News

A group of police officers are gearing up for a tough challenge – to play against teams of young people in a football tournament.

Youngsters aged 11 to 14 from Hawkinge and other villages near Folkestone will be competing against each other and the police team for the Community Challenge Cup organised by PC Trevor Moody.

PC Moody launched the annual cup tournament in Hawkinge last summer in response to complaints from local youngsters they had nowhere to play football.

This year it is part of the Kent Police’s Safer Summer initiative aimed at helping young people to stay safe and keep out of trouble during the school holidays.

The winners of the Community Challenge Cup last year, Etchinghill, will be hosting this year’s competition at Etchinghill village hall and green on Thursday 9 August from 11.00 am.

There will be a barbeque and refreshments and once again, LIDL supermarket in Hawkinge is sponsoring the event with bottles of water for all the players.

PC Moody said: “This was a popular tournament last year and I am glad it has become an annual event.”

“It is also good for the young people to have something they can work towards and develop good sportsmanship by playing against neighbouring villages.”

The cup, which is provided by Kent Police, is due to be presented to the winning team at around 3.00 pm, by Chief Superintendent Steve Harris, the Area Commander of South Kent Police.