LYCA MOBILE AND WEST HAM LAUNCH FIRST LYCA CUP FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT FOR GIRLS

Lyca Mobile and West Ham have joined forces to launch the annual Lyca Mobile Cup, notably opening up the competition for the first time this year to girls teams across London’s schools.

The popular youth football competition gives hundreds of local youngsters from dozens of local secondary schools and community groups the opportunity to play small-sided games, make new friends and have fun.

Run by West Ham United Foundation and Lyca Mobile, the 2021/22 Lyca Mobile Cup sees five regional tournaments held featuring over 35 girls’ and boys’ school teams at four different locations across East London and Essex – Beckton, Chobham Manor, Barking Abbey and Chadwell Heath – with the winners going through to a grand final in April 2022.

Lyca Mobile Founder and Chairman Allirajah Subaskaran said, “We’re thrilled that the Lyca Mobile Cup is back after last year’s pandemic-enforced break – and we’re particularly pleased that this season’s tournament will for the first time involve girls’ teams as well as boys’. Lyca has always been very proud of its East London roots and the part it has played in the local community. Our business is all about connecting people to the things that matter most in their world – and we relish the opportunity of working with West Ham and The Foundation to bring the joy of football to children across our local area.”

This season’s event marks the eighth Lyca Mobile Cup, which forms part of the longstanding partnership between Lyca Mobile, the world’s largest international mobile virtual network operator and West Ham United, after the 2021 event was unfortunately cancelled due to the COVID pandemic.

Since its inaugural year in 2013/2014, the Lyca Mobile Cup has played an important role in the local community, celebrating the next generation of footballing talent from across east London and Essex and encouraging youngsters to achieve their goals.

West Ham United Foundation CEO Joseph Lyons said: “Our work with Lyca Mobile over the past eight years has been extremely beneficial to young people across our community and we are pleased to be delivering the Lyca Mobile Cup tournament again this year; giving schoolchildren across east London the opportunity to play in a competition where they can develop and show off their skills in a safe and supportive environment.

“Each year we see some really talented and creative young people through this event and, with the awareness and understanding of the complex challenges young people across our communities continue to face, these activities are important and so we’re excited to be offering this enjoyable experience once again.”

The first of five regional tournaments was held at the West Ham United Foundation Community Hub in Beckton this week, with Skinner’s Academy winning the U14 tournament and St Bonventure’s School winning the U12 competition.