Firefighters pulled on their football boots on Wednesday May 7th to play against a team drawn from all faiths, to battle for a new Community Cup.

The audience at the the top football ground in Kenilworth Road included children, teenagers and adults who participated in, or supported, a Faith Based Football League (FBFL) run during the year.

On the night the practised team work of the FBFL squad beat the squad of fit firefighters 4 - 2.

The FBFL did have one secret weapon - Guest of honour international cricketer Monty Panesar who took took the pitch for a short period in both halves of the game. "It was a great morale booster to have this international sporting hero on our side," said coach Butch Fazel.

Speaking for the Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service (BLFRS), Deputy Southern Area Commander Dave Fothergill explained that firefighters had been involved in the FBFL for most of the season, and the new Community Cup was the finale. The object of the whole exercise was to allow BLFRS new ways of getting across fire safety messages to everyone living in and around Luton.

"Being involved with this project has opened doors for us in all areas of the local community. Literally hundreds of children and young people are involved in the Faith Based Football League and through them we are reaching out to thousands of their friends and family members.

Football is a great way to bring everyone together and for us to forge friendships which we can use to create greater channels of communication - and make sure we get across vital fire and road safety messages, " he said.

Chief Fire Officer Paul Fuller, in the directors’ box for the game, said: "This is all about allowing us to help create an environment in which people are safer on the roads, and in their homes and places of work. We are very grateful to Butch and Monty for making this possible through the medium of sport."

BLFRS Team Manager Ade Yule's crack squad included goal scorers:

Shaun Fahy (in from an Alex Russell cross)

Steve Osborne (in dying minutes)

Pictures:

Top Left: A Great Team Effort

Top Right: FBL Player - Monty Panesar

Bottom Left: Chief Fire Officer Paul Fuller meets Monty

Bottom Right: Front Row L-R the Mayor of Luton Borough Council, the Chair of Combined Fire Authority and Second Row Chief Fire Officer watch the match.

Firefighters from Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service supported a football coaching program delivered to over 100 young footballers (aged 7-14 years) at coaching sessions held over 2 weeks in Luton during March and April.

The coaching sessions are part of a project that has seen Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service (BLFRS) working with Luton United Football Club on a football project to involve hard to reach communities and deliver key fire and road safety messages.

The Faith Based Football League is a project designed to encourage children and adult players from all faiths to play together in a football tournament, and to attract younger players through out their school learning.

Dave Fothergill, Deputy Area Risk Commander for Luton and South Bedfordshire (BLFRS) said:

"We are delighted to be able to sponsor this football tournament and the wider ambition of the project to encourage much greater participation in sport across the whole range of faiths that we enjoy in Luton.

As a Fire and Rescue Service we have a responsibility to attend emergency incidents whenever the public call for us but we have an equally important role to educate the public to be safe from the dangers of fire in the home, to prevent fire in business premises and of course to ensure people stay safe on our roads."

Butch Fazel, Head Coach, Luton United Football Club, said:

"The Faith Based Football League is a fantastic example of good practice, working with black and ethnic minorities, raising awareness about the importance of fire safety messages and increasing understanding of road safety messages."

(1) Issued by Manners PR on behalf of Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service.

(2) For more info contact Sue Gough of Manners PR on 07921 514 940.

(3) Photographs available from Manners PR 01234 326196 or mannerspr@btinternet.com

(4) For more about the faith based football league see