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For the first time, the trials, the only ones to be held outside London, were staged at our new Southlands facility and featured nine teams from the north of England from as far afield as Liverpool.
The weather held fair, allowing some serious competition across three groups throughout a well-organised day.
The three group winners were Social Inclusion Through Sport B from Newcastle, Recovery Connections from Middlesbrough and Recovery Connections Hartlepool.
Well done to those teams, though the real winners were all the participants from the nine teams.
Every player left with a smile on their face. That might seem like a small thing, but the reality is that for some of them life isn’t always full of happy places or happy moments.
A spokesman for Street Soccer, the organisers for the England team and so much more, commented: “For a few hours today, because of you at Middlesbrough FC Foundation, they felt welcomed, valued, encouraged and able to just enjoy being themselves – and you can’t put a value on that.
“The care, patience, kindness and attention you gave to every player was something really special.”
“Thank you to the Foundation, who have some very special people working there, Middlesbrough Football Club and Middlesbrough Council for allowing us the opportunity to stage this event here in Middlesbrough.
“We are very grateful at Street Soccer and Team England for what has been done for us.”
Putting everything into perspective, was one of the participants, David Kennedy, who was brutally honest about his past and hopes for the future.
“I was finding it difficult to find my feet in life. At times I just didn’t want to carry on; I didn’t want to wake up on a morning. The opportunity with Street Soccer opened my eyes and changed my life.
“I was lucky to play in the last World Cup in Oslo and seeing so many different people from different countries and cultures was incredible. To see so many people smiling, when behind closed doors there’s probably a million problems going on, it put things into perspective about how football can change lives.
“I feel I belong somewhere now, and I hope I can use my experience to help other people now.”
Teams from two of our programmes, Think With Your Feet and Football Welcomes, were represented at the trials.
If you would like to know more about either of those programmes, ring 01642 757674, e-mail [email protected] or pop in and see us at the Southlands Community and Sport Hub at the Stewart Park end of Ormesby Road in Middlesbrough.
Thank you to everyone who made this event happen, to the participants go well and go safely in the future and look after each other and to those who are lucky enough to be selected for the next World Cup in Mexico in January, safe travels and enjoy the experience.