More than 300 youngsters from across the capital took part in the free London Estates Cash Cup competition this summer

THE much-loved London Estates Cash Cup is coming back for at least one more tournament after mysterious benefactors stepped forward to help save the youth football competition.

More than 300 kids from across the capital took part in the free event this summer, all vying for a place in the grand finals which were held at the Paddington Recreation Ground in Westminster last month. That’s where the action really started to heat up with winning teams in four separate age groups walking away with £1,000 each in cold, hard cash.

But straight after the tournament, organiser Charlie Browne from 2 Touch Rulz (2TR) Football announced that the final whistle was about to be blown on the London Estates Cash Cup unless they could find some much-needed financial support.

Offering a breakdown of the competition, Charlie said it cost £14,000 to run, £10,000 of which they received from the National Lottery Community Fund.

He then revealed that the additional £4,000 prize money “essentially came out of his own pocket”, and that going forward he could no longer afford to part with that kind of cash.

However, this week the downbeat tone in his voice transformed back into one full of excited energy as Charlie shared the news that plans for the 2025 London Estates Cash Cup were well underway.

“Out of the blue I received an email from someone saying that they had seen the article in your paper and they wanted to know a little more about the competition,” explained Charlie, who lives in Holloway, Islington. “So I responded, and the next thing I knew they were asking for our bank details and the £4,000 prize money had been transferred into our account. I’m absolutely speechless. It feels like a massive pressure has been lifted off my shoulders. I’ve never organised this event before without the weight of having to fund the prize money myself hanging over me.

“These wonderful people, a married couple, wish to remain anonymous, but I want to say I’m in awe of them. Their kind generosity is very much appreciated and, in allowing us to be able to bring the London Estates Cash Cup back, it will go towards helping so many young people across the capital, including those who don’t go on to win the competition.”

What makes the four-a-side tournament unique is that it demands “teamwork and mental maturity” with players being restricted to just two touches. There is no goalkeeper, and parts of each goal are protected by panels – so sharpshooters have to display pinpoint accuracy when trying to find the back of the net.

Charlie said that this on-field approach transcends just football, and that by restricting players to two touches they quickly start to understand that they have to work together and support each other to achieve their goal. That’s “a vital life skill” that Charlie passes on to all the players who take part in the Estates Cup in the hope that they will then take that wisdom back with them into their local communities.

Taking the big return step-by-step, Charlie added: “We’re in the process now of reapplying for the National Lottery Community Fund, hopefully they will continue to support us. And then we’ll be back promoting the 2025 London Estates Cash Cup in January.”