Youth football club Senrab FC have been given the unexpected opportunity to compete at the World Youth Cup in Sweden after organisers and parents joined forces to get the required resources together.

The club, which was founded in Tower Hamlets in 1862, was recently given a �4,000 donation from investors in the Crossrail project, allowing them to purchase vital new training equipment.

Now, contractors BBMV, who are constructing the Crossrail station in Whitechapel, have covered �2,500 of the �13,000 transport costs to help more than 60 of the club’s players to travel to Gothenburg to compete against 1,640 teams from 79 countries at the World Youth Cup. The club has 23 teams representing age groups between five and 17, and each of the players’ parents contributed to make the trip happen.

In recognition of the club’s financial situation, the organisers of the competition waived the entry and accommodation costs to ensure they could afford to participate.

Tony Carroll, Senrab’s club secretary, said: “A lot of the boys are from low income families and one parent families; some have never left London before. This is a life lesson as well as a football lesson so it’s a marvellous opportunity for these kids.”

The teams travelled out on Friday, June 13, and will return from the tournament on Sunday, June 22.