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Football unites faiths in Highfields

Posted on 18/06/09

police,constabulary,leicestershire policeFootball unites faiths in HighfieldsPolice officers support the Multi-Faith Football Match

Police officers support the Multi-Faith Football Match

Officers from Spinney Hill Park police station swapped their uniforms for sports kits on Tuesday night (June 16) in support of a Multi-Faith Football Match in Highfields.

The match, which was organised by the St Philips Centre, brought together local community religious leaders, police officers and a visiting multi-faith group from Sweden with the aim of promoting stronger links between different faiths and agencies in the area.

It took place in Spinney Hill Park on East Park Road and builds on the tradition of an annual cricket match which is held between local Imams and the Clergy.

Canon Dr. Andrew Wingate, the Director of the St. Philips Centre said, This is dialogue in action on the playing field. It aims to promote stronger ties amongst faith groups and other agencies, challenging stereotypes of fear or hostility rampant in the present climate. We have been able to add this year a European dimension and invited a Multi faith group from Gothenburg, Sweden to visit this special city of ours.

PC Yusuf Nagdi, neighbourhood officer for North Evington, who took part in the match said: We would like to thank the organisers for including us in this tournament. The event was attended by people of different religions, nationalities and cultures and passed without incident.This is exactly the type of event that builds relations between the police and the wider community because it shows officers to be part of the community. I would like to pass my personal thanks to all involved for making it a wonderful event.

Suleman Nagdi MBE DL, from the Federation of Muslim Organisations, added: Leicester can pride itself as perhaps the only city in Europe where every community will be a minority in a few years time. This football match proves what a skilled city can offer in terms of community cohesion and good relations. We believe that a sporting event of this nature, which involves several faiths of Leicester and Gothenburg, will contribute to our life in Leicester and beyond. It shows how we can creatively use sports as a means of tackling discrimination at every level.