Burbank / North Hollywood, CA — TK–1st (2026–27 School Year)
A relaxed Saturday morning soccer meetup for kids. No drills, no pressure and no experience required – it's mostly fun games with a soccer ball, lots of running around, and building confidence with new friends.
Why we started this
Me and my daughter Amina tried a few soccer classes and they all felt a bit too serious for kids just encountering the game. Lots of drills, waiting around, and pressure to do it right — not always that much fun when your child is still learning the basics.
I grew up in the Isle of Man, in the UK, where every spare bit of grass was a football pitch. Football Friends Club is my attempt to recreate those Saturday mornings for kids growing up here.
So we decided to do something simpler: a weekly football meetup based around play — lots of running around, getting used to the ball, playing games, making friends, and the players actually enjoying themselves. There are some football basics mixed in, but the idea is that the kids almost won't even realise they're learning.
No rigid structure. Sessions are relaxed, parent-attended, and designed around kids who are still figuring out the game.
Balls are usually involved in every game we play but they're part of the fun, the kids aren't standing in lines waiting for a turn. Learning happens, they just won't notice.
Every level welcome. Never touched a ball before? Perfect. We're here to enjoy it, not nail technique or compete for spots.
Parents are present for the whole session and welcome to jump in alongside the younger ones who need a bit of encouragement.
Come whenever you feel like it. No sign-up, no obligation to show up every week — just turn up when it works for you.
End of every session
Every session ends the same way — a chaotic game of British Bulldogs. Kids vs parents. I’ve tried to find an American equivalent — maybe Red Rover? — but there’s nothing quite like it.
Never played? You’ll pick it up in about ten seconds. Just stretch first. Trust me.
A football-obsessed British dad who grew up playing on any patch of grass he could find. Andy started Football Friends Club because he wanted his daughter to fall in love with the game the same way he did — through fun, not drills.
Amina is the reason Andy set up cones in an empty field one Saturday morning, and the reason it turned into something much bigger. She's the assistant coach and dreams of one day being a professional goalkeeper.
The details
Bring water and sunscreen. Wear tight-fitting sneakers or cleats. No crocs (sorry!).
Before you play
Before your child's first session, please fill in our participation form — it covers liability and media consent, and you only need to do it once.
Football Friends Club is not a drop-off activity. Parents and guardians are required to remain present for all sessions.
Andy & Amina Blackburn
No commitment, no pressure. Just come along and play.
footballfriends.clubQuestions? andy@footballfriends.club
Interested but outside the age range? Register your interest here