Kitmen may go unnoticed, but they are often the glue, holding football clubs together. The Kit Room explores the role they play, revealing how their job goes far beyond just folding shirts and transporting boots.
In the world of top-level football, it’s easy to get caught up in the multi-million-pound players, the iconic managers and the glitzy glamour of sponsorship deals. However, behind every successful team is a group of unsung heroes, working tirelessly in the background, handling the often-overlooked duties whilst also helping to stitch together the team’s morale.
It’s time to celebrate the unique but vital role of kitmen.
“Matchday or training, it’s all the same,” says Harvey Butterworth, kitman at Rochdale AFC. “We make up all the kits the night before and set them up on the day. On training days, we’re out before everyone else setting up the sessions, and we’re the last ones back inside after packing everything away. Matchdays are a little more hectic, but you just have to stay calm in the chaos and make sure every player has everything they need to succeed on the pitch.”
Across the globe in Australia, Melbourne City’s Josh Bondin echoes the sentiment. “For a normal training day, I make sure all kits are topped up and placed into lockers the day before. Then it’s about pumping balls, prepping bibs and equipment for coaching staff, and constantly being available for player requests.
“On matchdays, I arrive four to five hours early, unload the van, and set up lockers and equipment. I even play a bounce pass in the warm-up shooting drill, it’s all part of staying involved.”
Everyday in the job requires meticulous planning and pinpoint organisation, both note the pressures that a long away day brings.
“Packing is the most stressful part. We start two days in advance for away matches because once we’re en route, there’s no turning back. You have to make sure everything from kits to medical gear is there,” Bondin says.
Butterworth agrees and says the long hours of away days are the hardest part of the job.
However, despite the pressures and constant paranoid checking, they both rejoice in the daily interactions and banter with players that they enjoy.
“I would say the best part of my job is the banter you get to have with the lads , I find myself a lot of the time making myself the butt of jokes to keep the lads happy , but I wouldn’t change that for anything,” Butterworth says.
Bondin shares these views: “I feel we are the ones that help to keep them relaxed and at the right times take their mind off the stresses and pressure of being a professional athlete.
“They’re just normal guys who happen to be really good at football. Being around them every day is a privilege.
Amid the chaos, both revel in the unique humour the job brings.
Bondin recalls a moment during training camp: “One of our staff jumped a fence to get a ball during a shooting drill, and on the way back he fell flat. It was caught on camera and shown in the team meeting the next day.”
Butterworth’s favourite story? “One of our lads scored a goal, ran off the pitch, over a fence and into the woods, and celebrated in the trees. That one I’ll never forget.”
Cut socks, base layers, personalised boots and superstitions, the modern footballer can certainly be high-maintenance and kitmen have to deal with their unique quirks everday,
“Each player has their particular requests,” Butterworth says. “You just do what you can in the moment to get them what they need.”
“One player used to wear two socks on his left foot and only one on his right. Don’t know why, but whatever makes them happy,” Bondin laughs.
However, their roles extend far beyond these essential everyday errands, they can often be the glue that binds a team, keeping spirits high, always ready with a joke, and a clean shirt.
Both kitmen believe their role carries weight when it comes to building team morale.
“Backroom staff have a big impact,” says Butterworth. “That’s why I do everything I can to let the lads just focus on playing their game, without any issues from my department.
“Every person in the club, from the cleaners to the players, plays a role in achieving success. If we don’t gain promotion, it’s not just on the players, it’s on all of us. I’d hold myself responsible if I didn’t do everything I could.”
Bondin concurs: “We help keep them relaxed and take their minds off the pressure. Doing our jobs properly means they can do theirs.
“For me, it’s about playing a small part in a big machine. I want to help win championships, even if it’s from behind the scenes.”