News | MATCH DAY NORTH - TUESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER
The North-East chapter of the project seems to be growing by the minute with 15 teams turning up for the latest match day.
With eight teams progressing through to the finals, the competition really was red hot but all games were played in the right spirit, producing some action packed games.
The top two teams from the group stages progressed along with the two best runners-up. A frantic final came down to Tyneside Foyer and Newcastle Kickz, with Tyneside grinding out a well-earned 1-0 win.
But as always a second prize for fair play was also awarded to the team that displayed the best sportsmanship, Sunderland 2 picking up that particular trophy.
With plenty of teams to keep occupied there was the return of the ever-popular crossbar challenge and penalty shootout. But a new addition to the day was football-tennis, a game that seemed to frustrate and delight in equal measure.
The North East region introduced the SUNEE Street League scheme in August and the results are already beginning to show.
More and more people are being helped by the project, one such success story is Thomas ‘Rossi’ Ross. Originally a participant in training and on match day, Ross now volunteers on match day as well as coaching side ‘De Paul A’.
“I found out about SUNEE Street League through a friend and went to a training session,” said Ross.
“I used to just sit in the house, but now I’m back into my football and it gets me off the sofa.”
SUNEE Street League has already proven a big hit in London and Glasgow and with the North-East region arguably the nation’s football hotbed, the success and popularity should come as no surprise.
“It’s a good feeling to help out and even better to see more and more people coming along too,” added Ross.
SUNEE Street League aims to help groups that are not in education, employment and training (NEET) through football and gives participants the chance to gain qualifications to help them on their way to a successful future.
Article written by Andy Spoors SUNEE Journalism Scholar-November 2009
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