In recent years, masses of amateur football teams have started to broadcast their annual campaigns online to widespread recognition and audience – SE DONS, Baiteze Squad, and Rising Ballers are but a few names at the climbing crest of the rising wave of platforms, covering the games of grassroots football clubs in London and racking up 10,000’s of views each week. Yet, these clubs offer more than just a source of entertainment for football-giddy teenagers on YouTube – indeed, current Chesterfield FC goalkeeper Melvin Minter is a shining example of a player who reaped the benefits offered by the exposure these teams give to players.
Catching up with the former Rising Ballers captain recently, it was somewhat surreal to hear more about the journey he has been on since cautiously joining the emerging ‘Rising Ballers FC’ team back in 2018 – a setup which was a far cry from the brand of today, now boasting a YouTube following of over 80,000 subscribers. Having played at Oxford United’s academy, the England Schoolboy’s team, and Brentford’s U21’s as a youngster, Melvin immediately caught the eye as the imposing shot-stopper of the newly established team – yet Melvin reveals, ‘when Rising Ballers came along, I was thinking of doing something regular [as opposed to football]’ – amidst hundreds of comments praising his performances, Melvin was ‘training twice a day and waking up early’ in a final attempt to make football work.
However, his consistent performance soon paid off – Melvin reveals the exposure he gained for playing for Rising Ballers ‘changed the trajectory of his life’ – although perhaps not initially in the way he expected. Receiving a call from a friend one night, Melvin was asked whether he would like to take the spot of goalkeeper on the popular football morning show – Soccer AM. Melvin reveals, ‘it was crazy – I used to wake up and watch Soccer AM every day. When I first went there, the standard was mad – there was Wayne Bridge, who used to play for Chelsea, and Steve Sidwell.’ Going on to film shooting challenges with Adebayo Akinfenwa and Glenn Murray, Melvin was offered the full-time role at the show. His decision to continue pursuing his dream of becoming a professional footballer despite this alluring offer, whilst a pointer to Minter’s drive and determination, meant it was only a matter of time. At the start of the 2020/21 season, Melvin got a call from professional club Harrogate Town. After impressing on trial, Melvin was offered to sign provisionally – a deal that the goalkeeper admits presented ‘a bittersweet moment’. Yet, Melvin’s footballing history, punctuated with setbacks, meant he only continued to impress – and was offered his first professional contract at the age of 25.
Now playing at Chesterfield Football Club, Melvin is a real inspiration to young players – his journey is one of pure determination and hard work that has seen Minter go from a timid youngster on the verge of giving up football, to an eye-catching maverick. Make no mistake - Rising Ballers helped Melvin hugely – but he would be nowhere without his consistency and application through tough periods.
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