Features / Bristol Legends
How Ken Wong is transforming lives through football
In 2012, Ken Wong launched a simple mailing list to organise friendly weekend kickabouts for himself and a few friends.
What began as an informal way to stay active has since grown exponentially into the Ken Wong Football Association (KWFA), now connecting more than 700 people across Bristol.
With around 20 games taking place each week, Ken has become instrumental in creating spaces where people can come together, socialise and unwind through football.
THe KWFA now has more than 700 members
In recognition of his impact, he has been named overall Bristol Legend by Bristol24/7 in our inaugural awards ceremony on Friday – an honour voted for by people from across the city.
“Everybody knows someone who plays football”, Ken told Bristol24/7.
“It’s one of those sports where most people can give it a go, and so it can grow pretty quickly.
“Football’s always been a passion of mine, and so to be able to combine that with bringing people together is great.”
While football has always been a constant in his own life, Ken has come to see that for many others it represents much more than the game itself.
“It’s a sport I love and I’ve always played it, but for me it’s always just been football.
“For some people, it means so much, and it’s not just about football.
“Bristol is a community that a lot of people move to at different stages in their lives, whether for work or family, and maybe as an older man you don’t have as many opportunities to make new friends.
“So, when people find the group and come along or come to a social, you start to realise how many people rely on it for making new friends, getting out and getting to know people.”
Ken Wong is most happy that football brings people in his local community together
Inclusivity is what Ken said makes him most proud.
The KWFA welcomes people of multiple genders and abilities, with members representing 68 different countries.
“Seeing everyone feel comfortable to get involved makes me really proud of how inclusive and welcoming we are,” he said.
“We like to get everyone involved and everyone’s glad to be involved.”
Ken told Bristol24/7 that being chosen as the overall Bristol Legend is “an absolute honour”, and that he was happy to see his passion being recognised by others.
Before the result was announced, he said: “In the sense of winning at all, it would obviously be incredible, but I can’t even imagine being the first.
“I don’t look typically Bristolian, but I was born here.
“Bristol means a lot to me, it’s been my home for the last 40 plus years and to be able to bring Bristol and football together is like a dream.”
All photos: @IreneHaceFotos
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