On Friday 1st December, AFC Fylde Community Foundation’s Football Welcomes team visited The Leisure Box for a friendly away against Burnley FC in the Community’s side.

The Community Foundation’s Football Welcomes programme, in partnership with Fylde Council, Lancashire County Council and Amnesty International, supports refugees and asylum seekers moving to the borough.

The group take part in weekly sessions at Fylde Sports and Education Centre, as well as organised fixtures against other local clubs in the North West.

And last week, our Football Welcomes participants took on Burnley in their latest game, with the lads representing AFC Fylde in East Lancashire.

Acknowledging the power of football and how it can connect people in several ways, working alongside local partners, the Foundation’s Football Welcomes project has supported 44 refugees this year.

The two teams played out a thrilling draw before heading to a penalty shoot-out, which was edged by Burnley.

Scott Harries, Community Development Officer at AFC Fylde Community Foundation, said: “It was great to see the lads play another game on Friday.

“It was another fantastic opportunity for our Football Welcomes participants to pull on the AFC Fylde shirt against another club, which demonstrates the power football has to support people arriving in our communities.

“Our programme is a welcoming space for local individuals who have recently settled into the local area, which gives them the chance to play regular football, develop their confidence and make new friends.

“I would like to thank Burnley FC in the Community for welcoming us to their facility, and I look forward to working with them more on our Football Welcomes programme.”

To find out more about AFC Fylde Community Foundation’s Football Welcomes programme, please email Scott.Harries@afcfylde.co.uk!