Footballing youngsters learn to tackle anti social behaviour

Pupils from six schools will have the chance to show off their sporting spirit - on and off the pitch - during a special football tournament in Cheetham this week.

During the tournament the youngsters from St Chad's, Temple, Cheetwood, Cheetham Cof E, King David and Cravenwood schools will display their sporting prowess and their citizenship skills.
 
The tournament has been organised by Manchester's crime and disorder reduction partnership,  First Bus and Graham Rothwell from the Cheetham Hill Neighbourhood Policing Team.  It aims to teach the youngsters new footballing skills and how to avoid getting involved in anti social behaviour. A similar event, held last year, proved to be such a success that the organisers decided to run a second tournament this year. It will take place at the Maccabi Sports Centre on Bury Old Road between 10.30 and 1pm on Wednesday  (10 March 2010).

Each member of the winning team will be presented with a new pair of football boots and all the teams will receive trophies. Police officers and managers from First Bus will present the prizes and trophies and will  also talk to the youngsters about anti social behaviour on public transport. The year 5 pupils will be shown images of vandalism on buses.They will be shown how CCTV operates and the consequences of being involved in anti social behaviour or vandalism on buses.
Manchester City Council's Executive Member for the Environment , Councillor Richard Cowell said: "This tournament was a huge success last year. The youngsters had a great time and learned some important lessons about how to behave on public transport and how to be good citizens."

Matt Davies, Operations Director for First in Manchester, said; "We are proud to be supporting this community football tournament once again this year, a tournament that blends fun and exercise with the serious message that anti-social behaviour on buses is not acceptable."