Tower Hamlets Mayor kicks up cash for East End’s grassroots football clubs

Cash has been rolling out onto the pitch for 23 East London grassroots football clubs which have scored with grants from Tower Hamlets council.

The grants are the from proceeds and sponsorship of the annual Mayor’s Cup to encourage sport and healthy lifestyles for the East End’s youngsters.

Each club was handed £750 at a Town Hall awards event last week, almost twice as many grants as last year.

Soccer in an old East End tradition, with its roots in sides set up in the docks and factories that have gone onto to become top professional clubs, like Premier League West Ham and League 1’s Millwall—both have their birthplace in the 19th century Isle of Dogs.

“The dockers and ironworkers formed both Millwall and West Ham clubs more than a century ago,” Tower Hamlets’ cabinet member for Environment Ayas Miah said. “We are looking for that kind of talent in the Mayor’s Cup.”

The 2017 Mayor’s Cup begins on April 1 with eight days of competition matches. Trophies are for nine age groups — under 8s and each year up to 18, plus trophies for adult men and women.

Scouts might be on the lookout for potential top league talent.