2 weeks ago
"I still can't judge we've done it, created an full abstraction that encompasses everything that's been portion of my journey. Music, football, younker culture, organization and gaming."
Stormzy's time occupation is bringing words and ideas scribbled successful his notepad to life - and 3 Brit Awards suggests he does it very well.
Yet arsenic we locomotion astir nan building nan rapper first dreamed up 3 years agone - he is successful disbelief nan thought is now a reality.
Throughout nan guided circuit of #MerkyFC HQ - a state-of-the-art installation pinch a full-size shot pitch, signaling workplace and gaming centre - there's a immense grin connected Stormzy's face.
He says creating this abstraction is comparable to securing a number 1 azygous aliases stepping retired connected a main shape astatine Glastonbury.
"I conscionable thought, 'What would I person wanted erstwhile I was a kid?'," Stormzy tells BBC Sport.
#MerkyFC HQ is located successful Croydon, southbound London - minutes from wherever nan 30-year-old lived and grew up.
He adds: "It's funny because, to maine sometimes, organization tin beryllium a spot of a buzzword. But astatine each shape that is who we've considered."
#MerkyFC HQ is simply a associated business pinch sportswear shaper Adidas – for whom nan musician is simply a marque ambassador.
The abstraction is chiefly aimed astatine teenagers and young adults, but is unfastened to residents of each ages.
It's nan latest task for Stormzy – existent sanction Michael Omari – who says his religion is simply a large portion of his continued dedication to connection opportunities to those considered little fortunate.
His Merky marque already stretches to nan literate world wherever he provides publishing opportunities for under-represented authors. The Londoner besides offers financial support for achromatic students wanting to study astatine Cambridge University and, launched successful 2022, #MerkyFC (Football Careers) was besides created to support those seeking employment successful nan sports industry.
"If you conscionable supply a space, an opportunity aliases you conscionable ray a spark successful someone, you don't cognize wherever aliases what that personification goes connected to be. [Growing up] I had a younker centre wherever I would spell and make music," recalls Stormzy.
"To maine it's astir sowing a seed, which sounds for illustration a parable, a spot for illustration a fairytale, but I don't deliberation group understand really powerful it is and really valuable it is."
The conversation, though, widens to life extracurricular of Croydon and into broader London and nan rumor of younker violence.
According to Met constabulary data, recorded weapon crime offences person risen since 2016, from 11,085 to 14,879 successful 2023.
And though nan number of group nether 25 injured by knives has fallen, from 1,954 successful 2016 to 1,435 past year, figures person been rising each twelvemonth since 2020.
The rapper is clear location is nary easy solution to addressing nan problem, claiming "everyone has a portion to play" – parents, teachers, constabulary and - successful his lawsuit - domiciled models.
Stormzy says: "It's been happening from erstwhile we were kids. No one's really sewage nan answers. Some group say, 'Oh we should unfastened up much younker clubs' aliases 'We request much extremity and search'.
"It's truthful deep, it's very nuanced and a very intricate issue, and I deliberation a abstraction for illustration this tin help. If everyone does their portion it solves a large problem. It's thing I'm very proud of."
Stormzy has vowed to beryllium 'hands-on' pinch nan project.
At times possibly popping up to springiness a song-making masterclass aliases going head-to-head connected nan games consoles.
"A batch of group constitute disconnected young group today," says Steve Marks, elder trading head astatine Adidas which has collaborated pinch Stormzy.
"They person obscurity to spell and I deliberation nan beauty of athletics is it connects group together. The beauty of euphony and gaming, precisely nan same... why not bring it into nan aforesaid space?"
Stormzy is simply a immense Manchester United fan, joking "No comment, adjacent question", erstwhile asked astir their season. "It's been very achy this year, let's put it for illustration that," he adds.
What's bringing him much joyousness is AFC Croydon Athletic – the non-league nine he co-owns pinch erstwhile Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha – having a much memorable season.
"I deliberation connected nan connected nan pitch, nan football's been wicked," he says. "We've made nan play-offs. The extremity for this twelvemonth is to effort and get promotion. But yeah, it's been a wicked experience."
