The first football team in Essex made up entirely of asylum seekers has secured a place in the Southend Borough Football Combination.
Southend Wanderers, which will be made up of players from Somalia, Poland, Kosovo, Albania, Turkey and other countries, will kick off in September in Division Six of the league, which is affiliated to the Essex County Football Association.
They will play their home games at Shoebury Park.
The news has delighted asylum seekers in the town, who were left disappointed after an application to join the Sunday League was rejected.
Rifat Prelvukaj, who works for Southend's asylum seekers team and has organised the team, said: "We have got another meeting with the Sunday League but we are going to stick with the Southend Borough Football Combination.
"The team go to Southchurch Park three or four times a week so they should be ready by September."
The club will need around £2,000 a year for costs and potential sponsors are being sought.
Mr Prelvukaj said: "The players will all pay £35 a year membership and £3 a week fees, but we could do with sponsorship."
Interested? Contact Mr Prelvukaj on 01702 348896 or 07789 485656.
Published Friday, June 27, 2003
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