Exeter City to hold community football tournament

Exeter City Football Club will once again celebrate local diversity by holding a community football tournament on Sunday 3 July.  Both male and female teams will compete for trophies.

The 6 a side competition has been organised by Exeter City Supporters Trust’s One Game One Community Group and Exeter City’s Football in the Community team.

It will take place at the University of Exeter’s Streatham Sports Complex.

The tournament, now in its 12th year, encourages participation from local community teams and especially black and minority ethnic players. The event attracts players from many different parts of the world. Past finalists have included sides representing Poland, Slovakia, Africa, Afghanistan, Lithuania and Saudi Arabia. Devon’s gay friendly team, the Devon Lions are also regular participants.

This year will also see a women’s tournament – clearly a popular move as organisers report that all the available places for this have already been taken.

Support for the tournament has come from the University of Exeter, Devon FA, Tesco, Kick it Out, Exeter City Football Club Football in the Community and Exeter City Supporters Trust.

The tournament will be launched at 10.45am by Exeter’s Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Peter Holland. Exeter City players and officials also plan to attend the launch.

Exeter City’s One Game One Community Group is part of the national Kick It Out campaign which aims to address all types of discrimination in football including race, disability, gender, age, religion and sexual orientation.

“Exeter City is once again flying the flag for diversity with this long running community event” said Martin Weiler for the One Game One Community Group. “We are delighted to be holding a women’s competition this year and excited by the level of interest in this”.

For more information on entering a team for the tournament visit http://www.exetercityfitc.co.uk/tournaments