19 grassroots football clubs in Westminster came together last weekend for a day of friendly competition.
Taking place on Saturday 15 June at Paddington Recreation Ground, the day kicked off with Unity in the Community (UITC) event, a mixed-gender competition, followed in the afternoon by a Girls Football Festival.
The event, organised by Westminster City Council’s Active Westminster and its leisure operator Everyone Active as part of their Neighbourhood Sports Club programme, kicked off with the Unity in the Community (UITC) mixed-gender football tournament in the morning.
182 players aged seven to 16, regardless of abilities or backgrounds, took to the state-of-the-art pitches, competing in friendly matches aimed at uniting the community through sport.
“There was amazing community spirit, and everyone displayed great sportsmanship,” said Dilu Miah, Coordinator of the Queen’s Park Bangladesh Association, whose under-12 team participated. “This was the first tournament our U12 team have experienced, and they thoroughly enjoyed every minute.”
The Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councillor Robert Rigby, joined the morning’s activities.
Later in the afternoon, a Girls Football Festival was held to commemorate the upcoming Women’s World Cup.
Local girls took part in skills sessions and friendly matches, the festival celebrating women’s football’s growing popularity while encouraging young girls to try the sport themselves.
Nicole Fox, Everyone Active Contract Activity and Wellbeing Manager said: “We are extremely proud to be able to offer such amazing events and sessions to those throughout Westminster and beyond.
“Saturday was an incredible day, and the number of children we had attend reminded myself and the team how far we have come with reaching our goal of supporting children and other communities in their physical and mental wellbeing.
“Our goal is to ensure everyone – no matter their age or background – has the same opportunity to improve their mental and physical health to lead a happy and fulfilling lifestyle.”
The Lord Mayor said: “Football fever is gripping the nation with the Euros, and it certainly gripped Paddington Recreation Ground for the Unity in the Community football tournament. It was a pleasure to watch local teams go through their paces and hand out medals to winners.
“At events like Unity in the Community you see how much fitness can inspire young people – not only through the on-pitch action but also the skills it teaches around teamwork. My Mayoral year is all about inspiring activity among the young, and this was a great example of precisely that.”
The event was organised under the umbrella of the Neighbourhood Sports Clubs Programme which provides up to 150 hours a week of free or low-cost activities, programme offers members of the community who live, work or study in Westminster the opportunity to take part in accessible sporting activities throughout the year.
