all nations

Nether Edge United Win All Nations

Calum Oakenfold
The 2018 All Nations Festival attracts over 60 players

Congratulations to Nether Edge United, the winners of the annual All Nations Football Festival. Nether Edge United beat Unity Gym 3-1 in the final small sided game.

The All Nations is an annual event hosted by Football Unites Racism Divides (FURD). All Nations aims to use football as a means of bringing people from diverse backgrounds together; in ways that lead to positive interactions and contribute towards greater community cohesion.

“The event was a huge success with over 60 players involved, more than half of those being from Refugee and Asylum Seeker backgrounds. Events such as this, that aim to bring people together to expel misconceived ideas of people from different backgrounds, have a key role to play in relation to community cohesion” Simon Hyacinth, FURD Joint CEO

Another outcome to the event is to encourage more Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic (BAME) involvement in organised football. Teams are invited from across the city (city region) to participate.

Many of the players are from Refugee & Asylum Seeker backgrounds, but player representation also comes from more ‘generic’ communities e.g. white British and second/third generation Asian and Caribbean communities. The event aims to help increase the understanding of people from different and/or migrant backgrounds.

“It was great to see so many different communities coming together to enjoy an afternoon of football. Events like this help to break down social stigmas and barriers, enabling people of any background to play football” Arran Williams, Northern Grassroots Officer, Kick it Out.

 

FURD's Belonging Group (football sessions targeted at refugees and asylum-seekers) take place on Wednesday 11am-12:30pm and Friday 8pm-9pm at the U-Mix centre, Sheffield.  Please get in touch or just come along if you want to get involved.