Arnold Reynolds

The Journey

Arnold Reynolds' journey through sport, culture, and community leadership spans over 45 years. Beginning as a professional and semi-professional footballer, he played and coached with clubs including Queens Park Rangers, AFC Wimbledon, Harrow Borough, Hayes, Willesden, and Hendon FC. Alongside his football career, he trained with London Irish Athletics Club and Olympic gold medallist Linford Christie, earning the prestigious AAA 5-Star Award across sprint and field events.

In the early 1980s, Arnie made his mark in BMX racing, winning the All England Championship and representing England at the I.BMX.F. European Championships, where he finished in third place. He attributes much of his success to the mentorship of BMX pioneers Scott and Margaret Dick.

Arnie’s talents also extended to the music industry. As tour manager for the London Rhyme Syndicate on their UK tour with D-Mob’s chart-topping hit It’s Time to Get Funky, he developed high-level skills in coordination, logistics, and people management. These transferable skills would later become instrumental in building strong, community-led teams and partnerships in sport.


The Vision

In 1997, Arnie co-founded Waterloo Sports and Football Club alongside local parents, responding to a clear need: structured, accessible, and affordable sports provision for young people in the area. His vision was, and remains, to use sport not only to develop talent but to shape confident, resilient individuals equipped for life.

From its beginnings at Hatfields (now the Colombo Centre), the club quickly grew into a trusted grassroots organisation. Arnie’s leadership established a model of inclusive, high-quality delivery that welcomed young people from all backgrounds, without price being a barrier.

"We weren’t just building a football club. We were building a movement - one that puts community, character and opportunity at the heart of everything we do."


The Impact

Today, Waterloo Sports and Football Club is recognised as a leading grassroots organisation, having supported over 25,000 young people across Lambeth and Southwark. From coaching on the pitch to mentoring off it, the club offers more than sport - it provides structure, belonging and a launchpad for young lives.

As part of this mission, Arnie led a Pupil Referral Unit in partnership with Plan B, Southwark Council, and Treasure House CIC at Waterloo’s venue in the former Lillian Baylis School. The unit provided sports, physical fitness, one-to-one mentoring and educational support to some of the borough’s most vulnerable young people—ensuring they had a safe, consistent space to grow, learn, and rebuild confidence.

Operating from key local venues including Tabard Gardens, Black Prince Hub, and the Living Space, the club’s free or low-cost programmes help address youth isolation, exclusion, poor mental health and lack of opportunity. Many participants have gone on to higher education, professional sport, youth leadership and community work.

Through strategic partnerships with schools, housing associations and local authorities, Arnie has embedded the club within the fabric of the community. His ethos - sport creates not just athletes, but role models - continues to guide everything Waterloo does.