Fed member hopes football tournament will help get local kids off the streets

12 May 2023

A Nottinghamshire Police Federation member who credits her passion for football for keeping her on the right track as a youngster says her experience is the driving force behind a community event she is organising.

Former Nottingham Forest captain Jemma Connor-Iommi, who is now the manager of Great Britain Police’s Women’s side, is working on the final preparations for a two-day football tournament, that will see more than 600 local young people come together and compete.

The defender, who also played for the likes of Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion in the Women’s Super League, and the Republic of Ireland, is hoping that the tournament will give troubled and vulnerable youngsters the platform they need to change the direction of their lives.

“My love for football and the dedication I had to the game is what kept me on the right track. In fact, the only reason I’ve led this life is because of football.

“I disliked school, and the only reason I managed to stay in mainstream education was because of football,” says 37-year-old mother-of-one, Jemma, a sergeant with the Force who became an officer just over four years ago.

Jemma with her son Tayo

“The estate I grew up in was fuelled with crime and drugs. If I hadn’t discovered football, then my life would’ve been completely different.  

“Now, I’m living my dream in policing, I feel like I’m living proof of what can be achieved if you find something you love no matter what you face when growing up - and I hope that inspires young people who come to the tournament. I want to show them you can live out your dreams

This is the second football event of its kind following the success of a debut tournament organised by Jemma last year. 

“I want to use football as a tool to get these kids off the streets, just as it was for me,” she continued.

“To be honest, getting ‘buy in’ from the Force wasn’t easy at the beginning. I know it was a big risk to take for them because the kids that I targeted to take part were those that don’t normally engage with the police or may have had negative experiences with police previously. I kind of put my neck on the line for it because I believed in the value it could bring to the city’s young people. 

“However, last year’s event was such a success, so we’re going even bigger this year.” 

Jemma explained that on the back of last year 12 young people have since joined a Football Academy, with another young man due to start his placement in the IT department at Nottinghamshire Police.

“This year’s tournament will see youngsters from a diverse range of communities and backgrounds joining us, ranging from aged 10 to 17,” said Jemma.

“And the best bit is we even have 10 girls’ teams coming along, which is massive and something I’m incredibly proud of. It’s definitely time to shine a light on women’s football. 

“Seeing what these young people get out of the event, it’s worth every second of the hard work I put in.”

Jemma played for Forest, Aston Villa and WBA

Jemma hopes that many of those who will be taking part will be able to relate to her. 

She said: “I hope that those attending will be able to see and hear that I’m genuine. I want them to see that I was just like them, I know what challenges they are facing.” 

More recently, Jemma has successfully applied for the ‘PC to inspector fast-track programme’, a scheme which enables candidates to progress to the ranks of sergeant and then inspector within just two years. 

“This is a huge personal achievement for me. I was classed as useless at school, I spent my entire childhood struggling to learn, mainly because I was dyslexic and that was never picked up. But look at me now - it’s like I’m living in a different world,” said Jemma.

“I hope that some of those who take part in the tournament look back and say it turned their life around.” 

The tournament will be taking place at Clifton Playing Fields during the second weekend in June and will see local colleges, organisations and community groups also attending, so the participants to engage with them too.