Have you ever watched a young team pull itself together against the odds and thought, “That deserves proper backing”?
That’s exactly how I felt about Tattenhoe FC Under 13 Yellows.
This wasn’t a team that had everything lined up neatly before the season kicked off; far from it.
The group was formed after three teams folded, bringing together players who had been left without a side and, in some cases, those who had been told they weren’t wanted elsewhere.
They didn’t even have a full squad until the night before their first game, and for those early matches, they played in bibs while their first kit was being crowdfunded. Even after being placed in the wrong division and bringing in new players mid-season (including my son, Levi), they still managed to dig in and stay up.
So when a friend of the manager, Tim Penn, and I had the chance to support the team with two new kits, it felt like an easy decision. Not for the photo opportunity, but for the players, families, and coaches who had already shown exactly what grassroots football is all about.
Why We’re Backing Tattenhoe FC Under 13 Yellows
Tattenhoe FC Under 13 Yellows now play in Division 5 of The Milton Keynes & District Development League, but I don’t think league placement is the most interesting part of their story.
What matters more is what happened after that difficult first season. Once the group had a bit more stability, the players kicked on in a way that probably surprised a few people. Their confidence grew, their results improved, and the team that had been thrown together under pressure started to look like a proper unit.
That’s what I love about grassroots football. Progress is rarely neat, and it doesn’t always show up straight away. Sometimes it takes a few tough weekends, a lot of patience from the coaches, and a group of players slowly realising they’re better than they felt at the start of the season.
The Story Before the Success
If you’re not familiar with Tattenhoe FC Under 13 Yellows, let me break it down for you.
Their first season was messy, as grassroots sport often is.
The team was placed in the wrong division, which made the challenge larger than expected. They had to bring in players halfway through the season and fight hard to stay up. That kind of season can test a group, especially at the under-13 level, where confidence can swing quickly.
But they stayed in it. And staying up after that kind of start says a lot about the people involved. It says the coaches didn’t give up. It says the players kept listening. It says the families continued backing them, even when the season felt chaotic.
Before redrose.digital and Tim Penn sponsored the new kits, this team had already found a way to look like a side through a crowdfunded first kit. For a young player, wearing the same shirt as your teammates gives you a sense of belonging. It tells you that you’re part of something.
The 24/25 Season Changed Everything
Then came the 2024/2025 season.
After losing the first game of the season, the Yellows went on a 23-game winning run. Across both competitions, they scored 123 goals and conceded 31. The Yellows finished strong and won their league with 3 games in hand, and completed a league and cup double with a 5-1 victory in the cup final at Bedford Town FC. That’s the kind of achievement that deserves celebrating.
By any measure, it turned into a brilliant season, and the numbers are pretty impressive:
- A 23-game winning run after losing the opening match.
- 123 goals scored and 31 conceded across both competitions.
- A cup won entirely on a run away from home.
- A 5-1 cup final win at Bedford Town FC.
- They won their league with 3 games to spare.
Personally, the part I like most is that they won the cup playing every away game. And for a team that once played in bibs, that’s just such a brilliant turnaround.
Why Kit Sponsorship Still Means Something
I know kit sponsorship is often treated as a small community gesture. A business logo on a shirt, a photo with the players, and everyone moves on.
I don’t see it that way.
For grassroots teams, kit sponsorship can remove a real financial pressure. It means parents aren’t always being asked to find extra money. It gives players a kit they’re proud to wear and tells a young team that local people and businesses are paying attention.
The FA’s own grassroots strategy outlines the positive outcomes grassroots football can create, including increased confidence, greater participation, and stronger local communities. That matches what I’ve seen around teams like this. When a club gives young people a place to belong, the impact reaches beyond matchday.
That’s why, together with Tim Penn, I was proud to provide two fantastic kits for the team. We were backing a team that had already earned respect through effort.
The Cup Final at Bedford Town FC
Of course, the best part of backing a team like this is getting to see moments that make all the hard work feel worth it.
The cup final finished 5-1 at Bedford Town FC, and the support was fantastic. Friends and family came out in numbers, and at this age, that’s a big deal.
Considering where they started, achieving a 5-1 win in a cup final definitely didn’t happen by accident. The players turned up, handled the occasion, and gave the families watching something brilliant to celebrate. For a team that had such a difficult start, that must have felt pretty special.
There’s a marketing lesson in there too, actually. The strongest stories are rarely neat at the beginning. They’re usually full of setbacks, adjustments, missed chances, and people figuring things out as they go.
That’s true in business, and it’s definitely true in grassroots football.
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