Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I have to be a good football player to join Dodo Club? 

No, Dodo Club does not recruit on playing ability. You just need to be a good, respectful, and well-behaved person who gets on well with your fellow Dodo members and have the right overall attitude. 

• How old do I need to be to join?

We recruit young children from five years old for the Dodo Academy NextGen and adults from 16 upwards for our two senior teams. 

• Is there a trial period before I decide to become a member? 

Yes, after your initial telephone chat with us, you will be allowed to play a couple of times after which you will need to decide whether to officially become a member.

• How do I become a member? 

You will need to call or email us after your trial to agree to the Club Rules and Player Code of Conduct as published in the Hello section of this website. The club will also decide whether you have what it takes to become a member after consultation with players and managers. Once your membership is confirmed, you will be officially announced to the rest of the squad and your picture in a Dodo kit will be taken and included on our website. You will also be added to our WhatsApp group for notifications. 

• How much is the annual subscription? 

There is no annual subscription. To become a Dodo Club member after your two-week trial period, all you will need to do is order a full club kit. You then play for free throughout the year! 

• Do you offer special family packages, for example for father & son? 

All family members will receive a 10% discount on all Dodo Club kit as we strongly encourage family participation.  

• Will I need to take up my own insurance cover?

You will need to organise your own cover if you wish to have one. As our games are relatively safe, friendly and played in the right spirit, you will be unlikely to be injured by a hard or sliding tackle which is not allowed at Dodo Club. 

• Will the club help me settle in once I sign up as a new member? 

Yes, we have a ‘mentoring’ system in place to help you settle in nicely. You will be given a warm welcome by our members from Day One and you will be assigned a friendly ‘buddy’ for the first four weeks to help you find your bearings around the club and know your responsibilities as a member. If you have been referred to us by one of our existing members, he will be your Dodo buddy. Your buddy will also address any concerns you may have. 

• Will I need to invest in a Dodo Club kit? 

Yes, it is obligatory to wear a full club kit which includes fully customised red and blue shirts (or a goalkeeping jersey) and plain black shorts & socks. This will help maintain the club’s identity and corporate image. The Dodo Club shirts are extremely durable and should last 10-15 years. The cost is also reasonable. 

• How soon will I be able to order my Dodo kit? 

As soon as your membership is confirmed. 

• Will I be able to wear long trousers when playing? 

Not if you are an outfield player as shorts are obligatory even in winter when you can wear black leg warmers. Only goalkeepers are allowed to wear long GK pants. 

• What other equipment will I need? 

Although our football is safe, we usually recommend all our players wear shin pads as a precautionary measure. If you are a goalkeeper, fingersave GK gloves are the best though more expensive and padded jerseys & pants. 

• Is there football during the school holidays? 

We will only take a couple of two-week breaks, one during the August summer holidays and one over the Christmas festive season.

• Does Dodo Club have ambitions to join a Sunday league? 

No, Dodo Club will never join any league as we cater for players who are not interested in or have retired from competitive league football. 

• Does Dodo Club play friendlies against other teams? 

We rarely do and if we decide to play a ‘friendly’ it will be against a team that shares the same values and ethos as our club, not just in words but in actions. 

• On what playing surface is football played at Dodo Club?
  

  We play three times a month on grass and once a month on astroturf.

• Does Dodo Club have plans for Women’s Football? 

Yes, we do. We are currently looking for a dynamic lady to drive participation of women at Dodo Club in various sports disciplines. 

• When will Dodo Club travel abroad again? 

Once we are satisfied it is safe to travel again, and we cannot see this happening over the next few months. All passengers on board will need to show they have tested Covid-negative before we set off. 

• Does Dodo Club hold any political or religious views? 

No, Dodo Club has always been a strictly apolitical and non-religious organisation. Our members come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds and get along very well with each other in mutual respect. 

• What if I decide to leave?

We doubt if you will ever want to leave as we do everything as a club to keep our members happy.

• Will I be able to introduce my friends and relatives to the club? 

Certainly, as we are always looking for good new members to grow the club. You will need to call us prior to give us a background of the new players and agree on a starting date for their two free taster sessions. 

• When will Boxercise, Pétanque, and Yoga start? 

As soon as we have enough participants. Call us asap to register your interest. 

• When will Gymnastics start? 

Gymnastics sessions have already started at our partner club Perform Better Sports Club (PBSC). You can book your child’s sessions by visiting www.performbettersc.co.uk remembering to make a small reference to Dodo Club for their records. 

• When is Dodo Club’s next social event? 

Dodonite is our annual family dinner & dance get-together. We will organise the next one once we feel it is safe to have a large crowd indoors. The next Dodonite will be a colourful celebration of multiculturalism.