Teviot Rangers JFC were very happy to welcome former England and Arsenal Premier League footballer Theo Walcott to the club today as part of the new EE and The FA campaign highlighting the importance of positive role models for boys and young men both on and off the pitch.

Ahead of the World Cup, the EE and The FA campaign shines a light on the growing influence of social media on young people and the important role grassroots football clubs can play in building confidence, resilience, respect and belonging.

At Teviot Rangers JFC, we believe football is about far more than results. Every training session and matchday is an opportunity to provide young people with structure, encouragement, friendship and positive adult role models in a safe and supportive environment.

With teams ranging from our youngest players through to older teenagers, we understand how important it is that boys grow up surrounded by positive influences, strong values and healthy environments where they can thrive both as footballers and as young people.

The visit from Theo Walcott reinforced the message from EE and The FA that grassroots football clubs have a vital role to play in helping boys navigate the pressures of modern life and social media. In a world where young people are increasingly exposed to harmful online messaging, football clubs can provide real-life communities built around teamwork, discipline, respect and inclusion.

We were also delighted to welcome football fitness coach and content creator Josh Paul, who is supporting the campaign by helping provide positive, practical online content and guidance for young people through his passion for football and fitness.

In response, EE has launched the Mentor Badge, an online resource providing practical tools for role models and parents to help support boys on and off the pitch. Developed in partnership with online safety experts Internet Matters, and with support from the Home Nations’ Football Associations, the Mentor Badge features football coach and content creator Joshua Paul and includes videos, written content and practical guidance for coaches to support boys growing up online, helping them engage with positive, grounded models of masculinity while directly tackling the damaging impact of harmful online content.

Teviot Rangers JFC is proud of the work our volunteer committee, coaches and families do every week to create an atmosphere where all players feel valued, supported and encouraged to be the best version of themselves. We know there is always work to do but will keep focusing on making our club a positive impact on young people who come into contact with us in our own teams and those visiting Rose Cottage.

We were especially proud of our young players who met the media today and were interviewed by reporters from Sky Sports News, BBC and ITV.

We would like to thank Theo, Josh (both absolutely brilliant people who were more than generous with their time and knowledge) EE, The FA and everyone involved in the campaign for visiting the club and highlighting the positive impact grassroots football can have within local communities.

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