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Hull asylum seeker football team Acorn FC makes history

BBC Anei AkonBBC
Anei Akon arrived in Hull after his parents were killed during the war in Sudan

A football team from Hull made up of asylum seekers has played its first competitive fixture.

Acorn FC took on Leeds United Foundation's team at the Tigers Trust Arena on Tuesday afternoon.

Officials said the teams had "made history" by playing in the first ever competitive inter-city Active Through Football (ATF) match.

Hull is one of 25 National Lottery-funded Sport England ATF projects across the country.

Speaking ahead of the match, Carmen Taylor, chair of Hull's ATF consortium, said: "This is a poignant match for us for a number of reasons.

"It not only demonstrates the success of Hull's ATF programme so far, it shows the power of football in bringing together individuals and communities.

"We hope it will kick-start many more games across the country."

Safe place

Acorn FC, now in its second year, is made up of male asylum seekers and refugees who live in Hull.

The team, which is now an East Riding County FA (ERCFA) affiliated club, is supported by Welcome House - a registered charity set up to help asylum seekers and refugees in Hull and East Riding.

Maureen Mulligan, a volunteer at the charity, said watching the progress of the team had been "immense".

She added: "This team is everything to them. Some have lost whole families, some have watched their parents be shot... Here is their safe place.

"To see them play, it's their life, it's their family."

The team's founder and captain, Anei Akon, has been a driving force for the team following his arrival after escaping war and family tragedy in Sudan.

He said: "I lost everyone in the war which is why I came to England. It's not safe and there was fighting all the time. I lost my mum and dad.

"Hull has been good to us and it's a great place to live with very nice people."

The team had been hoping to build on its current four match unbeaten run.

Unfortunately, the final result went against them as Leeds won 5-2.

The ATF project aims to provide safe, welcoming, and accessible football opportunities for culturally diverse communities.

The scheme, which is delivered by the Football Foundation, launched in Hull in 2022.

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