St Helens Town and charities to host inaugural Inclusion Cup

The inter-service 5-aside tournament is scheduled to take place at Ruskin Sports Village on Thursday, 25 April.

The tournament will feature participants from various organisations, including St Helens Town AFC Community Team, Come Together Hub, Enjoy Football, Standing Tall Vets Select, Cafe Laziz, FC Willowbrook, CGL, Hope United, and YMCA St Helens.

The event aims to bring together service users and staff from diverse backgrounds for a day of spirited competition and camaraderie.

The tournament marks a collaborative effort between the football club and recovery charities, Come Together Hub and Change Grow Live St Helens.

Speaking about the inspiration behind the event, Mike Bagshaw from St Helens Town AFC said, "I saw the great work Come Together Hub was doing with its free inclusive football sessions at Parr Sports.

"I reached out to Matty from the Hub, and we discussed how we could work together.

"We talked about similar projects in Liverpool and Manchester and thought, why can't we start something in St Helens."

Acknowledging the support received, Bagshaw added: "Change Grow Live have supported the tournament, and Knauf Insulation have kindly agreed to supply food and refreshments on the day.

"We hope to grow the competition and host more in the future."

The St Helens Town Inclusion Cup promises to be a day filled with community spirit, as teams comprising recovery participants, military veterans, asylum seekers, and other community members vie for glory.

The tournament not only provides an opportunity for service users to engage in friendly competition but also serves as a platform for networking and collaboration among service providers.

The event is open to the public, and spectators are encouraged to attend and show their support for the participating teams.

The St Helens Town Inclusion Cup takes place at Ruskin Sports Village on Thursday, 25 April, 10am-3pm.