By Fred Sturgis, Head of Operations at VYD. Event Sponsored and Pictures by Dogma
Last week on the 17th of July 2025 a group of around 200 far-right protestors gathered outside of an asylum hotel in Epping, Essex to protest anti-immigration. Tensions flared and violence erupted as they attacked police officers defending the hotel – on the anniversary of last year’s riots this is a scary and uncertain time.
A few days later on the 19th of July, we at VYD were set to host the wonderful people of New Horizon Youth Centre for a tournament between the refugees and asylum seekers we both work with. In the morning I was incredibly nervous. As I looked outside at the pouring rain and then to my phone with about 20 unopened messages I had sent to different players I was scared it might fail.
In the end 19 of our boys turned up! I was a mix of relieved, surprised and thrilled. We had 32 players in total between us and the New Horizon team were incredible and calm, settling my nerves the moment we met them. We went into a classroom and began making introductions between the players – I was so proud of how quickly our lads went over to theirs making introductions and started chatting about football – of course! After everyone had gotten their chance to speak we split into four teams of eight.
The tournament was a huge success – all teams got the chance to play four games a piece. It ended in dramatic fashion too – the final took place with everyone watching. One team was backs against the wall the whole game, fending off a consistent barrage of shots, corners and headers. As I called out ‘1 minute left’ the centre back launched a slow-motion ball across the pitch towards the deft touch of their striker. He took it down wonderfully and with his next touch fired it into the side netting – the day was won!
This tournament was the best moment I have had so far at VYD. To see all the players act with beautiful sportsmanship and friendship was so heartwarming. The whole day was full of joy.
Especially given the rising tensions over the past week and politicians continuing to speak divisively it is so nice to have these moments of joyful expression. So strange to think all of this horrible stuff happens in the same country as where a tournament like ours takes place – makes you think how just inhumane and blind some of the rhetoric is.
This day reminded me of my favourite poem – Don’t Hesitate by Mary Oliver (imagine it being read as we see a slow motion highlight of the New Horizon player scoring the last minute winner):
“If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty of lives and whole towns destroyed or about to be. We are not wise, and not very often kind. And much can never be redeemed. Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this is its way of fighting back, that sometimes something happens better than all the riches or power in the world. It could be anything, but very likely you notice it in the instant when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.”
The team at VYD and New Horizon’s faces hurt from all the smiling and we had so much incredible feedback from our young people who felt the same. Even sharing all the incredible photos from the people at Dogma when I saw our boys again this week was overwhelming.
It feels almost gratuitous to write this at this time. I just want to get across that during these times and in a world where joy can feel so out of reach there are still so many people finding joy in community and in this instance football. When you find that joy, please give into it, it’s a way of fighting back.
I want to extend such a huge thank you to New Horizon Youth Centre, Dogma for sponsoring and coming to take amazing photographs and also to everyone who sponsored my 10k run (matchfunded by Enjoolata Foundation!) back in April. Without your support the work we are doing would not be able to exist and that tournament would not have taken place.
And a big thank you to Warneford Consulting, who provide the ‘Shield of Friendship’ both teams play for twice each year.
If you’d like to find out more about our work, please email me fred@vydcic.org
