Category: Sport
Date: 08.02.2006
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"We live in a rich, powerful and diverse country. But not everyone feels part of
it, and we believe a love
of football is one of the best ways of bringing people together. Your Game is
going to be competitive
and it's going to be passionate - but our hope is that it will also change lives
for the better. I'm proud
that the 91Èȱ¬ and its partners are launching this initiative." -
Roger Mosey, Head of 91Èȱ¬ Sport
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Your Game is a pilot event which aims to use the power of football to reach out
to marginalised groups in some of the most economically deprived areas of the country.
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It is a unique opportunity for more than 2,000 specially invited men and women
aged
16 to 25 to engage with the 91Èȱ¬, football organisations and local community groups
for the first time.
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Your Game will work with existing projects that use football as a tool for social
change and bring
them all together for the first time, making it a project unprecedented in terms
of scale and scope.
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It has the support of 91Èȱ¬ Regional News, Community Channel and the
91Èȱ¬ Sport Academy in identifying life-changing stories among competitors.
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But it's not just about the football...
Your Game will open the door to training opportunities in football and the media:
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Free FA courses for men and women who want to become coaches or referees
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Advice on funding and grants and closer ties with professional clubs
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91Èȱ¬ training opportunities with the likes of 91Èȱ¬ Sport and 1Xtra
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Richard Caborn, Minister for Sport, said: "This is a fantastic idea, and really
shows the power that sport
has to engage and inspire.
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"Your Game is an effective way to get people involved
in football, reaching out
to those in deprived communities who may not otherwise have the opportunity.
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"I
hope it proves to be
an equally effective gateway for people into the world of football, be that as a
referee, or coach."
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Your Game is a nationwide, seven city, invitational five-a-side tournament for men
and women aged
16 to 25 in partnership with:
The Football Association; The Football Foundation;
The FA Premier League; Street League;
Kick It Out; and The Professional Footballers' Association.
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So far 100 different community groups have signed up to the project.
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With teams
from
organisations representing ethnic minorities, refugees and asylum seekers, the
homeless,
people with learning disabilities and others, it is hoped the event will act as a
spur to groups to
join affiliated football at a later stage and to connect with training
opportunities in their area.
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The regional qualifiers will take place in Newcastle, Manchester, Sheffield,
Liverpool,
Birmingham, Southampton/ Portsmouth and London in March and April 2006 with the
finals
taking place at the end of May 2006.
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AB
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