On Friday 25^th October, our Community Sport team hosted a 5-a-side football tournament to mark the one-year anniversary of the fantastic Football for All project.

This initiative, dedicated to supporting the New Scots community from over 10 different nationalities, some of whom are still living in temporary accommodation, has made incredible strides in its first year.

Some first-year milestones include providing a vital health and wellbeing outlet for over 100 New Scots participants, gaining impressive recognition in two national award categories and inspiring similar community projects such as indoor cricket, table tennis and a series of fitness classes delivered in the temporary accommodation. 

These projects and the partners involved make up the “New Scots Community Sports Hub”, which aims to continue to offer opportunities for sports participation for those facing significant barriers due to their circumstances. These milestones highlight just how powerful sport and physical activity can be in building communities and fostering positive relationships.

Before the celebratory tournament kicked off, Imam Dr. Sheikh Ibrahim Alwawi from the Nelson Street Mosque welcomed the players with a speech and shared his admiration for the project. His endorsement, along with the participation of players from the first-ever session, showcases both the lasting impact and sustainability of this initiative within the community.

Imam Dr. Sheikh Ibrahim Alwawi from the Nelson Street Mosque welcoming the players.

A total of 31 members from the New Scots community attended the tournament, forming teams largely based on friendships cultivated through the Football for All project. Thanks to the Kit for All initiative supported by Sport Aberdeen, each team was provided with kits from local football teams. The tournament winners, Kurdish SC, proudly took home the trophy— a hand-crafted piece designed by Joe Coleman in collaboration with Peacock and the Worm, a local Aberdeen-based arts charity.

Tournament Winners Kurdish SC and the Winner’s Trophy

Reflecting on the event, Project Activator Kyle Munro said:

“It’s brilliant to see the one-year anniversary of such a successful project marked with this event. I’m delighted to see some familiar faces from when the project started that have now settled into local clubs, participating alongside our newer arrivals. The fact that they still want to come back shows just how much they have enjoyed the project.”

Kyle also extended his gratitude to the project’s dedicated partners and volunteers:

“I would like to thank our amazing partners, Jayne Smith from Asylum & Refugee Care and Scott Mackenzie of 5ives Football Aberdeen, and our volunteers Mark Scott, Ian Gillan, and Raymond Morrison. They have all contributed greatly to making this project a success over the last year.

Jayne Smith, Asylum & Refugee Care with Winner’s Trophy

“Finally, I’d like to thank Pedro Maciel at Malibu FC and Doug Hudson at Glentannar Reflex AFC for connecting some of the players in our project with their clubs and providing an opportunity for our players in the local community.”

If you’d like to know more about the project or get involved, please contact Kyle via KMunro@sportaberdeen.co.uk