football.
Partnering with London-based street artist FacesOrFaces and American sportswear brand Icarus, the kits have been a huge hit worldwide.
The club has sold almost 4,000 shirts to fans in USA, Ireland, Serbia, Italy, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
And they have a local touch, with the shirt’s badge featuring a peacock flaunting the colour of the famed Notting Hill Carnival, and a crown to represent the wider borough of Kensington & Chelsea.
Setting them apart from other teams across the non-league spectrum, the move is particularly momentous in a world where chic and soulful football shirts are becoming more and more in fashion.
Opere-Hoyal said the aim of the project was not only to challenge the status quo but to stand out as one of the most exciting teams in grassroots football.
Along with head coach Daniel Merrix, who has years of experience coaching grassroots football and women’s teams, the pair developed a respectable squad of players early in the campaign.
Team captain and central midfielder John Woodward, 40, heard about the club from a work colleague and decided to join.
He said: “I fell in love with it.
“I’ve played football since under-nine level but I enjoy the competitive nature of grassroots football.
“We are all semi-local and considering we only met three months ago it has all come together quite quickly and there are friendships.
“Hopefully we will continue to grow this club.”
Although their opening game ended in defeat, the team have plenty of intensity left to establish themselves as fresh club in a 38-year-old league.
German-born number seven Sidd Dutt has embraced all aspects of the club community, from modelling the ground-breaking kit, to taking part in intense training sessions.
He said: “We are still developing to our full potential which I don’t think has been reached yet.
“That’s why training is intense and is focused on developing each part of the players’ game.”
Portobello FC train weekly in leafy Ealing and play home matches at London Marathon Playing Field in Greenford most Saturdays.
Next up, the team take on London Titans FC at Riverside Lands Playing Field tomorrow.
Featured image credit: Portobello FC
