The Bangladesh Football Association (BFA) UK, through its volunteering scheme, is delivering a publicity campaign, funded by Leaside Regeneration, to promote the recruitment drive for Fire Fighters from the local community. The idea behind this project is to engage young people in enterprise and employment related activities. The young volunteers delivering this project are ALE RASUL, NIAMAT SHAER, MUJIBUR RAHMAN and NIAZ MUHAMMAD. They are all local citizens, residing in the Wapping and Shadwell areas.

As part of the project delivery, the volunteers organised a free 5-a-side football tournament for under 19’s on Saturday 25 February at the Mile End Leisure Centre. An overwhelming interest and response was achieved, with twenty-five teams applying. The tournament, however, was limited to sixteen teams only. Teams from all parts of Tower Hamlets, and also the neighbouring Boroughs of Newham and Hackney entered this event.

Around two hundred youngsters turned up on the day and the whole of the Mile End complex erupted with local support and cheers once the competition commenced. Four groups of four teams were arranged to compete in a league system. The winners and runners-up of each group would progress onto the quarter-finals. This stage was a knockout system and the winners would progress onto the semi-finals. The two eventual winners from this stage, Bromley By Bow FC and Mohammadan SC, reached the grand final. Whilst the two finalists were appreciating a little rest, an exhibition match between the volunteers and the management committee of the BFA took place. The experience of the BFA team paid off as they won on the golden goal rule at extra time.

The final was played in a competitive and sporting spirit. Both teams were geared up to win the ultimate prize - the winners’ cup and trophies. Bromley By Bow took an early lead through Oli. Mohammadan were still confident they could come back. A second from Bromley gave them a comfortable lead, at which stage Mohammadan stepped up a gear. The first half score was 2-0 to Bromley. The second half started in the same vain with Mohammadan gaining a goal back. Bromley themselves stepped it up and took a 3-1 lead. At this stage Bromley were cruising and thoroughly enjoying the game. Bromley subsequently scored two more goals but Mohammadan could only match it with one. Bromley emerged as 5-2 victors in a very fast and competitive final.

With Bromley By Bow and Mohammadan taking the two cups and all the trophies, Razaul of Globe Town took the most coveted individual prize – the player of the tournament trophy. Razaul displayed a consistent performance throughout the tournament, even though his side exited the competition at the semi-final stage.

This event was truly an enjoyable day. An array of local talent was on display. David Martin and Manjit Singh, from the LFB recruitment team, were special guests. They were both very impressed with the organisation of the whole event and the remarkable talent on show. David said that the “London Fire Brigade were delighted to be involved with the whole project as well as the 5-a-side competition, organised by the BFA. The standard of football was excellent with all 16 teams playing the games in a good spirit. This was an ideal opportunity for the London Fire Brigade to interact with local people and promote the career of a fire fighter.”