A Yorkshire coach who gave up his dream of becoming a professional boxing trainer to build a grassroots football movement for children in his community has partnered with a payments provider to support the academy’s rapid growth.
Goalacticos Football Academy was founded by Bilal Dadhiwala after more than a decade in boxing — a career that saw him help develop champions across Yorkshire, including fighters who represented England and Great Britain, and earn an invitation to work within the national setup.
But just as he was preparing to take his professional boxing coach licence, his path changed.
“As many of you know, I’ve spent over 10 years coaching boxing,” said Mr Dadhiwala. “In that time, I’ve been blessed to help create champions — some who’ve gone on to represent England and GB — and I was even invited to coach with the England setup.
“The next step for me was clear: I was about to take my professional boxing coach licence. That was my dream, and I’d worked hard to get there. But then, something shifted.”
The turning point came through his son, Salahuddin, who began pursuing his own ambition of becoming a footballer. Supporting him opened Mr Dadhiwala’s eyes to a gap in the grassroots system.
“I realised that in football, so much attention is given to kids aiming for academies, while so many others — just as passionate — get left behind,” he said. “That didn’t sit right with me.”
Drawing on the discipline, resilience and mindset he had instilled in young boxers, Mr Dadhiwala decided to channel his experience into a new venture — one focused not solely on elite pathways, but on inclusion and character development.
“So I made the decision to sacrifice my dream of becoming a professional boxing coach, and instead, I started Goalacticos,” he said. “This is about more than football. It’s about giving every child, regardless of colour, religion, or ability, the chance to play, to grow, and to enjoy the beautiful game — while building the life skills that sport teaches us.”
The academy also works alongside community initiatives, including Knives Down, Gloves Up and other local street organisations, with a shared aim of steering young people away from negative influences through sport and mentorship.
“My mission now is simple: to help kids in our community develop, to love the game, and to believe in themselves,” Mr Dadhiwala added. “That’s what Goalacticos is all about.”
As participation has grown, so too have the operational demands of running a community club. Recently, the academy partnered with Total Payments, which has provided a card terminal to make fee collection easier for families and streamline administration.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Total Payments for stepping in and helping us with a card terminal solution,” said Mr Dadhiwala. “As a grassroots academy, every bit of support counts. Having a simple, reliable way for parents to make payments has made a huge difference to how we operate. It allows us to focus on what truly matters — the kids.”
Nick Mehat, of Total Payments, said the decision to support the academy was driven by its wider social impact.
“When we heard Bilal’s story and the mission behind Goalacticos, we knew we wanted to be involved,” he said. “What he’s building goes far beyond football — it’s about community, opportunity, and giving young people the right guidance.
“At Total Payments, we’re proud to support local organisations that are making a real difference. Providing the card terminal was a small part for us, but we know it helps them continue the incredible work they’re doing.”
For Mr Dadhiwala, the partnership represents more than practical support — it is a sign that the wider business community believes in the academy’s mission.
And as Goalacticos continues to expand across Yorkshire, its founder remains focused on the same core principle that guided him from the boxing ring to the football pitch: developing not just better players, but better people.
