New football league promoting social inclusion kicks off in Cumbria

The Cumberland FA initiative targets those with limited access to competitive football.

The Social Inclusion Wellbeing League's Cumberland division welcomes teams from a variety of backgrounds, including mental health teams, weight loss teams, recreational/social teams, small-sided teams, and social inclusion teams, such as those representing homelessness, service veterans, and the LGBTQ+ community.

Among those within the league include Hilltop United FC, who are a squad made up of men among the 200 people seeking asylum and refuge in and around Carlisle.

Brought together by Carlisle Refugee Action Group's Chris Middleton, the squad was previously credited with being the UK's 'first' official asylum seeker squad after becoming affiliated with the Football Association (FA).

Hilltop United FC, who are included within the league, alongside coach Chris Middleton (Image: CMiddleton) The team currently has 16 players made up of a mixture of nationalities, including former professional Iranian footballer, Yousef Yousefi. 

It won't be the first time Border City Greens and Hilltop United FC have met on the pitch. (Image: Chris Middleton) The division has six entries with three teams entering on a recreational basis, including a team made up of international NHS staff throughout Cumbria. 

Other teams in the league include Tubby FC from Whitehaven, Carlisle Reivers, Border City Greens from Carlisle, Carlisle City Deaf and Clear Your Head Kick About from Whitehaven.

The league format is flexible, with matches played as either 9-a-side or 11-a-side and lasting between 60 and 90 minutes.

Cumbria's NHS International team pictured back in 2023 during the fixture against Hilltop United FC (Image: NCIC)

Cumberland FA's football development officer, Ray Sempill, said: "We have been delighted at the response to this league, with 10 teams expressing an interest in the first season at various levels.

"We look forward to getting started and seeing how this provision develops."

The league formally kicked off this weekend when Carlisle City Deaf clinched a 2-1 victory against Whitehaven's Tubby FC.

Carlisle City Deaf and Tubby FC come together to kick off the league (Image: Ray Sempill) Following their fixture, Carlisle City Deaf FC posted on social media: "What a brilliant debut for us in the hearing league. We secured a hard-fought win against a very strong side. The game was tense, but we managed to grab the decisive goal after it was level at 1–1.

"Thank you to Tubby FC for a great game," they said. 

Ahead of their first fixture in the league, Border City Greens said: "We can’t wait to meet new people, play some great games, and contribute to a fantastic community." 

Anyone interested in joining the league for ad-hoc friendlies, either as a team or as an individual looking for an opportunity, is encouraged to complete the form available on the Cumberland FA website.

The league is currently also looking for sponsors, anyone looking to contribute can contact Ray Sempill at Ray.Sempill@Cumberlandfa.com or via 07807665543.