Big Bears Big Year: A 2025 Round Up

A new look for a growing club

The early part of 2025 brought a big change for us with a brand-new look. We introduced a new crest, completed a full rebrand, and launched a new website, all of which marked a real step forward for Big Bear Football. As the club continues to grow, it was important that our identity reflected where we are heading, not just where we started.

The updated brand gives us a more professional feel, but more importantly it truly represents who we are and what we stand for. It reflects our ethos, our standards, and our belief in doing things the right way, on and off the pitch. It’s something we’re really proud of and it’s helped us feel more confident in how we present ourselves within the local football community.

The website now acts as a home for Big Bear, a place where people can clearly see what we do, how we do it, and why we do it. It has already helped us build a stronger presence locally and will play a big part in shaping the future of the club.

Putting down roots at Boughton Monchelsea

With long-term plans for teams firmly in mind, securing the use of Boughton Monchelsea Fields as our home ground was a huge moment for us. The pitches have become central to Big Bear life, used for matches, 1-to-1 sessions, and training throughout the warmer months.

We are committed to keeping the pitches in great condition and making further improvements in the years to come. If you’ve seen them since the summer, you’ll know just how much work has gone into them. They really are like a carpet. A big thank you goes to Forestry First for all the work they’ve put in to get them looking spot on.

That said, myself and Brett might need a bit more practice with the pitch markings. Let’s just say they’re not always as straight as we’d like.

Coaches, change and growth

Midway through the year we said goodbye to a few coaches who headed off to university, including Cellan, who took the huge step of moving to America. They’ve all played an important part in the journey so far, and we’re incredibly grateful for the time, effort, and energy they put into Big Bear. While those goodbyes are never easy, they also opened the door for new coaches to join the Big Bear family.

Welcoming fresh faces with their own playing and coaching experiences has been brilliant for the club and has helped us continue to raise standards across all our sessions.

The foundation: coaching and training

Every week at Big Bear is a busy one, with training sessions and football coaching happening most days. Our group sessions and 1-to-1 coaching have gone from strength to strength, with more and more children joining us each week. One of the real highlights this year has been the introduction of our girls-only sessions on Friday evenings. It’s been fantastic to see the confidence, development, and enjoyment growing week by week.

Seeing children who train with us go on to play for teams and do well is exactly what Big Bear is about. These sessions are the foundation of everything we do. They give everyone the chance to get involved and play the beautiful game in a positive, supportive environment.

The birth of Big Bear teams

Summer 2025 marked the beginning of Big Bear Football teams. After a lot of planning, meetings, and sourcing sponsors, the time finally felt right. Starting teams was something we’d spoken about since day one, and bringing it to life has been incredibly rewarding.

I’ve always been a fan of the colour pink, and with a small nod to Inter Miami CF, it felt like the perfect choice for our kit. What started as a plan for just one Under 7s team quickly grew. Before long, we had an Under 9s Development squad and an Under 11s JPL team up and running as well.

Under 7s: A flying start

The Under 7s have been training since the summer and the progress they’ve made has been outstanding. From their first friendly to finishing the Autumn League undefeated, they’ve shown just how much hard work pays off. The improvement week by week has been brilliant to see, both individually and as a team.

Competing in the Maidstone Invicta Primary League, their passing, shooting, and positioning have all come on massively. Their success is a real testament to their effort and attitude. We might need to work on a few of the goal celebrations, but we’ll let that slide for now.

Under 9s development: One to watch

Our Under 9s Development squad began training in September, with the aim of joining a league in September 2026. They recently played their first friendly and have already been invited to join this season’s league starting this month.

This group is all about development and opportunity, especially for children who may never have played for a team before. We’re really excited to see how they grow and progress together.

Under 11s JPL: Stepping up

The Under 11s JPL team have been travelling across the South East and London, taking on strong opposition and improving with every game. For some of the players, this is their first experience of competitive football, and it’s already proving invaluable.

It’s given them a solid foundation heading into the league in the new year, and we can’t wait to see what they achieve in 2026.

Looking ahead t0 2026

Seeing players progress from training sessions into real games, playing the Big Bear way, has been one of the most rewarding parts of the year. We’re incredibly proud of every age group and everyone involved.

With the success of our teams, we’re looking to expand further in the coming year, adding more age groups and additional teams to our current roster. We’ll also be expanding our 1-on-1 coaching program with the addition of tailored plyometric and nutritional plans.

Keep an eye out for messages and posts if you’re interested in getting your child involved.

A big thank you!

Thank you to everyone who has supported Big Bear Football in 2025. Our coaches, staff, parents, sponsors, and most importantly, the kids. You’re all a huge part of the Big Bear family.

Brett and I are incredibly proud of the club we’ve built, and doing it in a way that stays true to our values of inclusivity makes it even more special. 2026 is shaping up to be even busier, with more teams, more football, and even more exciting things to come.

Come on, The Bears. 🐻⚽