{"id":41918,"date":"2025-05-16T13:47:01","date_gmt":"2025-05-16T13:47:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/kitroomcollective\/?p=41918"},"modified":"2025-06-06T09:35:01","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T09:35:01","slug":"kitmen-the-unsung-heroes-keeping-teams-united","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/kitroomcollective\/?p=41918","title":{"rendered":"\u00a0Kitmen: The Unsung Heroes Keeping Teams United"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Kitmen may go unnoticed, but they are often the glue, holding football clubs together. The Kit Room<\/em> explores the role they play, revealing how their job goes far beyond just folding shirts and transporting boots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the world of top-level football, it\u2019s 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\u2019s morale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s time to celebrate the unique but vital role of kitmen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Matchday or training, it\u2019s 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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Harvey Butterworth of Rochdale<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Across the globe in Australia, Melbourne City\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyday in the job requires meticulous planning and pinpoint organisation, both note the pressures that a long away day brings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Packing is the most stressful part. We start two days in advance for away matches because once we’re en route, there\u2019s no turning back. You have to make sure everything from kits to medical gear is there,\u201d Bondin says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Butterworth agrees and says the long hours of away days are the hardest part of the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, despite the pressures and constant paranoid checking, they both rejoice in the daily interactions and banter with players that they enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cI 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\u2019t change that for anything,\u201d Butterworth says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bondin shares these views: \u201cI 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“They\u2019re just normal guys who happen to be really good at football. Being around them every day is a privilege.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Josh Bondin of Melbourne City<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 Amid the chaos, both revel in the unique humour the job brings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Butterworth\u2019s 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\u2019ll never forget.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Melbourne City changing room<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 “Each player has their particular requests,” Butterworth says. “You just do what you can in the moment to get them what they need.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“One player used to wear two socks on his left foot and only one on his right. Don\u2019t know why, but whatever makes them happy,” Bondin laughs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both kitmen believe their role carries weight when it comes to building team morale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Backroom staff have a big impact,” says Butterworth. “That\u2019s why I do everything I can to let the lads just focus on playing their game, without any issues from my department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Every person in the club, from the cleaners to the players, plays a role in achieving success. If we don\u2019t gain promotion, it\u2019s not just on the players, it\u2019s on all of us. I\u2019d hold myself responsible if I didn\u2019t do everything I could.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bondin concurs: “We help keep them relaxed and take their minds off the pressure. Doing our jobs properly means they can do theirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“For me, it\u2019s about playing a small part in a big machine. I want to help win championships, even if it\u2019s from behind the scenes.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In football\u2019s shadows, kitmen quietly unite teams\u2014balancing chaos, care, and unshakable behind-the-scenes support.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":181,"featured_media":41947,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[91],"tags":[71],"class_list":["post-41918","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-otm-row-1","tag-rochdale-melbourne-football"],"yoast_head":"\n\u00a0Kitmen: The Unsung Heroes Keeping Teams United<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In football\u2019s shadows, kitmen quietly unite teams\u2014balancing chaos, care, and unshakable behind-the-scenes support.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/kitroomcollective\/?p=41918\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u00a0Kitmen: The Unsung Heroes Keeping Teams United\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In football\u2019s shadows, kitmen quietly unite teams\u2014balancing chaos, care, and unshakable behind-the-scenes support.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/kitroomcollective\/?p=41918\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Kit Room Collective\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-05-16T13:47:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-06-06T09:35:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/kitroomcollective\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2025\/05\/A1D29035_Original2-1-1-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"2069\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Sidney Overstall Khan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Sidney Overstall Khan\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/kitroomcollective\/?p=41918#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/kitroomcollective\/?p=41918\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Sidney Overstall Khan\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/kitroomcollective\/#\/schema\/person\/b0816960c053e265148015f6776cf935\"},\"headline\":\"\u00a0Kitmen: The Unsung Heroes Keeping Teams United\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-05-16T13:47:01+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-06T09:35:01+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/kitroomcollective\/?p=41918\"},\"wordCount\":849,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/kitroomcollective\/?p=41918#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/kitroomcollective\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2025\/05\/A1D29035_Original2-1-1-scaled.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Rochdale. 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