A FOOTBALL team which was set up to support refugees and asylum seekers in Reading has found a home at a Reading School.
The members of Sanctuary Strikers now have access to top class training facilities thanks to Leighton Park School.
Club founder and chair, Tomson Chauke, first set up the club in 2015 as a kick about in his local park to encourage his children and those of fellow refugees to get to know each other. It was also a way for their families to mix.
“I decided that it would be a great way for people who all live far from home to connect,” Mr Chauke explained.
“But then a lot of the boys got picked up by Eldon Celtic, a football club for young people in Whitley, and there was a bit of a gap.
“We decided to carry on with the club as it is a great way of meeting people.”
Mr Chauke was motivated by volunteering for Reading Refugee Support Group, and a determination to build integration and community cohesion with refugees.
“I saw refugees coming to England and I knew from my own experience that when everyone around you is speaking English, you learn better,” he said.
“I also knew that groups like the football team are way for people to share information and help each other.”
One Sanctuary Striker regular had grown in confidence so much since starting with the club, he learned how to drive.
“I am so proud of him,” Mr Chauke said.
He founded the club with friend, Joel Joseph. Neither man had any prior experience of setting up a football team. Mr Chauke, a musician, came to Reading from Zimbabwe. His band Limpopo Grove has played gigs and events across the area. Mr Joseph came to Reading from Tanzania and manages the running of the club.
The team has grown since its casual beginnings, and is becoming increasingly successful, which prompted conversations about how they could expand.
“To begin with we were losing matches ten-nil, but it didn’t matter as we were building connections,” Mr Chauke said.
“Now we are progressing through the local cup and could get to the semi-finals, and we’ve never even made it to the second round before.
“So when Leighton Park offered their wonderful facilities, it was amazing.
“They are so community minded, to just give the space to us like this.
“Reading is a wonderful place to live, and if we all keep our ears and eyes open, we can all learn so much from each other,” he said.
The club reached a deal to begin training at Leighton Park just before Christmas. At the second training session at their new home they had 29 players, almost double what sessions were attracting before. There are now 50 people on the club’s books, 16 of which are refugees. Mr Chauke expects the numbers will grow as they are currently working to include Afgan refugees who have recently arrived.
Mr Chauke is grateful to have the support of many local organisations, including RRSG, John Sykes Foundation, University of Reading, and Reading City of Sanctuary.
Sanctuary Strikers are now looking for commercial sponsorship and support.
For more information, visit: rrsg.org.uk/sanctuary-strikers
