Salt of the Earth: Meet Owen Willis coach of Scarborough Ladies Under-18s

The most precious thing we have in life is time. Volunteering that time to help others is one of the most selfless acts of kindness you can perform.
Owen Willis with the Scarborough Ladies Under 18s teamOwen Willis with the Scarborough Ladies Under 18s team
Owen Willis with the Scarborough Ladies Under 18s team

Given the current Coronavirus health crisis, taking a few minutes to check on the vulnerable members of our community is more important than ever.

Whether it be an isolated elderly neighbour, or a young mum struggling to get out with a new baby, we all have friends and neighbours that may need a little more help.

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Please, if you can, pop round or call and ask if there is anything you can do to make their day a little easier.

Mike Hyde and Owen Willis who have coached the team together for 10 yearsMike Hyde and Owen Willis who have coached the team together for 10 years
Mike Hyde and Owen Willis who have coached the team together for 10 years

The Scarborough News, in partnership with North Yorkshire County Council and sister JPI Media titles in Yorkshire, is celebrating some of those people whose acts of kindness make the world around us a better place in our Salt of the Earth campaign.

Across the borough there are many hundreds of volunteers who are willing to give their time. They work in our charity shops and libraries, run our village halls and coach our sports teams.

In the tenth week of our campaign we meet Owen Willis, who has been training the youth teams at Scarborough Ladies Football Club for more than 10 years.

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Owen, 51, became involved with Scarborough Ladies when two of his three children started playing for the club.

Owen WillisOwen Willis
Owen Willis

He said: “My daughters were five and six when they first started playing. They’re 17 and 18 now. I got roped in as a parent, started setting up cones with Mike Hyde, who is now club chairman, then I got put on a course to become a coach.”

Owen's youngest daughter, Daisy, 17, who plays at centre back for the team, said: "I've been playing for Scarborough Ladies for just over 11 years and dad and Mike have coached me for all of them. They've been absolutely amazing and haven't changed at all, keeping the same values throughout.

"Every girl gets equal game time and everyone is made to feel welcome. It's been like a big family the entire time I've been at the club and it just keeps growing.

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"Having dad as a coach is amazing because he never gets flustered and always brings the best out of all of us, no matter what mood we're in."

Owen dressed as a poppy!Owen dressed as a poppy!
Owen dressed as a poppy!

Owen, who is in charge of the technical team at the White Rose Home Improvement Agency, delivering disabled adaptations for residents across Scarborough and Ryedale, began by coaching the under 10s and has stayed with the team as they’ve grown up; he’s with the under 18s now.

Carol Firth, safeguarding officer for the club, said: “Owen’s an all round amazing bloke, he’s been club treasurer for around 10 years - he’s the absolute Salt of the Earth.

“He also does lots of voluntary work for Scarborough Athletics Club, we’re very lucky to have him.”

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Owen is a running member of Scarborough Athletics Club, but also helps with the junior members on a Wednesday.

His passion for running led to him tackling several marathons, including the York marathon in 2014, which he completed in 3.5 hours, his personal best.

Owen said: “I decided that running fast was not fun at all. In 2014, the poppy installation to commemorate the start of the First World War had just been installed at the Tower of London,

“I thought to myself: ‘In four years’ time I’ll run as a big poppy!’ At work we get a lot of support from SSAFA, the armed forces charity, and the Royal British Legion whenever people fail means-testing.

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“When SSAFA and the Royal British Legion realised what I was doing, they suggested I do it as a world record attempt. Consequently, I am currently the Official Guinness World Record Holder for running the fastest marathon dressed as a three dimensional plant (male)!””

He completed the 26.2 miles in an astonishing 4 hr 51 min 5 sec.

Owen was nominated for Salt of the Earth by Valerie Aston, director of Proudfoot supermarket. She said: “Owen first contacted Proudfoot in 2016 for support through our Making A Difference Locally charity and when we went to present them with their cheque we were blown away with how many girls from 4 to 18 years they were supporting in the game of football in the Scarborough area.

“They run this club, without reward, week in, week out, and create a safe and friendly arena for these young people to learn and share their passion for football.”

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Owen said the reason those who help at the club do what they do is because they want to “encourage as many girls as possible to play football in a safe and welcoming environment, and to be involved with creating a club whose ethos is less about results, and more about enjoyment of the game.

“Scarborough Ladies FC welcome all players, regardless of ability, to develop their football and social skills in a fun and safe environment, and this should be the benchmark for any parent taking their child to a sports club.”

Scarborough Ladies Football Club has eight squads ranging from four-year-olds to adults. The grassroots football team say they are always looking for new players and any girl over the age of four is welcome at training sessions and matches.

Training takes place on a Thursday evening at Overdale School during British Summer Time and at Scarborough Sports Village during the winter months.

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