The Sheffield Wednesday FC Community Programme hosted their annual Football Not Fireworks youth session on the Friday before bonfire night.
Joined by police officers, they encouraged young people in the community to get off the streets and bring down antisocial behaviour.
The community programme which receives funding from the local area committee, held sessions at Concord Sports Centre and Cruyff Court. Cruyff court saw a turn out of over 35 young people playing football and enjoying food.
Officers from South Yorkshire police also attend the annual events, to play football and socialise with the young people.
Paul Hebda, the youth and integration manager, said: “We started these a couple of years ago. The first year we did it, the feedback from the police was they had a record low antisocial behaviour on that particular Friday evening. Last year it was exactly the same, the police reported barely any antisocial behaviour that evening. So it definitely does have an impact of some sorts.
“I think, we’re not teachers, we’re not the police, we’re not like a local authority, so I think young people can be drawn to us a lot more and I think we can then break down the barriers young people might have with the police. The police are here tonight but since we’re the ones sorting the sessions out, it helps young people to speak to the police and break down the negative barriers.”
PC Alice Boucher, who was attending the event, said: “Stuff like this, it brings communities together. Especially around here, there are problems with kids not having many opportunities.
“It gives them something to do that’s not being antisocial. We’re in the dark nights period now, we have a spike in antisocial behaviour and while kids are here, they’re not out there potentially causing problems. It also shows them that they can do better things than going out and causing trouble.”
After the football game, the young players enjoyed some time to be social with each other, the youth workers and the police officers and got to help themselves to the free pizza provided.
Written by Megan Hodson and Athenea Lim