Football for those serious about enjoying the game
Positive grassroots football in E17 focused on confidence, enjoyment and development.
Why We Started AFC Waltham
Edward and Natalie Grange founded AFC Waltham in 2026, inspired by an idea from their son George.
Like many football families, we spent years travelling to training sessions and matches, watching children experience both the joy and challenges of grassroots football.
Along the way, we began to notice something.
Too many children were being
Edward and Natalie Grange founded AFC Waltham in 2026, inspired by an idea from their son George.
Like many football families, we spent years travelling to training sessions and matches, watching children experience both the joy and challenges of grassroots football.
Along the way, we began to notice something.
Too many children were being exposed to unnecessary pressure at a very young age. The focus often seemed to shift away from enjoyment and development towards results, pathways and expectations.
One day, our son, who at the age of 9 was starting to fall out of love with the game, suggested a simple idea:
Why can't there be a football club where children can just enjoy football again?
One day, our son, who at the age of 9 was starting to fall out of love with the game, suggested a simple idea:
Why can't there be a football club where children can just enjoy football again?
That question became the foundation of AFC Waltham. We wanted to create a club where:
- children come first
- confidence is built through encouragement
- mis
One day, our son, who at the age of 9 was starting to fall out of love with the game, suggested a simple idea:
Why can't there be a football club where children can just enjoy football again?
That question became the foundation of AFC Waltham. We wanted to create a club where:
- children come first
- confidence is built through encouragement
- mistakes are part of learning
- friendships matter
- football remains enjoyable
AFC Waltham exists because football should never lose sight of the child behind the player.
Football for those serious about enjoying the game.
Our Story
The Whippets Way
Our Values
AFC Waltham is a grassroots football club based in E17, founded in 2026 by Edward Grange and Natalie Smith.
Inspired by an idea from their son George, AFC Waltham was created to offer children a football environment where enjoyment, confidence and belonging come before pressure and expectation.
We are proud to be a community club rooted in
AFC Waltham is a grassroots football club based in E17, founded in 2026 by Edward Grange and Natalie Smith.
Inspired by an idea from their son George, AFC Waltham was created to offer children a football environment where enjoyment, confidence and belonging come before pressure and expectation.
We are proud to be a community club rooted in Waltham Forest.
Our ambition is simple:
To provide children with a positive place to play football, make friends, build confidence and develop a lifelong love of the game.
We believe football should be something children look forward to every week.
AFC Waltham is more than a football team.
It is a commitment to putting children back at the heart of the game.
Our Values
The Whippets Way
Our Values
Everything we do at AFC Waltham is guided by six core values:
Enjoyment First
Children develop best when they enjoy what they are doing.
Positive Coaching
We encourage, support and guide. Confidence grows through encouragement, not criticism.
Confidence & Creativity
Players should feel free to express themselves, try new things and learn from
Everything we do at AFC Waltham is guided by six core values:
Enjoyment First
Children develop best when they enjoy what they are doing.
Positive Coaching
We encourage, support and guide. Confidence grows through encouragement, not criticism.
Confidence & Creativity
Players should feel free to express themselves, try new things and learn from mistakes.
Community
Football should bring together children, families and the wider community.
Development Over Pressure
Every child develops differently. We focus on long-term growth rather than short-term results.
Respect
We treat teammates, opponents, referees and supporters with respect at all times.
The Whippets Way
The Whippets Way
The Whippets Way
The Whippets Way is how we want AFC Waltham players, coaches and families to experience football.
We play with enthusiasm.
We support each other.
We work hard.
We stay humble.
We celebrate effort.
We learn from mistakes.
We respect everyone.
Most importantly, we remember why we started playing football in the first place.
To have fun.
The Whippets
The Whippets Way is how we want AFC Waltham players, coaches and families to experience football.
We play with enthusiasm.
We support each other.
We work hard.
We stay humble.
We celebrate effort.
We learn from mistakes.
We respect everyone.
Most importantly, we remember why we started playing football in the first place.
To have fun.
The Whippets Way is not about being the best player on the pitch.
It is about being the best teammate, the most encouraging friend and the player who never loses their love of the game.
Because football should belong to children.
And every child deserves to enjoy it.
Meet the founders
Edward Grange
George Grange "GG11"
Natalie Grange
Edward played junior football for a Step 5 club from the ages of 9 to 16.
He, too, fell out of love with the game and left football completely, only returning when his son began to show an interest. By that time, Edward was in his 40s, playing days long since passed. So he qualified as a coach and as a referee. He can be found most Saturd
Edward played junior football for a Step 5 club from the ages of 9 to 16.
He, too, fell out of love with the game and left football completely, only returning when his son began to show an interest. By that time, Edward was in his 40s, playing days long since passed. So he qualified as a coach and as a referee. He can be found most Saturdays refereeing in the Essex Alliance League.
Edward brings experience as both an FA Level 1 Coach and an FA Level 5 Referee, having seen grassroots football from the perspectives of a former player, coach, referee, parent and supporter.
Natalie Grange
George Grange "GG11"
Natalie Grange
As AFC Waltham's Club Welfare Officer, Natalie leads the club's commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and player wellbeing. She helps ensure that every child and family feels welcome, supported and valued as part of the club community.
Natalie is responsible for safeguarding and player welfare matters at AFC Waltham. The welfare and l of children will always be the club's highest priority.
George Grange "GG11"
George Grange "GG11"
George Grange "GG11"
George just wanted to play team football without the pressures he had experienced since the age of 7.
AFC Waltham was born out of that suggestion.
George is a passionate Arsenal FC supporter, and his favourite player is Max Downman
Walt
George Grange "GG11"
George Grange "GG11"
Walt the Whippet is the official mascot of AFC Waltham.
Fast on his feet but thoughtful at heart, Walt is known around the club as "the philosopher of football."
Walt believes football should be about more than winning matches. He reminds us that confidence grows through encouragement, friendships are built through teamwork, and mistakes are simply part of learning.
Safeguarding
At AFC Waltham, children come first.
We are committed to creating a safe, welcoming and respectful football environment for every player.
The welfare and well-being of children will always be our priority.