The Football Youth Project was run and funded jointly by Sutton United Football Club and Stonecot Safer Neighbourhoods Policing Team with the support of the Time Out Youth Project which meets at the Sutton Life Centre.
"I'm delighted to say that I believe further such initiatives are planned in the borough"
The seven week initiative was run as a mini-league at the Life Centre’s soccer pitch with 30-40 young people playing in one of four teams with representatives of Sutton United and Stonecot Safer Neighbourhood’s Team supporting the tournament every week.
The youngsters formed themselves into four teams - Real Madrid, Sutton United, Shamrock United and Crystal Palace.
PCSO Stephen King said the young people who came along just wanted to play soccer rather than be coached so the mini league was arranged. “Real Madrid and Sutton United came out joint winners,” he said.
The awards were presented to the young players at a bar-b-que presentation evening on Friday, 19 September.
Acting Chief Insp Tyre said: “These young people benefited from this Football Youth Project because there is a willingness in Sutton for organisations to come together to make a positive difference and I’m delighted to say that I believe further such initiatives are planned in the borough.
We greatly appreciate the time and effort put into co-ordinating and running this free youth football event by Sutton United. It has provided a much needed activity to engage the many local youths who came along on a Friday night during the summer.
We have seen very little anti-social behaviour reported during this time. We would like to take this opportunity to thanks Sutton United and look forward to future partnership working."