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BBC News
18-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Middlesbrough hosts first northern Homeless World Cup trials
A North East town has hosted the "first ever" Team England trials for the Homeless World Cup outside tournament, organised by MFC Foundation and Street Soccer London, took place at Middlesbrough's Sports came from Liverpool, Newcastle, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Sunderland, Stockton and Mayor Chris Cooke said the local authority was proud to hold the event. "Football is in the town's DNA and to see it used as a force for good was inspiring. The whole event showed off Middlesbrough at our best," he people, or those who have been homeless, were eligible for the competition. The council said it was the "first time ever" that trials for Team England had been held outside LondonTeams were split into three groups for the tournament, the winners of which - Hackney Tactics, Holgate Army and Teesside Reds - received a Juma, head coach of the England team, will be part of a committee which will select eight players to represent England at the next Homeless World Cup in Oslo in Juma said: "I don't know how we're going to do it."There are some seriously good players here. We have some big decisions to make and we'll have to make them by next week." England were beaten finalists last year when the tournament was held in Seoul, South were managed then by Craig McManus, Acting Head of MFC Foundation, who had played for Scotland in the tournament in 2016. He will again be in charge this year."Today's event means so much to me, personally," he said."We can empathise with the players today. The tournament is important, of course it is, but we need to help everyone find a pathway to support."We asked everyone to show respect to each other today, to talk with each other, to help."I don't think we needed to, there was a special atmosphere created by the participants. "You could see that on the pitch and hearing it when walking around mixing with everyone." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
05-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Chris Kamara says Middlesbrough hub will make 'mega difference'
Plans for a new football and community hub in Chris Kamara's hometown have been granted Football Club (MFC) Foundation was awarded a £100,000 grant from the Sky Bet EFL Building Foundations Fund for the development in the Park End area of footballer and broadcaster Kamara said the Southlands Centre project, with its upgraded pitches and new community rooms, would make a "mega difference".Acting Head of MFC Foundation Craig McManus added: "We want it to feel like the biggest living room in the area where people feel like they can just come along and be part of it." Nine EFL club charities were awarded a share of £520,000 to support community-focused Middlesbrough player Kamara told BBC Radio Tees he remembered playing football in the area as a youngster, using jumpers for said: "When I was growing up obviously people didn't have money, it was a deprived area and it's still, in certain parts of Park End, a deprived area today."Things like this can only make them happy."Kamara added: "Never forget where you're coming from and myself and Steve Gibson [the chairman and owner of Middlesbrough Football Club] never, ever forget that." Mr McManus said the "state-of-the-art" development would have a "wow factor"."This is about creating lifelong memories and a safe space in the community where people really belong."Middlesbrough Council and the MFC Foundation are working together on the Southlands timeline of the build would be announced over the next couple of months, Mr McManus said."Watch this space," he said."There's already that buzz there, so we're just excited to break the ground and get moving." Other EFL Club charities awarded funding include:Norwich City FC Community Foundation won £90,000 towards a scheme that aims to reduce isolation by training volunteers of all agesWigan Athletic Community Trust won £30,000 for its Adult Disability Football ProgrammeSwindon Town FC Foundation won funding for solar panels at Foundation ParkPreston North End Community Trust won funding for its Back in the Game projectBurnley in the Community received funding to help adults boost their employabilityThe EFL said the remaining Club charities awarded funding would be announced shortly. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
