Organisers, players and youth workers all made the tournament a huge success. Inset: Camden hotshots the Barcelona Blues are one side certainly making the most of their new skills – they’ve won the Under-18s tournament for the second year in a row, scooping a top cash prize

Published: 13 September, 2012
by STEVE BARNETT

ORGANISERS behind a two-touch football tournament that continues to sweep across the capital say they netted the most important goal of all at the weekend following their latest successful venture.

Coaches Charlie Browne and Michael Lyle launched 2TR Football in 2008 while working as sports development officers at the Highgate Newtown Community Centre.

On Saturday they proudly welcomed their biggest turnout yet with scores of teams from across London signing up for the 2012 Youth Championships, which were held at the Powerleague in Royal Route near Wembley Stadium. The day-long tournament delivered on its promise of showcasing silky skills, some excellent team play and glorious goals.

But for Charlie and Michael, the biggest bonus was the young people who chipped in to make the day such a success.

Charlie praised all the hard work done behind the scenes and insisted that the goals scored on the pitch were nothing compared with the ones being achieved off it.

He said: “Everyone worked so hard to make sure that Saturday run smoothly and was a huge success. They all deserve a big pat on the back. I also want to thank Robert Aitken from St Anne’s Church in Highgate who very generously gave us almost £3,500 to help us run the project. What some people miss is that there’s a message being learnt on the pitch that is just as important off it. With our two-touch tournament the ethos is about team play and working together.

“It’s about assessing your options, understanding your surroundings, and then making the right choices.

“These are skills young people can use in life,” he added. “It’s not all about the football, far from it. It’s about offering enthusiastic youngsters a future and giving them employment doing something that they love and enjoy. We had two full-time apprentices helping us organise the tournament, and on Saturday we had six more young adults who got paid to referee, help us keep score, and run the event.”

The four-a-side competition is designed to change the way young people think about football and how they train, improving players’ awareness and how they shield the ball, as well as improving their ball control and skill.