English grassroots team Spelthorne Rangers were welcomed to Slovenia by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin to play in a veterans’ game against a Slovenian legends team full of ex-Internationals earlier this year.
The Salmons are based in Shepperton, Surrey and were originally founded in 1990 by a group of friends, primarily from Spelthorne College, who have since played games in 30 countries around the world.
This has included matches against the likes of Boca Juniors in Argentina, Flamenco in Brazil, Brondby in Denmark, an Estonian FA team, Hearts of Midlothian at the Scotland national team centre Oriam in Edinburgh, Marseille and the Serbian FA in Belgrade.
And their most recent trip to Ljubljana took on an extra meaning to the team, following the loss of one of the player’s daughters, Helena, to suicide in 2022.
As a result, wherever the team travel for games they take personalised pebbles and tokens with Helena’s favourite butterfly to promote mental health, help others and celebrate her life.
Spelthorne Rangers player-manager and secretary Brian Astridge was welcomed to Wembley in October as a guest of FA Chair Debbie Hewitt MBE at England’s game with Greece, shortly after the trip to Slovenia the previous month.
“Football brings people together the whole world over, and we as a club want to help a little with our travels around the globe,” said Brian.
“I gave Mr Ceferin the pebble in our club colours before the game, when we exchanged pennants and shook hands and explained that one of players, Roy, suddenly lost his 19-year-old daughter Helena in 2022.
“This is a massive part of our lives and keeps us young in mind, with a real sense of strength and belonging in the good and bad times. Most of our families are great friends and it’s really all down to football.
“Our aim is to play in as many countries around the world as possible, making friends as we go and continuing to play the game we all love. Even now, most of the original players are in our early 50s but still playing eleven-a-side competitively.
“With the youthful outlook of our players, this has all been possible and we’re all really proud of this achievement.
“Our trips are all self-funded by each player and we have almost all of the original 1990 squad still playing, or those that can’t play, still come to stay part of our Salmon family.”
You can find out more about Spelthorne Rangers and their work here.
