20 September 2024, Friday, 11:06 a.m. GMT+1·2-min read At a charity football event for the homeless, Manchester City captain Kyle Walker cheered on players alongside former Wales and Celtic striker John Hartson. The Salvation Army arranged a competitive five-a-side competition called The Partnership Trophy, which brought together 30 teams from all around the UK and Ireland with the goal of promoting mental health and raising awareness of homelessness. Thirty teams from throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland competed in a five-a-side match under the Partnership Trophy (Peter Powell/PA).
In addition to giving the winning team, The Orchard from Bradford, the trophy, Hartson also addressed the participants about his career and personal battles with gambling addiction and cancer. He declared, “Today was a really great day.” They have played seven or eight games at a very high standard of football, and they are incredibly fit. There is a lot of companionship. Respect for one another is strong. People who have lost their way at some point in their lives and are making a lot of effort to get back on track have been sharing their tales with me. “The Salvation Army did a terrific job organizing this unique day. The boys seem to really appreciate it, I suppose. Everyone can forget what’s happening outside for that one day.
The Bradford team The Orchard was awarded the trophy by John Hartson. (PA/Peter Powell) The Bradford team The Orchard was awarded the trophy by John Hartson. (PA/Peter Powell) England right-back Walker attended the event on Thursday at Goals in Manchester. He spoke with players about their experiences being homeless and watched the games.
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The Partnership Trophy brings together football teams from Lifehouses hostels, supported housing, outreach programs, and drop-in services from all around the United Kingdom. It is administered by The Salvation Army and its affiliate, Salvation Army Homes.
Nathan Slinn, deputy director of The Salvation Army’s Homelessness Services Department, stated: “The teams were playing a friendly but competitive game, and it means a lot to have support from such big names as John Hartson and Kyle Walker.” winning group From the Orchard Lifehouse in Bradford, the Orchard set out. (PA/Peter Powell) winning group From the Orchard Lifehouse in Bradford, the Orchard set out. (PA/Peter Powell) “We truly did that today. The purpose of our Partnership Trophy is to celebrate everyone who uses our homelessness services, acknowledging the journey they are on and the challenges that many have had to overcome.”
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Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, and his family have sponsored the event for the past five years via the Guardiola Sala Foundation (GSF), his humanitarian initiative. “It’s really encouraging to see how football can bring people together and help them overcome really difficult personal challenges,” Guardiola remarked. The Guardiola Sala Foundation is thrilled to be associated with this occasion.
