HACKNEY V REDBRIDGE FOUR-A-SIDE FOOTBALL IS DIAMOND!

LOCSP Press Release – Thursday 29 January 2009

HACKNEY V REDBRIDGE FOUR-A-SIDE FOOTBALL IS DIAMOND!

This week saw the first-ever Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme (LOCSP) ‘Diamond 4’ football competition held at Hainault Youth Centre in Redbridge.

The Diamond 4 format of playing football was introduced by LOCSP to encourage control and ball skills leading to being comfortable and confident in possession, whilst the small-sided game also allows for lots more contact with the ball.

All six of the London boroughs that LOCSP work in (Redbridge, Barking & Dagenham, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham and Waltham Forest) now host or visit another borough on a monthly basis, usually in a tournament format. This can be a specific sport, as in this case, or a multi-sport competition.

Redbridge met Hackney over the Diamond 4 football competition last week, the two boroughs represented by two teams each made up of U14 regulars at both the Hainault Youth Centre Kickz sessions and the Mabley Green sessions in Hackney.

Each team played the others twice with the top two playing out an exciting final that saw Redbridge beat Hackney 4-2. Running alongside this was a ‘Skills Crew’ competition – similar to the Soccer AM TV programme ‘Skill School’, which saw youngsters try their skills against each other.

Howard Gould, LOCSP Redbridge Community Development Officer said:

"We have been playing a version of Diamond 4 for a while here at Hainault and so
had no worries that it would be a success. The young people picked up the simple
rules very quickly and some of the skills on display were tremendous – a joy to
watch.

“It was also brilliant to see young people from different boroughs mixing and applauding each other, looking forward to playing each other again and proving that the work we do is definitely worthwhile".

Yassin Abidou, LOCSP Hackney Development Officer said:

“Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and the Diamond 4 concept was a great success. I’d like to thank Wendy at Redbridge Council for being a wonderful host
and for looking after the boys from Hackney with lots of refreshments.

“Thanks also to Howard for the invitation and other staff on the day including Dominic, Keon and Yacine.

“Everyone is looking forward to Howard bringing his team down over February half-term for the return tournament.”

For more information about LOCSP in Redbridge please contact Howard Gould on 020 8556 5973 or email howard.gould@locsp.org

For more information about LOCSP in Hackney please contact Yassin Abidou on 020 8556 5973 or email yassin.abidou@locsp.org.