Ahmed Faid began attending CYP youth and football sessions in the early 2000’s when the project was still based at Blessed Sacrament Church, a short stones-throw from the Faid family home. A lively and social member at the youth club, Ahmed also rarely missed the highly competitive short-sided matches at Cally pitch where he was known for his goal-poaching prowess from short distance, his goalkeeping as well as his quality banter. Ahmed was not short of ideas and this, along with his great work ethic, gave rise to his creative content making, giving the public a voice by creating meaningful conversations and capturing it. Dose of Society was founded in 2017 by Ahmed and his collaborator, Nil Lartey, with the singular mission: to humanise brands and foster genuine connections. Since then, his journey has been nothing short of remarkable. With over 6 million followers and 10 billion views, his impact has been felt far and wide. In 2019, Dose of Society received significant investment from Snapchat, propelling their expansion from London to Los Angeles and Dubai solidifying Ahmed’s position as a global force in the digital media industry. When not travelling, Ahmed can regularly be seen around the local community and remains in regular contact with CYP and recently attended a conference organised by CYP at Havas, aimed at supporting young people wanting to break into media. Dose of Society achieved further recognition when named as one of the prestigious companies in Forbes 30 under 30 list for 2024.

Andy Yiadom was playing with his friends at CYP, as part of the collaboration with Hadley Wood Youth FC, before becoming a member of Watford FC’s youth team in 2008. He showcased his abilities regularly, so it was disappointing for all when Watford chose not to offer him a professional contract. Andy took the longer route to professional football signing for Hayes & Yeading and then moving to Braintree Town before Barnet FC offered him his first professional contract in 2012. A successful 4 year stay at Barnet culminated in a move to Championship team Barnsley where he spent two seasons, becoming captain in his final year there and being called up to the Ghana national team for the 2017 African Nations Cup.

Fuad Faid, known as Fu Izzy is another old school CYP alumni, from the days of Blessed Sacrament attending both youth club and football sessions regularly. Fu Izzy was known for his fun-loving attitude, quality banter and relentless pressing of defenders. Fu Izzy. has been using his amazing sense of humour and producing comedic content online for a while now and his popularity has gone from strength to strength allowing him to build his fan base. Fu Izzy’s comedy-themed Tik Tok videos went viral, and he has amassed over 100k followers on Instagram. His success opened further avenues for him, and he co-hosts the popular SDS podcast and was invited to toss the coin at the Liverpool v Chelsea Premier League game, shown live on Sky Sports last season. He has collaborated with Footasylum and was a housemate on the ‘Locked In’ house Youtube show. Fu Izzy stays in touch with CYP regularly, especially if his beloved Liverpool are due to play Arsenal and there is banter to be had.

Kyle Krucial Kidd, started his journey with CYP attending football sessions and a regular in the Youth Club where he would usually be found on the decks and mic. Around this time in 2002 he started out as a Grime MC with the Aftershock Collective, a grime crew consisting of members such as Terror Danjah, Shola Ama, Bruza, Royal and Tinie Tempah. Krucial found his youth work just as rewarding as his musical success and has also progressed from running football sessions in local schools to becoming a PE teacher at a school in Stratford. He is widely respected amongst his peers and the young people he still works with at CYP, continuing to make a positive impact.

Moses Gomes-Santos is another graduate from the all-conquering Hadley Wood FC youth team, a collaboration with CYP. Moses was an active member of CYP youth club and the football programme and has gone into big things in acting and education. Having acted in Channel 4’s ‘Youngers’, Moses has also been involved in productions such as Scout and Marshal Law. He has also added to his skill set as he produced and starred in his first short film called ‘Lost in Oblivion’, an award-winning short film. Moses has worked with the likes of Kevin Bacon and Lewis Hamilton as well as others in the Sports & Entertainment industry and continues with his passion for telling real life stories. Education has always been a priority for Moses whose approach to altering pedagogy at its highest level includes story telling through his arts, on screen or stage. Moses gained his Master of Arts in education, has a Bachelor of Science with honours in Sports, Physical Recreation and Development and a Foundation Degree in Community Sports Management. Moses is still involved with CYP projects, starring in ‘Kindoki Witch Boy’ and is currently undertaking a PHD in the area of diversity and inclusion in sport and continues to work in the community. He also lectures at UFCB Etihad Campus in Manchester.

Samuel King is a name that resonates with creativity and charisma, especially for those familiar with the CYP youth club at Blessed Sacrament Church in the early 2000s. Known for his vibrant personality and jovial character, Samuel was a popular figure among his peers. His natural flair for performance led him to specialize in spoken word and poetry, captivating audiences both online and offline. With over 2.5 million views on social media, Samuel has proven himself to be a compelling speaker. His TEDx Talk, “If Youth Ruled the World, ” showcases his unique ability to blend poetry with public speaking. This talk not only highlights his versatility but also his commitment to inspiring and engaging with youth. Samuel King continues to maintain a strong connection with CYP, regularly participating in events and even hosting the CYP Cally Fest Youth stage and currently sits on the CYP Trustees board. His journey from a lively youth club attendee to a prominent figure in spoken word exemplifies the impact of nurturing talent in community spaces. Samuel King’s story is a testament to the power of creativity and community support in shaping influential voices of today.

Ferdy, known professionally as Specs Gonzalez, played football with CYP at the Blessed Sacrament playground pitch and attended the Youth Club at Blessed Sacrament Hall. He was usually be found on the decks or mic, always engaging and humorous, few could have predicted the huge social media success his personality would invoke. Specs Gonzalez gained widespread recognition for his input as a cast member on Filthy Fellas, which became a major platform for Football banter. Specs became a standout figure in the show due to his offbeat humour and unpredictable tales. The success of Specs upon Filthy Fellas allowed him to branch out, expanded his online presence and enabled him to branch out into his own brand of content, wider than football. Building on his popularity, Specs launched his own ‘No Rules’ podcast on You Tube, an open format where anything goes and Specs is able to share his often hilarious takes on life, alongside conversations and interviews with guests. The show has developed a cult following with its free flowing, unscripted nature and Specs sharing his outlandish stories which has cemented his reputation as one of the most original voices on the podcasting scene. Specs has also co-hosted Gasworks on the GRM Daily You Tube channel, further showcasing his versatility and ability to navigate conversations ranging from serious debate to playful banter.

Levi Gordon was another CYP Football and Youth Club attendee from the mid 2000’s. His forays down the left-hand side, matched his energy off the pitch and it was clear Levi had big dreams to go along with his talents.
Levi was part of a group of CYP footballers that benefitted from a collaboration with Hadley Wood Youth FC, but it was in music where Levi began to really excel. Levitheartist, has become a leading light in the Islington music scene with his innovative style gaining recognition from the likes of 1Xtra DJ’s Toddla T and Sian Anderson.
Levi has become a driving force behind contemporary UK Dancehall influenced rap and hip hop, continuing to write and make music as well as keeping in touch with all developments at CYP.