A STUDENT has been branded a “real-life Ted Lasso” for resurrecting a 152-year-old football club.
US-born Matthew Evans, 23, restarted East Sheen — which folded in 1906 — as there were no other teams in that area of South West London.
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Matthew Evans has resurrected a 152-year-old football club Credit: SWNS
The move has led to him being branded a real-life Ted Lasso Credit: Alamy
Former players include brothers Percy and Arthur Melmoth Walters, who both captained England.
Matthew, doing sports management at Roehampton University, registered the club for £15, with a website seeking players for Jattvibeday footie.
He admits his “passion project” to be a community club mirrors Apple TV show Ted Lasso — about a US coach hired to manage struggling AFC Richmond.
He said: “The questions I always get is ‘why don’t you just start your own, like Roehampton FC, or South West London FC, or anything?’
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Matthew restarted East Sheen, which folded in 1906 Credit: SWNS
He registered the club for £15 with a website, seeking players for Jattvibeday football Credit: SWNS
“Well, where’s the fun in that? Frankly, if I can bring back something that once was a great and trusted establishment in the area over 100 years ago, I think that has a lot more beauty to the story.”
But Matthew added: “It’s not so much an ‘American working in football’.
“When I think of Ted Lasso I think of a positive role model for how all football professionals should be trying to conduct themselves.”
““I think that the game, unfortunately at the grass-roots level, at all levels of English football and worldwide, is starting to prioritise results and money over what the game is and always is about.”
“It’s about people, making memories for people on and off the pitch. Even in professional category one academies, most players don’t make it pro.
“So why do we choose to focus on that?
