Local Football - Young footballers from Camden and Islington take part in the Winchester Project

Published: 20 May, 2010
by STEVE BARNETT

THERE might be no English club in Saturday’s Champions League final, but that didn’t stop aspiring young footballers from across Camden and Islington revelling in Europe’s premier competition.
Since the start of May, players have been turning out in force at the Swiss Cottage Sports Pitch to take part in the Winchester Project’s very own version of the competition.

The big winners were West End FC, who saw two teams reach the final of the boys’ under-10s category. Representing Spanish champions Barcelona and Italian giants AC Milan, it was a trophy-triumphant day for the club as they scooped both the winners and the runners-up trophies. There were also individual awards for  Daniel Atege, who was voted the most sporting player, and Dion Sidua, who got his hands on the Top Goalkeeper Award.
As it turned out, Barcelona proved a lucky choice when it came to picking a team, with three other age groups being won by sides representing the Catalan club.

Venus FC and Camden Girls lifted their respective trophies in the under-14s competition, while the senior women’s tournament was won by host club Swiss Cottage after a  penalty shoot-out.
In the remaining finals South Hampstead FC, who were flying the flag for Real Madrid, clinched the boys’ under-12s accolade, while the Copenhagen Youth Project, playing as Manchester City, won the boys’ U-16s title.