WSC to launch Kickaround – a new monthly football magazine for young fans
Thirty-two years on from selling those first black-and-white photocopied pages in March 1986, our friends at When Saturday Comes magazine are launching a second monthly football title. Aimed at boys and girls aged 7 to 12, Kickaround is all about getting involved, about going to matches and kicking a ball, and offers a refreshing, fun, alternative look at the game for young fans.
Tens of thousands of young people attend football matches at all levels every weekend, while even more play the game in local or school teams or just for fun. Kickaround emphasises that participation is a far more enriching experience than passive consumption, and recognises that football exists beyond a few big name star players and clubs, giving equal standing, respect and coverage to the women’s game and the lower leagues.
Football has the power to capture the imagination, engaging and inspiring even the most hard-to-reach of young people. Kickaround uses football as a pathway into English, maths, science, history, geography, the arts and much more – from explaining the science of pre-match meals to encouraging creative writing using match reports. Tales of the rich and varied history of football both contextualise and strengthen young people’s understanding of the game.
Kickaround never talks down to its readers or attempts to sugar-coat or shirk big issues affecting the wider world of football, such as the ethics of diving and whether there is too much money in the game. The details are laid out in an accessible way, challenging readers to think critically, consider a range of perspectives and develop their own judgement, while never compromising the values that have made When Saturday Comes one of the game’s most respected institutions.
Kickaround editor Tom Hocking said: “Launching Kickaround is an extremely exciting move for When Saturday Comes, not least because it’s the first spin-off magazine we’ve done in over 30 years of publishing. It feels like a natural progression to apply the values that have served WSC so well over the years to a younger audience, taking a more considered approach to the game and focusing on its place in the wider world. It’s already been extremely rewarding, working with young fans and seeing their enthusiasm for the game – the excitement of being at a live match, the thrill of having the ball at your feet. No matter what level, Kickaround is all about getting involved.”
Kickaround will be 52 pages and issue 1, which includes a free giant world football map, can be found in shops from March 23. Subscriptions and pre-orders are available from shop.wsc.co.uk.
