Refugee Week: How Ipswich Town is bringing the local community together

After an increase in demand in the local area, Ipswich Town recently expanded its football training sessions for refugees who are staying in hotels locally.

Funded by Sport England and in partnership with Suffolk Refugee Support & Suffolk New College, the Club’s new Refugee Football Initiative runs four sessions a week, with almost 100 adult and children attendees. 

Those taking part are refugees and asylum seekers, coming from a range of countries that includes Eritrea, Syria, Sudan, Iraq and Afghanistan, many of whom have been placed in temporary accommodation, are not allowed to work and receive just £8 per week. 

The programme aims to engage and provide a fun and safe environment for them to socialise, as well as play football. Selected participants also have the opportunity to obtain a coaching or refereeing qualification. 

As someone whose father came to England as a refugee when he was just 21 years of age, Ipswich captain, Sam Morsy, regularly supports the initiative, attending sessions and speaking at events. 

“The beauty of football is that it brings people together of all races, religions and everyone has their own challenges,” he said, speaking as part of the EFL’s Week of Action earlier this year. 

“If we can help them come to football, come together and have at least one day together, then it can make a big difference.”

Morsy’s Muslim faith is a huge part of his life and his outlook reveals everything about his religion and why he wants to help refugees facing a huge crisis across the globe. 

He explained: “My upbringing and religion means I want to help and my parents are the most charitable people I’ve come across, that’s always stuck with me. My dad came here with nothing; he had a dream to make something of himself and now he wants to help others – so do I.” 

Last season, Morsy also sponsored a refugee family’s season ticket at Portman Road, giving them the opportunity to attend games and enjoy watching football, something which financially they couldn’t do without his support. 

“The Club puts so much time and energy into community work and I’m really proud to be a part of it. I want to help and football gives you these amazing opportunities, so it’s nice to spend time with people and see how happy football can make them.” 

One of the participants, Kamal, said: “We play here every Wednesday evening and it makes us all happy. For us to learn, it’s important that we have a coach who also helps us work on our physique.  

“When we finish playing football, you can see the effect on our mental health. We were grateful to see Sam for the first time face-to-face, too.”