Liverpool County FA is delighted to be nominated as a finalist in the Kick it Out Promotion Inclusion Award category in the Ladbrokes Northwest Football Awards, for our inaugural World in One City League. 

The league was developed and delivered by our Inclusion Football Development Officer, Stuart Carrington, across the 2021/21 season has been recognised for its achievements both on and off the pitch. 

“We have several nationalities from across the globe residing in Merseyside, from communities who have lived here for generations and those who have been resettled here through their refugee and asylum status,” said Stuart. “They have embraced the Scouse way of life, yet their cultures, traditions and communities remain paramount to them. Even with foreign tongues, we all speak football, and football here in Merseyside is a way of life. Therefore, we decided to use football to break down barriers with our communities and bring them together.”

12 teams participated each week over a six-month period, with over 200 participants registered and playing, of whom 180 were ethnically diverse footballers, with players ages ranging from 16-55 years of age. Each team felt immense pride in representing their community, country and culture and each wore their own national team football strips.

Working in collaboration with the delivery of courses for a Crime Prevention Programme, 12 of our players completed their Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Football qualification, with an additional 10 players completing an FA Basic Referees Course. receiving a full referees kit.

“The World in One City League is the first of its kind to be delivered and it has been a huge success,” added Stuart. “Merseyside is full of different ethnicities, cultures and creeds – and we’re delighted that we have been able to use the power of football to bring together 12 different communities, who have formed a friendly but very competitive league. For this programme to be acknowledged and selected as a finalist in this category is a huge honour and a testament to the players, coaches, referees and volunteers of the league.

The Gala Dinner takes place at The Point, Emirates Old Trafford on Monday 22 November from 6.30pm, hosted by Dan Walker.