Ahead of the tournament, players and their families enjoy a kickabout with young coaches from 2 Touch Rulz Football on the Whittington Estate in Highgate

A FRENETIC four-a-side youth football tournament where goals and teamwork can earn players cold, hard cash is set to return this summer, and organisers are searching for support to make it even bigger and better.

More than 350 youngsters signed up to take part in the inaugural London Estates Cash Cup last year. The free-to-enter competition proved a big hit, with teams battling it out in a series of scintillating heats across the capital for a place in the grand finals – where winning teams walked away with £1,000 each.

Organisers 2 Touch Rulz Football (2TR Football) are busy finalising dates in July to kick off the cup once more. The north London heats for four age groups – the Under-10s, 12s, 14s and 16s – will be scattered across Camden, Westminster and Islington.

Explaining the financial framework behind the tournament, 2TR Football founder Charlie Browne said he wants to get even more kids involved this time around – but warned that without the right funding and support plans for the “festival of football” could be scaled back.

“Last year we successfully applied for £10,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund, which helped cover the costs of running all the individual match days and the final,” said Charlie. “We’ve applied for the same funds again this year and expect to hear back before the end of the month.

“Overall it costs around £18,000 to run the competition, including £4,000 in prize money which myself and Christian Rule, who also helped organise the event, put in out of our own pockets.

“We’re confident that our bid for funds from the National Lottery will again be successful, and then we’ll work out various ways of making up the difference.

“If, for whatever reason, we didn’t get that funding, or fall way short of the amount we need, then we would have to make our plans smaller, like dropping one or even two of the age groups – but that’s really the last thing that we want to do.”

Sharing dreams of making the London Estates Cash Cup even bigger, Charlie, who lives in Islington, added: “Last year we didn’t even have a budget to promote the competition, it was literally just me on my bike riding around looking for suitable pitches and putting up the occasional poster.

“It would be fantastic to have the funds to be able to spread the word further and wider. We had 350 kids last summer – imagine how many we could get with the right support!

“Also, as I mentioned, we had to put the prize money in ourselves. I earn less than £20,000 a year, so that’s a lot of money for me.

“If there are any councils out there, or local businesses or individuals, who want to step in and help support us, that would be great. It would make a real difference.”

The London Estates Cash Cup isn’t your run-of-the-mill football tournament. The demanding rules encourage young players to improve their awareness and ability to shield the ball, as well as sharpening their close control and skill.

But Charlie insists that the game is about so much more than football.

He said: “Players are restricted to just two touches, and there is no goalkeeper. Parts of each goal are protected by panels – so players have to display pinpoint accuracy when trying to find the back of the net.

“The game is designed to encourage players to work together and it helps them develop collective thinking. To be successful you need teamwork – you need to support your teammates – but you also have to allow them to support you. That’s a life lesson that transcends football.

“We want these young people to go back home and understand how their local communities work, how important it is to work together and support each other, just like they would when they’re on the pitch. We’re using football as a vessel to teach young people what is a vital life lesson.”

• For more information, email info@2trfootball.com