As part of the 'Happening in the Park', a carnival to celebrate England's first game in the Holy Land since the late 80's, F4P teamed up with the British Council and England fans to run a children's football festival. Using F4P's values based approach to coaching and kits donated from clubs ranging from Man Utd to Gretna FC, 16 teams competed to win the FA ''Fair Play Award'. The children, playing in mixed Jewish and Arab teams played through three rounds of a football tournament which emphasised fair play.
The day ended with Norwich City beating Crewe Alexandra 1-0 on penalties in the Boys competition with Nantwich winning the FA 'Fair Play' Award. The girls competition proved a hit with the England fans watching on the sidelines as the team decked out in the England 1966 kit beat Wealdstone Away 1-0. The runners up, Wealdstone Away also won the FA 'Fair Play' Award showing how to be successful and play the game the F4P way.
Media coverage of the event was widespread both in Israel and the UK. As well as local news, CNN, Skysports and Al Jazerra attended the tournament. Also a number of British newspapers covered the event. Click on the following articles below to read their reports.
The Observer: Football pioneers bridge divide with child's play
The Telegraph: Beautiful game gives Israel hope for the future
The Mirror: ISRAEL. A place where United means more than a football team
Haaretz: Soccer celebration kicks off with beer and music at the Sportek
