Success for Peterborough College’s Inter-College ESOL Football Tournament

Peterborough College successfully hosted an exciting inter-college ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) football tournament.

The event brought together ESOL departments and student teams from Lincoln College, City College Norwich and City College Peterborough as well as our own Peterborough College ESOL teams for a day of friendly competition, skill-building and networking.

The final standings were 4-2 to Peterborough College team 1, who won against Peterborough College team 2.

Leigh-Anne Ashley, Assistant Head of Faculty of ESOL, said “The day was a resounding success despite the relentless rain throughout the day. We are incredibly proud of the determination, resilience and sportsmanship that all players and supporters displayed. While the competition on the pitch was fierce and fun, the true highlight of the tournament was the fantastic atmosphere off it. Students from all four colleges embraced the opportunity to connect, cheering each other on throughout the day. The event proved to be a wonderful platform for cultural exchange and friendship, with students sharing experiences and exchanging phone numbers to stay in touch. A special thanks to Tom Patton, Stuart Cave and Dave Watkins for creating an unforgettable celebration.”

While there was plenty of action on the pitch, the main goal of this tournament went far beyond football. The project was specially designed to create meaningful opportunities for students to connect with peers who share similar life experiences.

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The tournament brought together a diverse group of learners, including:

• ESOL students looking to practice language and teamwork skills
• Care-experienced students
• Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASCs)
• Refugees and asylum seekers

By stepping onto the pitch together, students had the chance to build lasting friendships, strengthen their social networks. It also developed vital life skills and positive behaviors such as teamwork, communication and mutual respect in a supportive and friendly environment.

The event wasn’t just a fantastic opportunity for the students, it also served as a valuable space for staff. Educators, support workers and professionals from all participating colleges gathered to network and share best practices on how to effectively support ESOL learners, care-experienced youth and displaced students across the region.