Our Street Football Projects!

Our Soccer Schools cannot be classed as your every day, commercially ran Soccer school, where children pay lots of money to attend excellent facilities with the best equipment.

In all honesty, our projects are far from it at the beginning and often take place in estates and parks, where there is a high level of disadvantaged youths and anti-social behaviour.

Cages are sometimes rusted and untidy, but the vast majority of them are new and in good condition. Over time, our staff work closely with partners and people of the community to tidy up the area, fix any broken panels, tidy up and re-paint the area to give the youths some responsibility and ownership over the site. These partners will include councils, Merseyside Police & Merseyside Fire Brigade and often manpower is crucial from all of the above is getting the facility right.

Often, our participants are hanging around shops or Street corners with very little to do and sometimes have a major problem with youth crime and a lack of social direction. Our participants are often hard to reach and Streetcage Soccer staff works extremely hard along with youth workers to persuade these young people to get engaged in the projects and get involved with football as a way of staying out of trouble.

You will see by our Gallery Page that as projects develop, the standard of behaviour, attitude and commitment from Youths and staff is second to none. We prove the point that ‘Football is the magnet for young people’ and continue to break down barriers in sites across Merseyside.

What is a Streetcage?

A Streetcage or a Multi use games area, will often come in many different designs and shapes, however they are all purpose built for the same principal, which is to provide a place for children to play. They are often built in estates, parks and areas where there may be a problem with youths congregating with very little to do.

A Streetcage is about 35 – 40m long and about 20m wide and will often have a goal area and a basketball hoop at each end. Most of them will include 3 entrances and exits and will often have 2 dug outs for youths to sit in.

You may have seen an example of a Streetcage like this one on the right, in a park or play area by you.

What is a portable cage? Click Here

The Streetcage Soccer portable cage is about 20m x 15m and is set up with the using of support posts, sliding panels, 2 fixed goals and a firm netting that is placed around the top. Streetcage Soccer has the first portable cage, which has been purchased in partnership with Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service to deliver projects across the 6 districts of Liverpool with the aim of reducing anti-social behaviour as a consequence reducing Fires and call out for the Service. The cage was imported from Germany, where Street football is quickly becoming one of the biggest sports in the country.

The portable cage is carried around the back of trailer by Fire Crews and normally takes around 20 – 30 minutes to set up. The cage can be set up just about anywhere as long as it is flat and safe, which is the added Beauty of Street football. The cage is available for hire along with Streetcage Soccer staff for events of any type.

Streetcage Owners

Matthew Shannon

Matthew has eight years coaching experience in both England and USA. He spent six months in 2001 in New Jersey, observing street soccer in areas of Elizabeth and also the Bronx, New York. During his time he was able to gain insight and valuable experience into street cage soccer and developing football in the community.

Since his return to England, Matthew has been involved with a division one professional football club identifying and developing gifted youngsters. He has also been involved in the running of anti-social and crime reduction projects throughout Merseyside.

David McDermott

David has both playing and coaching experience in England and the USA. After completing a four year football scholarship at Franklin Pierce College in the USA, David was hired through the University as an assistant coach.

David was involved in coaching and youth development in the Massachutes and New Hampshire area, working and coordinating a number of soccer camps. David has played with, against and coached a number of professionals from all over the world.

View the rest of the Streetcage Soccer staff HERE

Do we just work in cages?

PLAYERS - Click Here
PARENTS - Click Here
YOUTH PROJECT PROVIDER/FUNDER - Click Here
COACHES - Click Here