Football Championship Trophy wows youth at Regent's Park Estate

Published: August 25, 2011
by STEVE BARNETT

SCORES of excited youngsters followed in the footsteps of some of the footballing greats on Friday when they got their hands on the oldest football trophy in the world.

The Football Championship trophy, originally handed to the old First Division champions prior to the inception of the Premier League in 1992/93, was on show at Cumberland Market in Regent’s Park Estate.

Boys and girls posed next to the prestigious trophy after turning out in force for a popular free training programme organised by the West Euston Partnership (WEP) and QPR in the Community Trust.

WEP co-ordinator Tony Louki said: “We have now run 12 holiday football schools since QPR in the Community Trust first came down to west Euston, and as a result 150 boys and girls have between them clocked up around 5,000 hours of professional coaching.

“One of our objectives is to unite a diverse community, and what’s more diverse than football? You see all the different shirts showing up to take part in the event. A number of Camden primary schools’ children play along side each other who otherwise might not get the chance to meet. There’s no postcode rivalry here, they just want to play football.”

Wrapping up another successful three-week course WEP trustee Steve Smith, who is also the chairman of the Cumberland Market Residents’ Association, said: “It was a great pleasure, as ever, to have QPR in west Euston supporting our football school.

And it was even more satisfying to have the oldest football trophy in the world, which has been lifted by so many great players. I hope it has inspired future generations.”

CEO of QPR in the Community Trust Andy Evans was delighted at being able to continue the work with WEP.

He said: “We have been running soccer camps at Regent’s Park for a number of years, so when we were invited by the West Euston Partnership to go into the communities and work with children who might not otherwise get to enjoy professional training we jumped at the chance.

“It’s great to get children out of their flats and being active, making new friends and learning new skills.”