“Having Alessia Russo come back to the club to encourage the girls to stick at what they’re doing and tell her stories was a fantastic achievement for us.”

On this month’s episode of the Kent Football Show, which can be viewed here,  Bearsted Football Club Chair Jamie Houston tells host Charlotte Richardson about how the Arsenal and England forward continues to inspire the next generation at her former club.

His interview is one of a number of features in an action-packed edition of our award-winning YouTube programme, which celebrates positive news stories in football from across the county - brought to you slightly earlier than usual due to the festive period.

On the show, Jamie describes how one of his proudest achievements as chair is witnessing the one-time Bearsted youth player’s rise to the very top of the women’s game - winning EURO 2022 with the Lionesses and playing in the UEFA Women’s Champions League with the Gunners - but remaining humble when she returned to her childhood club to meet young female players earlier this year.

“To have someone like Alessia linked to the club - and if I’m honest I didn’t realise how successful she was going to become, going on to become professional and represent her country as one of our star players - is amazing,” Jamie tells the Kent Football Show.

“Having her come back to the club to encourage the girls to stick at what they’re doing and tell her stories - and to see how humble and lovely she is - was a fantastic achievement for us, so being chairman of the club where Alessia started is hugely rewarding.”

Jamie also describes how the Alessia-factor has helped to grow the female division within Bearsted FC.

“We don’t just focus on the first team, although obviously that’s what we want all the children to aspire to play for one day; we also want to focus on the youngsters and the girls’ side of the club.

“We had no girls’ teams two or three years ago and we now have four girls’ teams and girls that are mixed in with the boys as well.

“There’s also the Bear Cubs on a Saturday, when it’s amazing to see five and six-year-old boys and girls running around just out in the fresh air enjoying football.”

Volunteers play a key role in the successful running of Bearsted FC, which is in its 129th year, and Jamie encourages potential volunteers to first pop along on a matchday to get a feel for the club.

“I love seeing people’s reactions.

“I often stand by the gate and I see a lot of people walk in and they get that wow factor, as it’s a beautiful pitch with nice surroundings.”

In return for contributing time and skills to the club, Bearsted FC’s volunteers benefit from being part of the club’s welcoming social network.

“They’re getting to meet new people, out in the fresh air and I can’t think of any negatives, it’s all positives.”

Also on December’s episode of the Kent Football Show, sponsored by Kent Reliance, we:

• Catch up with the Kent Disability Football League
• Release the DFDS Kent Senior Cup semi-final draw
• Talk 50th anniversary celebrations with the East Kent Youth Football League
• Support Barming Youth FC Under-14 Colts, as they take on the Ultimate Target
  Challenge
• Head over to the Kent Women’s Futsal League with Rebecca Moore
• Showcase some incredible volunteers from across the Kent game
• And finally, test your understand of the laws of the game

Don’t miss out on this month’s episode - available now on YouTube. Watch it here

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay up to date with future episodes.

Does your club have a story to share? Get in touch here and we could be coming to you in the New Year.

In the meantime, have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year from everyone at Kent FA.