The Russell Martin Foundation

The Russell Martin Foundation is poised to launch a 5-a-side Friday lunchtime football league. A registered charity based in Brighton and Hove, it uses the power of football to help change people’s lives. Set up by professional footballer Russell Martin, it is all about giving something back to the city where he was born.  

Originally a football academy for young people, the organisation became a foundation to broaden its scope into areas such as education and health. This has enabled it to fulfil Russell’s original idea of not only encouraging people to play football but also offering a wide range of educational and health improvement programmes. 

Russell was keen to find suitable staff for the organisation and recruited ex-professional footballers Sergio Torres and Jay Lovett. 

For Jay it was an ideal opportunity to further his career after having played football for a number of years as a professional and in non-league. 

He said: “I decided to put myself through my coaching badges, including my A Licence. I started out working in football community schemes, in areas such as social inclusion and after school clubs, and then progressed on to development and elite centres and then academy football. I have now been coaching for over 15 years and have worked with all age groups and abilities – from five-year olds to adult football. 

“When the opportunity to work with RMF came up I jumped at the chance to help the organisation get involved in lots of different programmes and grow – especially as it is based in my home town. My main role and responsibilities at RMF are to recruit and run the Varndean College programme, which combines full–time education and football.” 

In September 2018, Russell appointed Alan Sanders as Chief Executive. He had previously been a director of registered charities at Brighton & Hove Albion and Charlton Athletic. Many years previously, he had at different times also been both Russell and Jay’s Brighton Boys’ district football team manager 

Alan and Jay came up with the idea of a business 5-a-side league on Friday lunchtimes. They met up with Sam Thomas, Managing Director of FirmBalls, for advice on the best way to run a league.  

Alan said: “Sam has been incredibly supportive in helping us set this up. I was well aware of the success he has had with his company FirmBalls and he was the natural person to go to.”

 He added: “It also made perfect sense to see if Friday Ad would want to be the main sponsor, given it was to be a Friday lunchtime league. I approached Sam Kidger at Friday Ad, who used to be a trustee at Albion in the Community where I used to work.”

The league starts on 2nd May and for businesses interested in participating please contact Jay Lovett jay.lovett@rmfoundation.co.uk