Birmingham Tigers FC

Birmingham Tigers Football Club, is a Community project with a goal to develop young talented players from the deprived wards in Birmingham and compete against non-league football clubs. The idea originated from identifying the need to become a pathway for Youngsters, to be scouted by bigger clubs and develop their footballing careers. Having a direct link and support from London Tigers FC, who are a semi-pro football club presently playing at step 5 of the FA National league system and competing in the FA Cup with many of their club players being scouted to play professionally, nationally and even being called for international duties:

http://www.londontigers.org/sports/football/teams/london-tigers-fc/

Birmingham Tigers have been working closely with their branch and role model, London Tigers to develop the club and make steps towards entering into the Midlands League, which is the feeder football league into the semi-professional football arena in the West Midlands, over the past few years. http://full-time.thefa.com/Index.do?league=6125369

In 2009, the organisation engaged with young people from the various inner city deprived areas, forming a steering committee across Birmingham to find out what young people really wanted. It became apparent that they loved the sport of football but felt they did not receive the opportunities in their youth to be spotted because they did not have the support or resources or direction to develop their footballing careers any further. Young People aged between 16-24 years old wanted to develop their footballing skills and compete higher than the amateur football leagues in Birmingham. They did not want to retire from football winning just amateur football trophies and cup competitions, they wanted to able to tell their grandchildren that they have played for this club, on this ground and participated in the prestigious FA Cup. They aspired to become Semi-Professional football players, with their dreams of playing in the FA Cup and continuing to develop to a professional standard, whilst studying or working full or part time.

They believed that they were only saturated opportunities in Birmingham to transform the lives of young and fulfil these ambitions and dreams, especially after the ages of 16. Existing semi pro clubs were over-subscribed with Players and were not interested in taking on anymore as they had full squads for the season. Thus the project was created ‘Birmingham Tigers Semi-Pro Project’ in 2009 along with the befitting Tigers moto ‘Creating Opportunities and Transforming Lives’.

Ever since then, Volunteers and Coaches from Birmingham Tigers have been driven by the same Vision and Passion, as the Players and the Young Peoples Steering Committee set up in 2009. The Management, Coaches who that been Volunteering since 2009 have been working extremely hard to make this dream a reality. Currently the Club is playing in the Birmingham Amateur Football Association and hopes to spend a few more seasons with in this league before entering the Midlands Combination League. The Home Stadium of the Tigers is in Yardley, Birmingham.

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(Embed Map- 21 Sedgemere Road, Yardley B26 2AX)

Lack of Finance, Facility and Structure

After conducting preliminary research and liaising with other Clubs in the Community. Many of the established clubs saw playing a league cup final at a professional stadium as being the highlight of their footballing careers or playing against their local rivals. Playing with aging teams and in their particular period in their lives, they felt they lost the hunger and desire.

It became apparent the key reasons why other Amateur Football Clubs were not pursuing or continuing to develop further into a Semi-pro Club status and this was largely due to their lack of finance, facility and structure. Based on this knowledge, the Tigers have acted and secured a pitch worthy of playing in the semi-pro league, started attracting more local sponsorship through marketing campaigns and have structured the club more in line with London Tigers FC, to ensure the added responsibilities is distributed within the team of Volunteers, respectively.

Sponsorship

The Club is always on the lookout for potential New Sponsors to support their cause and who understand the Goal, Vision and Ambition of the Tigers. If you are interested in Sponsoring the Club, please send an email to info@birminghamtigers.org. Birmingham Tigers would like to thank TOA Taxes http://www.toataxis.co.uk for their belief and sponsorship support in the 2015/2016 season and hope they continue their support, along with other New Sponsors for the new up and coming footballing season. Trying to enter into the semi-pro division requires financial support from Sponsors from the Community, be apart and make the dream of these Young people come closer to be a reality.

Support the Tigers

Why not show your support for the Vision and Ambition of this local youth project by attending and supporting the team. This will boost their morale knowing that the community is behind their local club and is cheering them on. We are also launching the Tigers merchandise to fundraise for the club and the Tigers App for the tablet and mobile devices to be always up to date with the club on the go.

Fixtures & Results