About — Isleham United Youth FC

Who We Are

Isleham United Youth Football Club is a community grassroots club based in Isleham, Cambridgeshire. We run 30 Teams across girls, boys and women's football, catering for players from U5 through to senior women's level.

We are affiliated to The Football Association and Cambridgeshire FA. Every coach at IUYFC holds an FA qualification and a valid enhanced DBS certificate. The club holds FA Charter Standard accreditation and is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and enjoyable environment for every player.

We believe football is for everyone. Whether your child is picking up a ball for the first time or has years of club experience, there is a team here for them.

Club at a Glance

Founded: Isleham, Cambridgeshire
Teams: 30
Age Groups: U5 – Senior
Affiliation: The FA · Cambs FA
Accreditation: FA Charter Standard 2-Star
Ground: 32 Mill St, Isleham CB7 5RY

Affiliated With

FA Charter Standard — 2-Star Accreditation

FA Qualified Coaches

Every team manager holds a minimum FA Level 1 qualification. We support coaches in progressing their education.

DBS Checked

All coaches, managers and volunteers who work with children hold a valid enhanced DBS certificate.

Inclusive Club

We adhere to the FA Respect programme. All players, parents and officials are expected to demonstrate positive behaviour.

Cambridgeshire FA Affiliation

Isleham United Youth FC is a fully affiliated member of Cambridgeshire FA. Our affiliation confirms we meet The Football Association's standards for governance, safeguarding, coaching qualifications and club administration.

Cambridgeshire FA provides the club with league registration, cup competitions, coach education and welfare support. For county FA matters, visit cambridgeshirefa.com.

Safeguarding

Our Commitment

The welfare of every child and young person at IUYFC is our highest priority. We follow The Football Association's Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures without exception.

Club Welfare Officer in post
All staff and volunteers DBS checked before working with children
Safeguarding training completed annually
Clear procedures for reporting concerns
FA Respect code of conduct applied at all fixtures

Reporting a Concern

If you have a safeguarding concern about a child at IUYFC, please contact our Club Welfare Officer directly or report via The FA's safeguarding team. Concerns are taken seriously and handled in confidence.

You can also report concerns to the NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000 or the FA Safeguarding team via 0800 169 1863.

Full Safeguarding Policy

Club Committee

Steve Isaacson

Club Secretary

FA registered club secretary

Livi Caffarelli

Chair

Club Chair

Rob Drum

Vice Chair

Treasurer

Vacancy

Club Treasurer

Want to volunteer for the committee? Get in touch.

Founding Member & Life Vice-President

How It All Started

Isleham United Youth FC was founded in 1999 by Marco Caffarelli, who remains the club's Life Vice-President to this day. The reason was straightforward: the clubs around the village were cherry-picking only their best players. Marco's son wasn't the best, but he wanted to play. So did a lot of other children. So the club was formed.

The first season ran with one team. The second had two, then six, then the club simply took off, doubling in size year on year. Around the same time, the village was going through a difficult period of vandalism. In the second year of the club's existence, it stopped. People were happy. Children were playing football.

"Every child has the right to play football."

The founding principle of IUYFC, 1999.

Marco credits two people with shaping the values he brought to the club. Brenda Ince OBE and Philip Brasher were, in his words, the two great people he learned everything he needed to know from. Their influence is visible throughout how IUYFC is run: inclusivity, equal time, and putting children first.

Marco Caffarelli

Life Vice-President, IUYFC
Founding Member, 1999
Former Mini Soccer League official
FA qualified
Former Sunday Tucker Gardner League

The People Who Built It

The management committee met at The Merry Monk, where Adrian the owner would put on a light bite while they worked through club business. Together they rewrote some of the club's constitutions. The FA later adopted their work. The tournament was started by Mel Cummins and Jo Harvey, who got it off the ground in its early years and built what it has become today.

In the club's fourth year, Mark Goldsack started women's football at IUYFC, opening the game up to girls and women in the village at a time when that wasn't the norm. It was the beginning of what is now one of the strongest parts of the club.

Marco Caffarelli

Founder

Dave Fitchet

Founding Committee

Mark Goldsack

Founding Committee · Started Women's Football

Paul Mulgrew

Founding Committee

Craig Boneham

Founding Committee

In Marco's Words

"Isleham has a great set-up: youth through to adults in football and cricket, all three clubs fundraising toward the same goal. The children are the future. Let them play, let them be children. My proudest moments are watching the little ones and the big ones smiling and laughing together. I love this village, the clubs, and everything they represent."

Marco Caffarelli, Founding Member and Life Vice-President

Clubhouse

IUYFC is Powered by SHOT Clubhouse

SHOT Clubhouse & Sported UK Grant — £35,000 per annum

We are proud recipients of the SHOT Clubhouse and Sported UK grant programme, gifting the club £35,000 worth of licences per annum. That means pro development tracking, coach feedback tools, match scheduling, team communication and parent visibility — all at no cost to the club. SHOT Clubhouse is a United Nations member, with global ambassadors including Jack Hinshelwood.