Tower Hamlets Cup: building community cohesion

Miftaul Islam applauds kids’ football as a way to bring communities together.

Wapping is a divided area, and the area’s religious and ethnic divisions often spill into cultural and sporting activity. For example, the children who comprise Wapping Youth FC would not normally mix with the kids from St Katharine’s. But both teams recently took part in a new, knock-out tournament. And while they were on the pitch, the divisions between them were overcome by love of football – and the desire to win the Tower Hamlets Cup.

More than 400 children took part in the borough-wide tournament, culminating in not one but two cup finals (under 13s and under 14s) at the John Orwell Sports Centre in October.

The parents, trainers and supporters who came to see the teams play that day, were understandably enthusiastic about their footballing potential. Proud father Desmond Henry declared: I’ve been watching football all my life, seeing players like Lampard and Ferdinand grow and flourish within the East End of London. I can very honestly tell you, the Lampards and Ferdinands of today are playing at this level.’

Only time will tell. But it’s already clear that kids’ football helps to build cohesion across local communities.

Henry was right to conclude that ‘they need our support.’

 

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