Welcome to your local community website...
Samba footballers try out for top teams
Around 30 young footballers from a grassroots club in Maida Vale put their best feet forward to try out for some of the country's top football teams.
Youngsters from Samba Street Soccer Club showed off their skills on the pitch to representatives from clubs including West Ham, Tottenham, Arsenal, QPR, Charlton, Brentford and Barnet on Monday.
The youngsters play at Paddington Recreation Ground as part of an initiative set up in 2005 by ex-footballer Andrew Amers-Morrison, who has won praise from motivational charity ActiveWestminster for boosting the prospects of youngsters living in an area of high deprivation and unemployment.
Already, more than 60 boys and girls have been recognised by club academies, and 17 have been signed by clubs including Fulham, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United.
Mr Amers-Morrison said: "These trials demonstrate how these players have defied all adversity to get the most out of life.
"They have worked extremely hard to get where they are now and they will only continue to get better and better."
We'd like to hear from you. Send your stories, pics and videos
Leave a comment