Samir & Tim’s Journey From Players to Community Leaders

Growing Up With a Love for the Game

Both Samir and Tim grew up with football at the centre of their lives. It wasn’t just a sport, it was a dream, a safe space, and a lifeline. They travelled the academy system, played semi-professionally, and dedicated countless hours to training, competing, and pushing themselves.

But alongside all the joy football brought, there were challenges. Coming from BAME backgrounds, they experienced barriers that often went unseen, lack of access, fewer opportunities, needing to work twice as hard to be noticed, and sometimes not feeling fully included.

These experiences shaped their understanding of the system… and planted the seeds for something much bigger.

Learning From the Barriers

The academy system can be brutal, full of talent, competition, high expectations, and pressure. But one thing became clear to both founders as they got older:

It wasn’t a lack of talent holding many young people back, it was a lack of opportunity.

Not enough access.
Not enough support.
Not enough people who believed in them.
Not enough role models who looked like them.

Samir and Tim saw it. They lived it.
And they decided they didn’t want the next generation to go through the same thing.

Strike Academy: The First Step

In 2023, they launched Strike Academy, a community football programme built to give young people in Harlow the chances they never had.

Their mission was simple:

• Remove barriers

• Open doors

• Support young talent

• Create a safe space

• Connect players to real opportunities

Most importantly, they wanted young people to feel seen, valued, and believed in.

Strike Academy quickly grew, and with it came something unexpected: a clearer picture of the wider challenges young people were facing beyond the pitch.

Realising the Mission Needed to Be Bigger

Families began to share more about their struggles, confidence, mental wellbeing, SEND challenges, lack of access to structured activities, and few safe places to develop creatively or socially.

Football was helping, but it wasn’t enough.

The founders realised they weren’t just running a football academy, they were responding to a deeper need in the community.

And that’s when the idea for SA Foundation began to take shape.

Building SA Foundation With Purpose

In 2024, SA Foundation officially launched, funded initially through Strike Academy, but driven by a much bigger vision.

A vision where every young person, regardless of background, ability, or circumstance, has a place to move, learn, express themselves, grow, and thrive.

Samir and Tim brought their lived experiences, their passion for youth empowerment, and their commitment to equality into every decision they made.

Their belief is simple:

If we create the right environments, young people will surprise everyone, including themselves.

Leading With Heart, Experience, and Authenticity

What makes our founders special isn’t just their experience in sport, it’s their ability to connect with young people on a personal level.

They’ve lived the barriers.
They’ve felt the pressure.
They’ve known what it’s like to want a chance but not know where to find it.

This authenticity shapes everything SA Foundation does today.

Looking Ahead

Samir and Tim’s journey is still unfolding, but their goal remains the same: empower young lives, strengthen communities, and make opportunity fairer for everyone.

They didn’t just start a charity, they started a movement.

And we’re only just getting started.