Moving the Goalposts: Actonians LFC and Abresham FC co-host Football Festival for Afghan refugee girls

Girls from Muslim refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds were the "majority not the minority" on the football pitch on Saturday May 7th as over forty 8-12 year-olds participated in a first of its kind football festival.

The tournament hosted by Actonians LFC in partnership with Abresham FC was part of Amnesty International's 'Football Welcomes Refugees' campaign, which aims to give young Muslim girls an opportunity to play sport they might not feel is available to them elsewhere.

Players mixed to form six five-a-side teams, with the main aim of the tournament being inclusion, making new friends, and of welcoming young girls from Muslim Afghan backgrounds into football in London.

Both clubs provided coaches to referee and manage the teams as they battled it out to win an array of medals, trophies and prizes followed by lunch and treats.

Actonians LFC also donated over fifty children's books to contribute to helping young girls access education.

Afghanistan has suffered decades of devastation and conflict and since Kabul fell to the Taliban last summer, the country has been savaged by extreme poverty and human rights abuses.

In times of war, occupation and dictatorship it is women and girls that suffer the most. Speaking at the tournament, Abresham FC manager and coach, Hannah Finlayson, who coordinated the football logistics on the day said: "Many of these girls have gone through difficult times, today is about giving them a fun time in a safe and inclusive space where everyone is welcome. Today Afghan girls are not a minority."

Abresham FC girls were joined by Actonians LFC, whose under 12's manager, Vicky Ward said: "What a way to bring everyone together, the kids loved it.

"Not only was there plenty of young talent but they all made new friends. Today proved just how uniting football can be."

Players demanded rematches and played right up until the last minute before lunch, drinks and snacks, which was provided for free by London's Community Kitchen, based in Harrow.

The kitchen runs off a 'zero waste, zero hunger' policy intercepting fresh surplus food destined for landfill recycling it back into the community. Many women will have experienced difficulties accessing sport, which is even harder for young Muslim women who can face unique challenges, particularly at a time when much of the world is being displaced and diaspora communities continue to grow.

One girl, aged 9, from Abresham LFC, said: "I wasn't allowed to play football in Afghanistan, but now I can. Football makes me happy."

Whilst another who was awarded player of her team explained: "I played so well and scored so many goals even though I'm still learning how to play football."

Finishing her last match she asked; "When will we do this tournament again?"

The event was part of Amnesty International's 'Football Welcomes Refugees' campaign to celebrate the contribution of asylum seekers and refugees to the UK, into communities, and on to football pitches - a goal that was certainly achieved on the day. The Football Festival was the second key event hosted by Actonians LFC which kicked off last month with a friendly five-aside tournament in West London.

Sixty asylum seekers from Eritrea, El Salvador, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kurdistan, Sudan, to name but a few took part. Local politicians including Ealing MP Rupa Huq were rooting from the side-lines along with members of the community eager to raise awareness of the plight of refugees. Following the two hour tournament all players shared an Iftar meal provided by a local Persian restaurant.

Actonians are proud to say Refugees are welcome here, and want to thank everyone for donating to make this month's activities possible.