Football – Southwark News

How Southwark street footballers are signing up to top clubs

Staff Reporter — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:06:10 +0000

Southwark has become a hotbed of football talent with one grassroots team playing a critical role in mentoring young boys and connecting them with professional scouts, writes Oliver London… Southwark Residents FC has not only risen to compete at the highest levels of grassroots football, but has become an important pathway for local talents to […]

Southwark Stars: meet the club that gets adults with learning disabilities playing football

News Desk — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 16:59:11 +0000

A Southwark-based football club for adults with learning disabilities has launched south London’s first disabled and non-disabled women’s inclusive tournament, writes Maxine Brigue… Southwark Stars FC, which hosted its first women’s tournament in December, is the only team in south London for women with learning disabilities. Louis Wickett-Padgham, a disability sport specialist, began the football […]

African footballer of the year grew up in Peckham and got straight As in GCSEs

Herbie Russell — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 17:22:33 +0000

The new African footballer of the year, Ademola Lookman, grew up and attended a school in Peckham where he got straight As and was a model student. Lookman, 27, attended St Thomas the Apostle in Nunhead, before signing to Charlton Athletic aged seventeen, kick-starting a dramatic career of both soaring heights and crushing lows. After […]

Homeless Camberwell teens to play in football tournament admired by Pep Guardiola

Herbie Russell — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 06:38:54 +0000

Homeless teenagers in Camberwell are to play in a football tournament known to be admired by Pep Guardiola. The Man City coach is a huge supporter of The Salvation Army’s annual football tournament and sent video messages to winning team members in 2022. The three-time Champions League-winning manager even participated in the 2019 competition through […]

John Salako among the hundreds at London’s first futsal tournament in Crystal Palace

Isabel Ramirez — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 12:49:35 +0000

Over 300 attended London’s first futsal tournament in Crystal Palace including football icon and former Premier League footballer John Salako. Futsal is a type of football played indoors on a much smaller court. The Futsallers Foundation is currently trying to advance futsal in the UK and to make it an Olympic Sport. Its fast-paced, small-sided […]

Rio Ferdinand foundation organises football tournament in Burgess Park for over 100 teenagers

Herbie Russell — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 14:18:56 +0000

Former England footballer Rio Ferdinand’s foundation organised a football tournament for over 100 teenagers in Burgess Park yesterday (Thursday, October 27). The event was part of the ex-Manchester Utd centre-back’s Positive Futures programme, a charitable initiative supporting marginalised young people. Raised in Peckham, Rio was eager to give back to the community he grew up […]

Harris Academy footballers swap polo shirts for swanky new kits thanks to ‘generous’ donation

Herbie Russell — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 16:10:26 +0000

Young footballers at Southwark’s Harris Academy schools have swapped their polo shirts for swanky new strips thanks to a donation worth £33,000. Online clothing retailer MandM kindly gave £250,000 to the Harris Federation meaning all its 54 schools will be playing in fresh kits this season. Harmony, a Harris Academy Peckham student and footballer, said: […]

Famous football-mad Bermondsey estate kicks off Women’s World Cup decorations

Herbie Russell — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 18:15:28 +0000

Residents on Britain’s most footie-obsessed estate have festooned their balconies with England flags ahead of the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The Kirby Estate has been busy painting walls and buying banners ahead of England’s first game against Haiti on Saturday, July 22. Organiser and estate resident Chris Dowse said: “Because the […]

Kirby Estate roars ahead of England’s clash with Wales

Herbie Russell — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 15:25:42 +0000

Bermondsey’s Kirby Estate is fluttering with England flags hours ahead of the side’s pivotal clash against Wales this evening. This tournament, London’s most football-mad estate battled wind and soaring bunting prices – but they’ve still put on a heart-warming red-and-white display for the Three Lions. Chris Dowse, 44, a Kirby Dad and one of the […]

Arsenal star Reiss Nelson funds new football pitch at the Aylesbury Estate school he attended

Herbie Russell — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 17:26:11 +0000

Arsenal footballer Reiss Nelson has self-funded a new football pitch for kids at the Aylesbury Estate school he attended. Along with Gunners legend Ian Wright, Reiss visited Michael Faraday Primary School to open the astroturf pitch, and meet excited pupils, on Friday, November 18. Reiss Nelson said: “This place is my home and funding a […]