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Teams from all over the UK gathered together on Saturday 12th May at the Hive Football Centre, the training ground of Barnet FC, to compete in the prestigious UK Asian Community Cup 2012 organised by London Tigers.
The semi-finals saw previously twice-winners London APSA beat Punjab United 3-1. Last year’s champions Beaumont FC drew 1-1 against three-time winners London Tigers before Beaumont won on sudden death penalties.
The Cup Final will take place on Thursday 17th May at QPR FC’s Loftus Road Stadium with a 2pm kick off. Entry to the match is free.
This is the tenth year of the competition and teams from Birmingham, Glasgow, London, Luton, Preston and Wolverhampton entered for a chance to win the Cup and a lifetime opportunity to play in a professional stadium which many others can only dream about.
This annual football festival is organised by London Tigers in partnership with a professional football clubs, this year with Barnet FC and QPR FC. The Festival first began in 2003 when Chelsea FC and London Tigers became the first organisations in London to work together to promote Asian grassroots talents to other professional clubs as well as the public and media.
There are over hundreds of Asian Football teams that play in local leagues from grassroots level to semi-professional in the UK. This has moved on from only a few years ago. Many clubs have developed themselves now to provide opportunities for Asian players to get to mainstream football. London Tigers is one of clubs, having started out as a local community team; it formed into an organisation working across a range of themes from youth to community cohesion to international work. However at its heart it still holds football as a tool to engaging the community, with around 18 teams from under-8s to veterans including a semi-professional team attached to it.
London Tigers created the UK Asian Community Cup to provide a pathway for Asians come together and compete for a prestigious opportunity to play in a professional stadium. The festival also has a strong agenda of kicking racism out of football by showing that Asians can play just as well provided that they are given the right opportunities and access to quality resources. The festival attracts players from over 25 nationalities and thousands of spectators over the duration of each festival.
“London Tigers are delighted to have organised this national Football Tournament whereby some of the best Asian football teams from across the country compete for a unique place in the final at Loftus Road” Says Mesba Ahmed Chief Executive London Tigers “We have partnered with two London professional clubs this year and thank both Barnet FC and QPR FC for their kind support in the 10th year of the event”
Over the past ten years the tournament has enjoyed support from dignitaries such as Gordon Brown former Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, Former Secretary of State for Sports, Gerry Sutcliffe former Minister for Sports, Richard Scudamore, CEO Premier League, Paul Thorogood, CEO Football Foundation, Gordon Taylor Professional Footballers Association and MPs, MEPs and local councillors as well as Kick it out and The FA.
Over the history of the UK Asian Community Cup Festival, we have also had coverage from both ethnic and mainstream media such as Sky Sports TV News and the BBC Asian Network and others.
For further Information Please contact:
Mesba Ahmed
Chief Executive London Tigers
07949 189191