Returning to our website after an extended break on the A20 Riviera (between the bookies’ and the bookshop on Lee High Road), The Greenwich Wire‘s special correspondent MERCURY MAN put his boots on and met a side who are changing the face of football in southeast London…
If you live and faff in Lee, as I do these days, you’re bound to miss Deptford High Street and cherish the memories of the place and the people.
People as diverse as ‘Ted the Head’ and Father Diamond, not to mention the tree they planted for the ace Mercury reporter Pat Greenwood, who many years ago guided The Greenwich Wire‘s editor through a week of work experience at Greenwich and Lewisham’s long-gone newspaper.
But, as every septuagenarian knows before he tends to forget, it’s the young that matter. So I’d like to tell you all about Deptford’s new and exciting football club, especially as it concerns a group of people who have had to battle for centuries to get their points across, namely women.
The Deptford Ravens started out as a kick-about group as recently as April last year. But now they have a community of about 200 – two hundred! – soccer enthusiasts.
Their founder was the wonderfully-named Alice Devine so, apart from taking one for the team here and there, I’ll let Alice fill you in:
“The River Ravensbourne runs into Deptford, which is how we chose our name. Our ethos is all about community, fun and inclusivity. We wanted to be a place for women, non-binary and trans people to play football in SE London — maybe to try it for the first time, experience the joy of playing in a non-judgmental environment or just come and attempt to do some exercise!
“We were somewhat inspired by east London’s LGBTQ+ group, Queerspace, which holds open kick-about meet-ups for queer folk in Victoria Park. We wanted a local group in southeast London for women of any sexuality, which also holds the important inclusive values practiced so well by many queer communities, like Queerspace.”
The Deptford Ravens prioritise community spirit over competitive spirit, Alice says. “Whilst we love winning games, we generally always feel like we have won because we have so much fun when we play. Our team has been comprised of as many as 30 rotating players, plus a community of 100 people in our kickabout group.
“We run our weekly sessions as open-access with the aim to give as many players as we can the chance to play in games and leagues, made possible by leagues like Clubs United in east London, who offer inclusive spaces.
“We train once a week at Deptford Lounge after we were awarded a grant by Lewisham Council. We play in three 5-a-side leagues, on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, as well as playing occasional 11-a-side friendlies on Hackney Marshes. This wouldn’t be possible without our brilliant coaches and volunteers.
“Our ethos remains as it has been since the start, allowing people of all ages and abilities to play and never selecting teams based on ability.”
The Ravens have been proud to support a number of causes, too, such as joining fellow Ravens on strike picket lines with the National Education Union. They’ve also paraded their skills at Strikers for Strikers, a tournament held to raise hardship funds for University College London security and cleaning staff.
“We do lots socially as well,” says Alice. “Including watching Women’s Super League, Women’s Championship and Women’s Champions League matches.”Recently, we linked up with the brilliant folk at The Ivy House in Nunhead and the Albany cafe in Deptford to organise screenings of matches throughout the Women’s World Cup in partnership with Bend It Like Peckham and Lush Lyfe FC. Tese were extremely well-attended and enjoyable family-friendly occasions.
“‘Even before we had a name we did the same during Women’s Euro 2022. It’s hard to believe now that it was just a few of us as we now have around 200 people in the Ravens. And more people continue to get in touch about joining.
“‘Our coaches are experienced players who have been playing all their lives. They haven’t got FA qualifications but are the envy of a lot of other clubs because they have masses of empathy, understanding and amazing positivity, as well as great skills. It’s not always been easy, but we’ve loved the past 18 months and are looking forward to creating many more happy memories in future.”
To find out more about the Ravens, email thedeptfordravens[at]gmail.com and follow their adventures on Instagram @deptford_ravens.
Mercury Man talks to SE Londoners with interesting tales to tell. Read his past stories.
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