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Unity Cup: Football tournament brings refugees and local players together

14 June 2007

TWENTY football teams featuring players from all over the world will
take part in a one-day tournament to mark National Refugee Week.

Teams including a mixture of refugees, asylum seekers and British-born
players will go head to head in the six-a-side Unity Cup held at Salford
Sports Village on Saturday (June 16th).

The tournament has been organised by Refugee Action, Salford City
Council, Kick it Out, Manchester FA and Manchester City Council.

Gerard Devaney, community development worker at Refugee Action, said:
“This event will see players of all abilities and from many
different backgrounds coming together for a day of football and family
fun.

“Refugee Action has been involved in Refugee Week football
tournaments in Manchester for the past seven years and are delighted
that this year it is being staged in Salford. This tournament and sport
as a whole can help refugees and asylum seekers to integrate into their
community and feel a real sense of achievement.”

The countries represented in the Unity Cup include Sudan, Ethiopia and
Eritrea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan,
Cameroon and the Yemen. There are also mixed teams of refugees and
British-born players.

There will be no lack of entertainment for spectators and youngsters,
as there will also be a free buffet and play workshops for children
organised by Salford Grumpy.

The Unity Cup will take place at the Salford Sports Village on
Littleton Road, Kersal from 11am until 5pm. Entrance is free and all are
welcome.

PLEASE NOTE: We will require advance notice of at least three working
days if we are to arrange for filming or photography to take place at
the event. For more information, or to request an interview with a
player or organiser contact:

Julia Ravenscroft, Press Officer at Refugee Action Manchester, on 0161
233 1956.

Ends

Notes:

Refugee Week is a UK-wide programme of arts, cultural and
educational events that celebrate the contribution of refugees to the
UK, and encourages a better understanding between communities. Refugee Week 2007 takes place from 18th to 24th June, visit
www.refugeeweek.org.uk for more information.
Refugee Action is an independent, national charity working to
enable refugees to build new lives in the UK. We provide practical
advice and assistance for newly arrived asylum seekers and support their
settlement through community development work. As one of the country’s leading agencies in the field, Refugee Action has 25 years’ experience in pioneering innovative work in partnership with refugees and advised more than 40,000 asylum seekers and refugees last year. Actors for Refugees is supported through Refugee Action's Refugee Awareness Project, which aims to increase public understanding of asylum through workshops, talks and other local events.