Inner London Football League

Introduction

Shadow Youth Alliance (SYA) formerly known as St Peter’s Youth Alliance was established in 2000 by local young people who were concerned with the poor level of youth provision within the Bethnal Green North Ward of Tower Hamlets (formerly know as St Peter’s North). SYA’s main aim is to provide youth facilities for young people of the ages of 11 to 25 years.

With various grants, support from local organisations and committed individuals SYA developed basic youth services such as the youth club and activity programmes during school holidays. With the first year funding form the Jack Petchey Foundation in 2004 SYA employed an experienced youth worker who would run the youth club, coordinate activity programmes during school holidays and develop new services.

Jack Petchey funding has enabled SYA to develop its youth club facilities, develop 3 very successful football teams (1 under 16’s and 2 over 16’s), organised information and educational programmes and delivered many social and recreational programmes for young people. Working with young people around football has been our flagship project during 2005 (second year of Jack Petchey funding). Jack Petchey Foundation was our main funder during 2005. We have been able to work with some of the most vulnerable young people in the Bethnal Green North Ward who are at risk or are involved in anti-social behaviour. Thanks to Jack Petchey funding we have been able to attract many of these young people to our football programme and some to our youth club three times per week. At least 30 to 40% of the 60 young people currently on our football programme are at risk of getting involved in anti-social behaviour and or are marginalised from the mainstream community.

As SYA has been increasing in its strength we have also been attracting more skilled Board Members to help the organisation run more effectively. As a result we now have a group of very skilled people who oversee the work of the organisation – professions include: Local Government, Law Enforcement, Accountancy, Pharmacology, Drugs Education and youth and community development.

Football

Senior Team

In the year 2003-04 the senior team was set-up with 30-35 players. Although the team was not playing in any leagues that year the training sessions and many friendly matches that were played and was used in shaping a strong team, for both the BFA (Bangladesh Football Association) Summer League and the ILFL (Inner London Football League) Winter league.

Achievements

2003-04 Set up SYA Senior Team

2004 2^nd Division BFA Summer League Champions

Received Fair Play Award, Best Player Award & Best Manager Award

2004-05 1^st Div Inner London Football League Runners Up

Received Fair Play Award

2005 1^st Division BFA Summer League Champions

2005-06 Premier Div Inner London Football League 5^th Place

2006 Premier Division BFA Summer League 9^th Place

2006 Sonali Cup Final Runners Up

Youth Team

In the year 2003-04 we set up the Under-16 football team. The team played in the Sports Network Council’s (SNC) under-16 league and then onto Bangladesh Football Association (BFA) Summer League and also London Tigers Astro Winter League - now known as SYA B.Due to the valuable experience and teamwork gained from the SNC League the youth team was able to compete and match the other well established teams in the league.

Achievements

2003-04 Sports Network Council’s League U16

2004-05 Sports Network Council’s League U16

2005 2^nd Division BFA Summer League

2004-05 London Tigers Astro Winter League

2006 2^nd Division BFA Summer League Runners Up

In September 2004 SYA First Awards Ceremony took place for both youth and the senior team, to celebrate both teams progress and achievements especially the senior teams BFA 2^nd division championship. The Awards Ceremony was well attended with an attendance of 40 – 50 young people.

In September 2005 our Second Awards Ceremony took place for both youth and the senior team, to celebrate both teams progress and achievements especially the senior teams BFA 1st Division Champions Award and ILFL 1^st Division Runners Up Award. The Awards Ceremony was well attended with an attendance of 40 – 50 young people.