Fans come together for tournament to support local food projects

Spurs supporters and local community groups faced off against each other in a tournament to raise money for Haringey Community Food Network (HCFN) on Saturday morning.

The six-a-side action at Haringey Borough’s Coles Park Stadium was organised by Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, as part of the Premier League Fans Fund.

It was the first in a series of tournaments to take place on home matchday mornings over the coming season. All entry fees are going to HCFN, as are any donations of food participants are able to make.

This continues the long-term backing of the Club, Foundation and fans for the 50-plus food banks, community kitchens and other food projects supported by HCFN.

Saturday’s teams were made up of players from Spurs REACH, Women of the Lane, Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust, the Proud Lilywhites and others, as well as the Foundation itself.

Darren Phillips, Foundation youth and community manager, said: “It was a brilliantly fun and competitive morning, and definitely a good way for supporter group members who attended the Bayern Munich game to get themselves energised to cheer on the team!

“We were also really pleased representatives of HCFN, as well as the Antwerp Arms, where hot meals are distributed to those in need every Tuesday, were able to come along and give us a real insight into why local food projects are so important.”

Data released last year showed a third of Haringey residents experienced food insecurity and were unable to consistently provide their household with healthy food.

Main causes of early death in Haringey are cancer (37 per cent) and cardiovascular disease (24 per cent), and food poverty is among factors that can be linked to these.

The Premier League Fans Fund provides grants to support football clubs in strengthening connections between them, their fans and local communities.

In addition to football tournaments, the Foundation’s next event in support of HCFN is a half-term family fun day at the Antwerp Arms, to be run in partnership with the Antwerp Arms Association and Haringey Play, on Tuesday 29 October between 10am and 12.30pm.