Hoxton Eagles Football Academy Win the U14s Championship in London Churches Football Tournament by Ambassadors Football
Doreen Tang, Head of Kids & Youth, writes:
I am delighted to share this report with the Diocese as a moment of genuine praise and thanksgiving for what God has been doing in and through our community over the past two years.
What began almost two years ago as a simple request from local young people, somewhere to play football once a week has grown into something that I believe beautifully embodies the mission of the local church. The Hoxton Eagles Football Academy has just been crowned U14s champions, and I wanted to share the story behind that achievement with the wider Diocese family.
We have a group of young people from our local community, full of energy, personality, and potential. When they first came to us, they simply wanted a space to play. What has unfolded since then has been a joy to witness. Over the past two years, I have watched these young people, not just boys but girls as well, grow not just as footballers, but as individuals, learning to encourage one another, to pick themselves up after setbacks, to commit to something week after week and see what that commitment produces. They have grown in confidence, in character, and in their sense of belonging, to this team, to this church, and to this community.
Last season was a hard one. The Eagles competed with heart but did not bring home any silverware. Yet what struck me most was how these young people responded, not with resignation, but with a quiet determination to come back stronger. They kept turning up. They kept working. And this season, that perseverance has been gloriously rewarded. The Hoxton Eagles are U14 champions for the London Churches Football Tournament organised by Ambassadors Football and every one of those children has earned it.
Alongside the children, I want to pay tribute to our four volunteer coaches, Bruce, Sagvan, Koudra, and Woud. Each of them came to this country as a refugee, and it was through our church's adult football community project that they first found a place of welcome and belonging here. Once their lives were established, they chose to give back, showing up every week, in rain, snow, and sunshine, to pour into the next generation. Their dedication has been extraordinary, and the children have thrived under their care. They are, in every sense, a living example of what it means to love your neighbour.
We are also deeply grateful to the Diocese of London for the funding that has made this project possible. Your investment has been about far more than football and it has helped create a safe, nurturing space where young people from our neighbourhood can be seen, supported, and encouraged to flourish. We hope this report is an encouragement to you, and a small testament to what your generosity is making possible on the ground here in Hoxton.
I submit this report with a full heart, giving thanks to God for these remarkable young people, for faithful volunteers, and for a Diocese that believes in the power of community.
To God be the glory.
