Robert Nowak, a volunteer coach at Wessington Juniors, never imagined he would one day be standing on the touchline, organising matches and helping to run a squad of almost 30 teenage players.

His journey into grassroots football began when his youngest son, aged 10, told him he wanted to play football.

Despite contacting several clubs, Mr Nowak found it difficult to secure a place for his son because he had never previously played organised football.

Refusing to give up, he continued searching for opportunities before a chance encounter while walking his dog led him to Wessington Juniors, based in Victoria Park.

"My youngest son wanted to play football, and I quickly realised it wasn't always easy to find a club willing to take on a player who was starting later than others," said Mr Nowak.

Robert Nowak is championing grassroots sport with these promising talents! (Image: Robert Nowak)

Initially, Mr Nowak's involvement with the club was limited to supporting his son. A keen photographer, he offered to take photographs for the team and soon became the club's photographer.

However, during a football tournament, he noticed that his son's team had only one coach while other clubs had several volunteers helping players on matchdays.

After learning that additional volunteers were needed, he offered to help, despite having little football knowledge and no coaching experience.

Before long, he had become an assistant coach.

The project grew further when his eldest son, then aged 14, decided he also wanted to play football.

At the time, Wessington Juniors did not have a team for his age group, prompting Mr Nowak to approach club chairman Dave Pembridge with the idea of creating one.

Starting with just six players, the squad gradually expanded to eight before eventually reaching a full team.

After 11 months, the team entered league football.

More than a year later, the squad has grown to nearly 28 players, with four coaches now helping to support the group and provide opportunities for young footballers.

"There were people who doubted whether a team of teenagers would last," Mr Nowak said.

"But the boys kept coming, the squad kept growing and we're still moving forward.

"This is about much more than football results. It's about giving young people an opportunity, helping them build confidence, learn respect and teamwork, and create memories they'll carry with them for years."

Mr Nowak hopes sharing the team's story will encourage more parents and volunteers to get involved in grassroots sport.

He added: "You don't need to be an expert to make a difference. Sometimes you just need to be willing to step forward, learn along the way and give something a chance.

"It all started because my son wanted to play football. Now we're creating opportunities for nearly 30 young people, and we're only just getting started."