Girls United are delighted to announce that with over 200 people in attendance at this year’s annual fundraiser event on Saturday 12 March in Central London, they will be able to support up to 20 girls play football for a year.

The tournament, sponsored by Hawk-Eye Innovations & Pulselive of the Sony Sports Innovation Group, was designed to celebrate women in football and to support grassroots initiatives that provide girls with opportunities to succeed on and off the pitch.

Powerleague, the official venue sponsors, hosted the event at their state-of-the-art Central London facilities in Shoreditch, with teams competing across 2 categories (Beginner Women’s & Non-Binary and Intermediate Women’s & Non-Binary).

Women’s football teams came together from across London and beyond, with the Manchester Laces making the journey down on the day to join their sister club, the South London Laces and show their continued support for grassroots football. Other teams in attendance included Bend it like Peckham FC, Athenlay Hens, Rye or Die, Goal Diggers FC and Football Beyond Borders Women.

The tournament was fiercely contested by all teams involved with 85 games taking place across 6 pitches. Camden Town Women Football Club eventually overcame Deep Heat in the intermediate category final and Tribal Women Football Club were victorious over South London Laces in the beginner category.

Girls United were joined by female athlete footwear provider, IDA Sport and the UK’s only women’s football dedicated store, Foudys. Both retailers had a stand at the event and donated items to be raffled or won in a series of football challenges.

Hawk-eye Innovations and Pulselive also ran a stand as part of the tournament’s Impact Zone where players could relax and recuperate between games. The Sony Sports Group organisations also supported the event with volunteers helping to ensure the tournament ran smoothly throughout the day.

The closing ceremony saw Camden Town WFC and Tribal WFC receive their trophies and raffle winners presented with a number of signed memorabilia items, including an official Chelsea shirt signed by the 2020/21 Champions League winning side, a Manchester United Women’s Captain Katie Zelem shirt and a Team GB Tokyo 2020 top signed by Girls United Ambassador and Manchester City’s Caroline Weir.

Romina Calatayud, Girls United Founder & CEO, said: “I’m blown away by the level of support that we received, enabling us to raise enough funds to support up to 20 girls play football for a year at our grassroots sessions in London and Mexico.”

“Huge congratulations to all of the winners on the day and all of the teams that took part in Saturday's event. Moments like this make me very proud to be a part of this women’s football community and grateful to all of our partners who stand alongside grassroots football and leveling the playing field for young girls globally.”

Ben Crossing, the Hawk-Eye Chief Operating Officer, commented: "A fantastic event, we were very excited to contribute to such an incredible cause. Hawk-Eye and the other Sony sport businesses are constantly looking for opportunities to contribute to the world of sports, not just through technology, but on a human level. To be a part of football at the grassroots, especially supporting young girls in their ambitions to play, is a true reflection of our dedication to sports as people, as fans and as participants in the sporting ecosystem."

Charlotte Ullathorne, Powerleague’s Chief Marketing & Customer Officer, added: “We were delighted to be able to support this fantastic event and we hope we see some of the players back at our venues soon. We’ll be keeping a close eye on the girls who will be supported through this event and we wish them all the best in their football journeys.”

The annual International Women’s Day tournament is one of several celebrations that took place across Girls United’s two locations of London and Mexico. Throughout the week, 123 girls attending partner schools in South London enjoyed five active workshops aimed at redefining female role models through our ‘Love The Game x Nike’ programme.

Across the Atlantic, an interclub tournament was organised in Quintana Roo, Mexico, bringing together close to 100 people, including 60 young girls from four Girls United Mexico clubs.

Photo gallery provided by VERSUS & Ellie Ramsden below: