More than a football club.

The St. Matthew’s Project is much more than a football club.

We deliver a wide range of activities and development opportunities, supporting young people at school, on the estate and on the pitch.

About Us

Our Reach

IN THE COMMUNITY

A WEEK

EACH WEEK

350

EACH WEEK

FORMER PARTICIPANTS

12000

PER YEAR

Our Activities

Our Impact

Our young people have improved outcomes that extend well beyond participation in sport.

We’ve witnessed improved confidence and self-esteem, stronger communication and teamwork skills developed through structured coaching and mentoring. Our regular participants have better physical health, mental wellbeing, and emotional resilience, and we support our participants manage stress and make positive choices.

Over time, access to mentoring and leadership pathways can lead to greater employability, qualifications, and progression into education, training, or coaching roles, creating sustainable long-term impact for both individuals and the wider community.

Rohannie

Rohannie first came into contact with the St. Matthew’s Project at age 12.

From there she became a regular attendee at our girls-only Saturday Club sessions.

Like many other young people at SMP, she followed the volunteer-coach pathway, gaining her F.A Level-1 coaching certificate and eventually starting a paid part-time role, back coaching at the girls-only Saturday Club sessions and at the mixed Saturday Club sessions in Brockwell Park. Rohannie has gone on to gain her UEFA C Licence in coaching with SMP and took up the role of SMFC U10s manager in the 2025-26 season.

Currently studying at St. Mary’s University, she is also the manager of Bart’s Women’s FC (St. Bartholomew’s Hospital). Rohannie is a shing example of what we try to achieve at SMP and we are all extremely proud of her progress.

Alimamy

Alimamy first came to SMP when he was 13 and played with SMFC up to under 16 level.

As a result of his positive attitude and clear leadership skills, he was selected by his peers to become one of our Youth Board members. In this role, he has helped to shape the future of the project, guided by his strong belief in our community.

SMP has supported Alimamy in gaining his coaching qualifications, and helped him develop his employability skills, and he is now the manager of our under 11s team. We know he will flourish in this role as he is an exceptional leader with a bright future.

Everyone at SMP is extremely proud of Alimamy’s progress and we look forward to supporting him as he continues to grow.

Latest news

by The SMP May 8, 2026

AGM 2026

We will be holding our AGM on Tuesday June 2nd 2026.

News

by The SMP April 28, 2026

We’re hiring!

The St Matthew’s Project is looking for a passionate and experienced Wellbeing and Outreach Worker to help strengthen our trauma-informed approach and support young people through our Fit 4 Life programme.

News

by Lee Dema March 30, 2026

SMFC Seniors book place in final!

Congratulations and a massive well done to SMFC Seniors who reached the final of the Donovan Thomas Cup in the Southern Sunday League.

Football, News, SMFC

'The St Matthew's Project has been doing amazing work bringing our young people together through football and other activities for the best part of twenty years. During this whole time, they've stayed absolutely rooted in our community and true to their principles. It's hard to overstate the amount of hard work and care that goes into running these sessions. I'm so grateful to Lee and the team for their relentless focus on seeing the potential in all our young people and helping them to fulfil it.’

Bell Ribeiro, MP for Streatham

My son has seen his communication skills improve and he is able now to speak to adults with confidence. And thanks to the Youth Board, he is responsible, proactive and delegates at home as if he is in charge.

Mum of 15 year old participant

My journey with SMP can be defined by the opportunities it has given me—not only in football but also in my career. SMP has given me fundamental experiences (confidence, leadership, and communication skills) needed to thrive in any setting, especially during my formative years. SMP's ethos—shaping the futures of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds—has influenced me to pursue a career in education and community development. I am immensely grateful for what SMP has done for me.