Action Reports - Contents

October 2005 Fortnight of Action - Action Reports

5-a-side Football Tournament
Portobello Power League
Love Football, Hate Racism - Get Involved

On the morning of Friday 21st October 2005, PC Edmund Coxon from the Police Youth Action Team, Leith, Edinburgh organised and managed a fantastic 5-a-side Football Tournament for 11 to 16 year olds. He was helped greatly in this task by the City of Edinburgh Council Girls' Football Development Officer, Pauline Macdonald and Sam Buchanan - the Pastor for the Light and Life Mission at Gypsy Brae.

Extra sponsorship came from the lottery fund through the City of Edinburgh Council. Boy and girl participants came from all areas of Edinburgh's community including the Bingham PT Youth Club, Granton Youth Community Group, Hutchyvale, Light and Life Travellers Association, Muirhouse Youth Development Group and the Sikh Community.

The event was well structured and organised. The teams were made up from individual community groups/ youth groups to encourage healthy competition and good sportsmanship across the community. As the tournament progressed the teams that had not gone through to the next round took a keen interest in the remaining match play culminating in an exciting final. At the end of the competition PC Coxon gave thanks to everyone taking part and introduced Councillor Shami Khan (Ward of Mountcastle) to present the various medals, trophies and the tournament cup for the Best Scoring Team.

Mr Khan also made a speech telling everyone how Edinburgh Council were keen to embrace the aims of the Red Card and proclaimed that Edinburgh was one community where everyone was to be treated the same. He then gave out the trophies to the many recipients to much applause then the ravenous players tucked in to a hearty buffet lunch. A splendid day was had by all!

Action report by Red Card volunteer project worker Katharine Aarrestad.