Alby Churven is a 13-year-old go-getter. Not only does this high-school student have a part-time job delivering Illawarra Flame magazines, he is also the founder of small business Alpha Gripz, which sells sports socks and supports the Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (MCCI).
Alby is in year 8 at Edmund Rice College and plays soccer for Ts11 Wollongong Academy. Alongside his team, he will be participating in the Independent Football Australia (IFA) National Cup 2025. Alby started playing soccer at age 6 with Easts FC, then with Coledale Waves in the U10s, and was selected by South Coast Flame for U11-U13s.
“I love soccer and the ocean and business,” Alby says. “I didn’t really like soccer when I first started, but I started to fall back into liking it when I was about 10.”
Alby fell in love with soccer during Covid-19 lockdowns. His mum, Anna, says that he could often be spotted at St James Park, Coledale, training by himself, rain, hail or shine.
“He started to catch the eye of some different coaches who were just like ‘Who is this kid that’s just so obsessed and always out there in the rain, training?’” Anna says.
Last year, Alby launched Alpha Gripz, selling grip socks that can be worn in many sports.
“All the A-league players wear grip socks,” Alby says.
“Grip socks are supposed to reduce friction in your boot, so you don’t slip around in them. They prevent blisters – I used to get a lot of blisters with normal socks. They help absorb sweat and overall make your performance better.”
Alby designed his socks with these issues in mind, then sent off the designs to be manufactured.
“There are different material sections all along the sock to make sure that they’re tighter to your foot. Nice and compressed around your arch and they give you a bit of room to breathe around the top of your toes, but aren’t too baggy.
“It was pretty challenging to come up with design ideas. The logo took ages. The website also took a lot of time, and making lots of content.”
Alby’s socks cost from $25 a pair and his school, community and players at all levels have supported his enterprise. Alex Bonetig, defender for Western Sydney Wanderers, has been spotted wearing Alpha Gripz on the field. Players from APIA Leichhardt FC, South Coast Flame FC and Wollongong Wolves FC also support Alby’s brand and this year he is proud to be supplying local club Coledale Waves with socks.
To give back, Alby has donated Alpha Gripz to MCCI’s Youth Multicultural Football team. “There are refugee kids, women and men from like six years old to any age, and they get together at the Fraternity Club in Fairy Meadow and play soccer all together,” he says. “I went there one time to play with the other kids and give them some socks.”
Anna adds: “They had something like 28 different nationalities on the field that day. There’s so many languages getting around out on the pitch, but everyone knows how to play soccer and it’s very competitive and very fun.”
One day Alby hopes to donate a portion of every sock purchase to MCCI.
Alby is also planning an online education business to mentor other teenagers. He says the key to supporting young people in businesses is to take their ideas seriously.
“Believe it – don’t think it’s just a silly idea and brush it off. You just think your kid is talking nonsense, but actually listen to what they’re talking about.”
Alpha Gripz has white socks in stock, with pink, black and red versions available soon.
Visit alphagripz.com.au or follow @alphagripz on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok
