Dad brings children’s football franchise to Plymouth after recovering from brain tumour

A man from Exeter has brought the franchise of The Football Fun Factory to Plymouth after a life-changing brain tumour diagnosis inspired him to give back to the community.

Jake Bristowe, 34, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in July 2022, just before he was due to get married, something he described as a “massive shock.”

He later underwent surgery for the tumour on 20 April 2023.

Jake described this period as particularly challenging, as he was coming to terms with the diagnosis while also planning his wedding and raising two young children. 

ABOVE: Jake and his family pictured on their wedding day

The condition also led to a significant change in his working life.

Jake told The Moorlander: “I was given a 15% chance of never waking up from the surgery table.”

He recalled the day he first suspected something was wrong: “It was just a sudden onset while I was literally playing outside with my son, and it just felt like somebody hit me over the head, back of the head, with, like a cricket, yeah, and then I just went and laid down, and I was just migraine, and it suddenly when I laid down, it didn't actually hurt much. Every time I stood up, that’s when I got the pen. And then, like after a couple days, migraine-like, so I went in to a hospital,” he said, something he initially hated doing, but soon became more comfortable with.

After deciding to step away from the family air conditioning business, Jake came across a post on Facebook about The Football Fun Factory, founded by Jonny Martin and directed by former Manchester United player Luke Chadwick. 

The franchise aims to provide incredible childhood football experiences for boys and girls of all ages and ability levels, offering training sessions, clubs, and birthday parties for children aged 18 months to 12 years.

A lifelong Manchester United fan, Jake managed to arrange a phone call with Luke. 

Worried his recovery would take time, he explained he might not be ready to take on the role for many months, but Luke told him he would wait. 

True to his word, he did.

For Jake, who studied coaching at the University of St Mark and St John in Plymouth, this new venture is a return to his original passion.

He said: “In my degree, I got loads of experience football coaching. So it's really been, always been my passion. My mum's always said that. Funny how things turn around.”

Now based in Plymouth, Jake has launched his own Football Fun Factory franchise, which he describes as welcoming and accessible to all.

“It's inclusive for everyone, like any gender, any disability, everything, to be honest. We've got a lot of kids with disabilities, and it's just, it's really, really fun. It's awesome. We coach children all the way from 18 months old to 12 years old. We do a top session that's 18 months old to five, and they are like their carnage, but amazing carnage. We've got massive inflatable pitch, a big inflatable dartboard, and big inflatable gold, and it's just, yeah, it's wicked, to be honest,” he said.

It’s proven so popular that there are already 45 children on the waiting list for one of Jake’s sessions.

ABOVE: Jake during one of his coaching sessions 

Looking ahead, Jake is keen to give back further by supporting local charities and making football accessible for as many children as possible. 

He also plans to host summer camps in the coming months.