One Game One Community 2022

Sunday saw Exeter City Football Club’s One Game One Community Tournament return to the University of Exeter Sports Park after a three-year hiatus. 

The tournament, which is hosted to celebrate diversity and promote respect in football, saw sixteen teams compete for the chance to win silver and gold Kick it Out medals in the Cup and Plate tournaments. 

In the cup final, Marcel’s Allstars beat Ottery Young Guns 1-0, to make it the fourth consecutive tournament in which the Allstars have taken the competition title; whilst in the plate tournament, Saints were the victors against Ottery St Mary, where the game was settled on penalties after an energetic 2-2 draw in regular time.

The day was supported by Exeter City FC Supporters Trust, City Community Trust, Tesco, Morrisons, Kick it Out the University of Exeter, Devon FA, and was made possible thanks to funding from Devon County Council.

The tournament was launched by Devon County Council Chairman, Cllr Ian Hall, alongside the Chair of the Exeter Respect Festival, Dr Suaad Genem-George, who each spoke of football’s reach across a variety of communities, with Cllr Hall stating that “football is a sport that brings communities together and to play for fun, I have always felt equal to anyone who takes the field of play, that is because we are all equal.”

Simon Kitchen, Head of Communities for Devon County Council, was delighted with the day’s event: “Exeter City’s One Game One Community Group is part of the national Kick it Out campaign which aims to address all types of discrimination in football including race, disability, gender, age, religion and sexual orientation.

“With the inspirational Lionesses facing a Euro Final this evening, there could have been no better day to hold this inclusive, well-established, successful and enjoyable international football tournament, particularly as events like this help Exeter City to fly the flag for equality and diversity in our community.”

The tournament team will now look to make plans for the 17th One Game One Community Tournament in 2023 and would like to thank all those who helped make the event such a success, especially our partners, the referees, and all of the players.