18 young people from Somerset are celebrating after an impressive performance at a national football tournament led to 2 players being selected to represent England in a match against Wales later this year.
The group, made up of young people in care and care leavers from Somerset, travelled to Milton Keynes to take part in the Pro Alliance Champions Cup, a national tournament bringing together care-experienced young people from local authorities across the country.
Representing Somerset across 2 6-a-side teams, the young people took on opponents from across England in a packed day of fast-paced football at MK Dons Stadium. In the county’s first ever appearance in the competition, both teams progressed through the group stages unbeaten to reach the quarter-finals.
Lewis, 17, shares a love of football with his grandad and has been playing since he was 4 years old. He hopes to become a PE teacher or sports coach, and said the tournament exceeded all expectations:
MK Dons is a big stadium and a club you hear about, so getting the chance to play there was amazing.
I didn’t really know what to expect. I thought it would just be a bit of fun, but when we got there, I realised how big the tournament was. There were loads of teams from all over the country and it was really competitive.
The opportunity was organised through Somerset Council’s fostering service and delivered in partnership with Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP), which provided 2 training sessions ahead of the tournament.
Lewis, who was unable to attend the training, arrived at the tournament without knowing any of his teammates, many of whom were Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children. With significant language barriers to overcome, Lewis quickly found himself helping the team communicate both on and off the pitch, taking on a leadership role and using football to bring the team together:
A lot of the players in our team didn’t speak much English, so we had to find different ways to communicate. I used football signals and just tried to help everyone out.
It was challenging at times, but we supported each other and were able to work as a team.
The team’s success did not go unnoticed. During the tournament, Lewis and another young person were identified by selectors and invited to take part in an England v Wales representative fixture later this year. They will also attend a training experience at St George’s Park, the official training ground of the England team who are currently competing in the World Cup.
Reflecting on the moment he learned he had been selected, Lewis said:
After one of the matches, someone came up to me and asked if I was Mid-Somerset number 3. They showed me their notes and asked if I’d like to play for England against Wales.
I was shocked when they mentioned St George’s Park and playing as part of an England team. It’s an amazing opportunity and I’m really looking forward to it, but I don’t think my mates believe me at the moment.
Cllr Heather Shearer, Lead Member for Children, Families and Education, said:
We are incredibly proud of all 18 young people who represented Somerset at the tournament. They showed fantastic sportsmanship throughout the day and were excellent ambassadors for the county.
To reach the quarter-finals in our first year was a tremendous achievement, and for 2 players to go on and earn the opportunity to represent England makes it even more special.
The experience demonstrates the positive impact that sport can have in building confidence, developing skills and raising aspirations, and I’d also like to thank Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership for supporting our team.
The opportunity was organised through Somerset Council’s fostering service and delivered in partnership with SASP, whose training sessions helped prepare the teams ahead of the competition.
Alex Lyons, Young People’s Sport and Physical Development Officer at SASP, led the team’s training in the run-up to the tournament and supported the players on the day.
Reflecting on the experience of watching Somerset’s young people compete in a 30,000-seat stadium, he described the occasion as “something truly special” and praised the team’s attitude both on and off the pitch:
The lads represented Somerset brilliantly, both in training and on the day, showing fantastic attitude, support, and sportsmanship towards everyone.
The football they played was outstanding, and the extra bonus of having 2 players selected to represent England made an unforgettable experience even more special.
With football currently capturing the imagination of fans around the world, Somerset’s young players have already created a sporting success story of their own. From playing at a professional stadium and working together to overcome challenges, to reaching the quarter-finals and seeing 2 players earn England opportunities, the tournament created lasting memories and experiences that will stay with them long after the final whistle.
And while Lewis is looking forward to representing England himself later this year, he is currently cheering on the national side in the lead up to Saturday’s quarter final between Norway and England.
Lewis said:
England has had a hard run of fixtures but overcome them, Norway will be a tough game, but I think we will beat them quite comfortably.
Somerset Council hopes to continue working with SASP and partners to provide similar opportunities in the future, helping more young people and care leavers develop skills, build confidence and achieve their potential through sport.
If you’d like to learn more about supporting a vulnerable young person as a foster carer, visit fosteringinsomerset.org.uk. Foster carers need to be aged 21 or over with a spare room in their home.
