South London Laces football team takes the world by storm

South London Laces is a community-run football team currently based in Southwark and Burgess Park - with more than 50 team members.

Since co-founders Beth Towle and Emily Hill set up the club seven years ago in a sports hall, the South London Laces team has expanded massively, and they now have a fully-fledged club with two 11-a-side teams and one 5-a-side team.

Joana Margarida, striker for the South London Laces since 2021, says the South London Laces is the most social team she has ever played for, and “everyone is welcome”, despite what level each person plays.

Watch the South London Laces here

Joana told the News Shopper: “I have been playing football since I was eight years old, but the difference I have seen in this club compared to others, is that you can be a total beginner and you’re still welcome.

“It’s all about having fun within football.”

Joana Margarida

Ever since the Lionesses beat Germany in the Euros last year, the South London Laces has seen an increase in women and non-binary people wanting to join the team, and now the club runs three sessions each week, with sister clubs running in Hackney, Limehouse and Manchester.

The South London Laces Tuesday squad

Joana added: “It’s good for women to have these football teams available – why shouldn’t a woman play football in the first place?

“When I was younger, it was really difficult to find a club, I personally didn’t have any football reference.

“But now, young girls have the chance to find a club or a reference – anywhere you go, particularly in London, you can see women’s football everywhere, and it’s really great to see.”

South London Laces in action

According to figures released by the FA, the Women’s Euro match has created a long-lasted legacy, with more than 416,000 new opportunities to play, coach, officiate and volunteer in England across schools, clubs, and communities, which highlights the incredible 2022 year for women’s football.

There was also a 196 per cent increase in women and girls’ football session bookings in England through the ‘Find Football’ tool, according to the FA.

FA Figures regarding the growth of women's football

Rosanna Lambe, right midfielder for the team, joined the South London Laces after the Lionesses won the cup last year, and says playing with a group of women gives her a “sense of community and belonging.”

She told the News Shopper: “I wanted to join the team to play sport with a group of women who you can have fun with.

“Everyone here is from different walks of life with different backgrounds, jobs and different lifestyles, but when women come together, big things can happen.”

South London Laces training grounds

The Regent Pub in Balham is a strong advocate for women’s football and has teamed up with the South London Laces on multiple occasions to host events, parties and most recently, the team’s end-of-season celebrations.

Jack Ellis, Manager at The Regent

Last year, The Regent saw dozens of people head to the boozer to watch the Euros, and Jack Ellis, pub manager at The Regent, says the pub is looking forward to showing the Women’s World Cup this summer, which starts on July 20, 2023.

The Regent Pub in Balham

He told the News Shopper: “The big action last summer was the women’s Euros, which we wanted to focus on and partner with a local women’s team to build an atmosphere – which we made with the South London Laces.

“We will do our best to show all of the Women’s World Cup games this year, depending on the trading hours, and will definitely show all of the England games.

“We really want to celebrate the women’s game for the whole month and show as much coverage as possible.

Watch the celebrations of the Women's Euros at The Regent Pub in Balham

(Video credit: Jack Ellis/The Regent Pub)

“The women’s games have been so inspiring for the next generation, and communities are really great with supporting everyone.

“Historically, men’s football has always done well with support, but women’s clubs are usually newly formed and starting from the routes up.

“So please, come down, support, and get involved throughout the tournament.”

Aimee McIntosh, midfielder at the South London Laces, told the News Shopper that The Regent is a “safe space” for all of team, and are “so passionate” about the women’s game – not just football, but women’s sports in general.

Can the South London Laces hit the crossbar?

@newsshopper Less than two months until the Women's World Cup begins ⚽️⚽️⚽️ In honour of the upcoming tournament, we visited the @southlondonlaces training grounds to ask why football is important for women in local communties. And to see if any of them could hit the crossbar 👀👀 #football #sportsmoments #sportsontiktok #southlondon #womensworldcup2023 #fifa ♬ Three Lions (Football's Coming Home) - Baddiel, Skinner & Lightning Seeds

She said: “Since my time with Laces, I’ve really seen the impact of the pub – the team really look after us.

“It’s important for local communities to have these safe spaces because it allows us to build communities within communities.

“We’re all looking out for each other.

“Even simple things like we know we can go down to The Regent and watch the footie on the tele, have a couple of drinks and food, and enjoy the game without no prejudice or comments from other punters.”