St John’s Men’s Football Team Bring Trophy Home

Ann-Marie Nye writes…

St John’s is celebrating a major achievement after its men’s football team won the Ambassadors London Churches Football Tournament on 6 June.

The annual tournament gathers church teams from across the capital for a day of competitive football and fellowship. This year, after several challenging attempts in previous years, St John’s team went all the way—lifting the trophy in a memorable victory.

The win marks a significant breakthrough for the team, which has been entering the tournament for the past five years. Building a squad has often been difficult, with players coming from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances.

David Nye reflected on the journey to success, admitting there were moments of doubt going into the competition:

“I was impressed by the enthusiasm and confidence in some of the players… but my apprehension was we’d never got past certain stages before.”

That changed this year. After progressing through a Champions League-style format, including a tense penalty shootout in the group stages, the team reached the final—where they faced a familiar and formidable opponent.

“If we were going to win the final, we would have had to beat that team—and we did,” David said.

St John’s started the final strongly, taking an early 2–0 lead and holding their nerve to finish 2–1 winners.

Caleb Millar, who helps lead the football ministry, highlighted both the challenge and the joy of finally securing the trophy after years of effort:

“It’s been a real challenge over the years to put together a team… so it was incredible to be able to win this.”

Yet he was quick to point out that the trophy is not the ultimate goal:

“As much as it’s great to walk away with the prize, the real riches are the community we’ve built and what God is doing in people’s lives.”

The Sunday football sessions—now in their fourth year—have created a strong sense of belonging among participants. Players gather weekly not only to play but to connect, support one another, and explore faith.

For many involved, the football ministry has had life-changing impact. Beyond the matches and tournaments, it has helped men find friendship, stability, and new opportunities in the UK.

David Nye spoke of the pride he felt watching the team succeed, saying:

“It was more a sense of pride in the lads… especially for guys who don’t come to church, but who we’re walking alongside.”

Through football, relationships are formed that open the door to deeper conversations and faith journeys.

Stephen Millar reflected on the wider significance of the team’s success, seeing it as something bigger than sport:

“The team’s triumph… feels like the coming together of many good things… friendship and community built up over months and years.”

He added that the team reflects a powerful vision of unity: “A glimpse of the ‘Coming Kingdom’ where local guys and those new to the UK come together to play as one

While the trophy is a moment of celebration, the heart of St John’s football ministry remains unchanged. The focus continues to be on building community, supporting individuals, and sharing the hope of the gospel.

As Caleb noted, the ultimate aim is not just success on the pitch, but pointing people to something far greater: