For those who have been following our Foundation news for some time, you will have read about our fantastic Leeds customer football teams. You remember how they gained from the sport, which offers opportunities for social inclusion – learning through good sportsmanship many skills that will help the players in their everyday lives. The Leeds team that managed the football teams, and many of their customers have recently changed service provider. Foundation wishes all of those involved in the football teams, staff and customers, all the very best for the future. We hope to meet them on the pitch again soon!

Here is the final football team catch up from Brent:

Ten teams entered the NEA Social Inclusion League tournament at Durham University on 30th March. Our players now know a few of the other teams and a couple of the “fist punches” that youngsters do nowadays, instead of the more traditional handshake, greeted some of our players on arrival. Conversations with other teams ensued and this is so pleasing to see.
We again won the competition, going unbeaten throughout. Played 6, won 5, drew 1.  We played a team from Sunderland in the final who we early drew 0-0 with. We came out of a tight match the right side of a  1-0 score line. Winning is great, but not the main aim of the day. Fair play, good conduct on and off the field are the real reason we attend and our team did Foundation, and indeed the city of Leeds, proud in this respect.Kearon asked if he could have the trophy the first week as he wanted to show his mum it. Daniel B our captain handed it straight over to him.

Darren, our keeper pulled off one outstanding point blank reaction save and went the whole tournament without conceding a goal. I thought his performance, particularly that save could have earned him the player of the tournament award. Coincidentally another keeper got the player of the tournament award. Darren led the applause at the presentation and this says a lot about him.
Natasha Bibby offered great support for our lads and jumped in the air and let out a huge “get in” shout when we got what proved to be the winning goal in the final. This one act neatly summed up for me what our football  sessions have been about this past four years, passion and genuine joy in the positive achievements of individuals as well as the team.
Ibby, Debbie-Lea, Debs Hodgson, Peter Richards and Natasha have, as have many others, supported the football sessions throughout the past four years and without their commitment the sessions  could not have run. A massive thanks to all. Last and certainly not least thanks to Foundation for seeing the potential the football sessions had and for the financial backing in the early days. Team-Dan B (capt) Darren B, Dan L, Jayden H, Daniel B, Kearon F, Matthew P.