The Story of ‘Sports Fun 4 All’ with Kieran Connolly

In our recent podcast episode, Emily Formby sat with Kieran Connolly, Founder and CEO of Sports Fun 4 All. His path wasn’t neatly planned. It was a slow, sometimes uncertain climb that turned into something meaningful.

When Kieran talks about his journey, he doesn’t sound like a man reading from a script. His words come with pauses, a little laughter, and that unmistakable honesty that comes only when someone has truly lived their story.

The Early Days

After finishing university in America, Kieran came home unsure about what came next.

“I wasn’t really thinking about going into professional football coaching,”

he recalls. At the time, it just didn’t seem like a realistic career. He picked up small jobs, some in sports, others in youth work, always staying close to people and communities.

There was one summer when he ran a college gym at just 22. He laughs about it now. “I didn’t have a qualification for it, but I somehow convinced them I could do it.” It wasn’t the dream job, but it kept him grounded. Those early experiences, although scattered, taught him more about working with people than any textbook ever could.

Finding Direction Through Community

The real change came when he joined the Crystal Palace Community Scheme as a Social Inclusion Project Officer. For the first time, all his interests, sport, mentoring, and community engagement, came together.

Those two years gave him more than a job title. They gave him clarity. The idea of creating something of his own started to grow quietly in his mind. He once told his manager, almost in passing, that he might like to start a project like this one day. He didn’t realize then how important that thought would become.

The Birth of Sports Fun 4 All

After moving through roles with London Youth and London Sport, Kieran noticed a pattern. He was helping small community groups get funding and structure, but most of them never followed through. That realization sparked something.

He remembers the moment clearly.

“I was giving all these organisations all this support, but they weren’t doing it because they had full-time jobs or just didn’t have the time. So I thought, why am I spending all this time trying to help other people? I may as well set up my own organisation.”

That thought became action. In 2015, he registered Sports Fun 4 All. It didn’t fully take shape until a year later when he secured local funding and began running community football sessions. There were no banners or big launches, just a few kids, a ball, and a lot of belief.

Growing Through Challenges

For years, Kieran worked full time during the day and ran sessions in the evenings and weekends. He coached, managed, did the paperwork, and made sure everyone showed up. It was hard work, but it never felt wasted.

When the pandemic hit, everything stopped. Sessions were cancelled, and the pitches went silent. Instead of stepping back, Kieran used the downtime to get organised. He set up payroll, built a team, and started planning for what Sports Fun 4 All could look like once the world reopened.

When that time finally came, over 40 children showed up at their first post-lockdown session. That day reminded him why he started. It was never about scale or recognition. It was about creating spaces where young people could feel they belonged.

The Phases of Growth

Looking back, Kieran describes the journey as a series of steps. Each phase taught him something new about leadership, community, and himself.

1. Hands-on Hustle
He did everything himself, from coaching to handling attendance sheets and parent calls.

2. Learning to Delegate
Letting others take over sessions was difficult at first. But it allowed the organisation to grow beyond him.

3. Building Systems
He turned Sports Fun 4 All into a registered charity, complete with payroll, branding, and structure.

4. Scaling with Purpose
The team expanded to run multiple sessions across different boroughs.

5. Empowering Others
Former participants became volunteer coaches, continuing the cycle of giving back.

Each phase brought its own emotional challenges. It was his way of learning that growth sometimes means stepping aside so others can lead.

From Coach to Leader

One of the hardest transitions was moving from being the coach on the pitch to leading an organisation from the side-lines. Kieran had to trust others to make decisions and represent his vision. There was no mentor guiding him through it, just instinct and reflection.

“Before COVID, I couldn’t delegate,” he says honestly.

“I had to learn it. Now I’m not perfect, but I can definitely do it more, and that’s a sign of growth.”

Where Things Stand Now

Today, Sports Fun 4 All runs seventeen free weekly sessions across five London boroughs. More than fifteen coaches lead those sessions, many of whom once attended them as children. It’s no longer just a community project. It’s a legacy of inclusion and opportunity.

From one small pitch in Downham to a network of thriving community sessions, Kieran’s story isn’t just about sport. It’s about perseverance, humility, and the quiet power of doing something that matters.

Key Takeaway

Kieran’s journey reminds us that you don’t have to start with a perfect plan. You just need to start with intention. Growth rarely looks glamorous in the beginning. It’s a mix of small wins, long nights, and moments when you almost give up. But if you keep showing up, like Kieran did, you’ll eventually build something that stands on its own, something that speaks for you long after you’ve stepped off the field.