Kings Heath Concorde FC, Birmingham’s most renowned junior football club, is thrilled to announce that we have been rescued from a financial crisis by none other than our former player, Sone Aluko. The Hull City striker, who began his football journey with us, has generously donated £1,300, ensuring our survival until the end of the season.
Sone Aluko, a Kings Norton native, has not only provided immediate financial support but has also committed to helping us secure new sponsors. His dedication to our club, which has been a launchpad for many future football stars, is a testament to the impact we have on our players.
Sone, currently on international duty with Nigeria, reached out to us after learning about our financial struggles. He fondly reminisced about his time with Concorde, stating…
“Those were good days. I played for Concorde for a year-and-a-half when I was aged seven and eight. It was fun, you were playing with all your mates. In some ways, football was more fun than it is now. I couldn’t believe it when I read they were down to one team. In my day, there was a team for every age group – and a B team, too.””
Sone Aluko
The list of Premiership stars who honed their skills at Concorde includes Joleon Lescott, Darius Vassell and Jamaican international Paul Hall.
The current captain is Ryan Bramble, cousin of former Newcastle defender Titus Bramble.
Our club, once boasting multiple teams across various age groups, had been reduced to a single adult team due to the loss of our sponsor, Moto Services. Our manager, Russell Jukes, had been personally funding the team, which competes in the Midland Combination under-21 division, to keep us afloat.
Russell, who has invested £2,000 of his own money over the last two seasons, expressed his concerns about the club’s future…
“We used to have a coach for away games, but now we rely on lifts. I mark out the pitch before games. I do it because I love it. But we can’t keep on relying on players’ £5 subs for home games, and £10 for away. This great club’s future is in jeopardy. If we don’t find a sponsor, then the club will have to fold.”
Russell Jukes
Thanks to Sone Aluko’s intervention, Kings Heath Concorde FC now has a lifeline. We are immensely grateful for his support and look forward to working with him to secure a bright future for our club. We hope his story will inspire other former players and local businesses to get involved and support grassroots football in Birmingham.
