FC Strongbow lift the Marc Viven Foe Fairplay award
A weekend of friendship through football at the Unity Cup Festival in Sheffield came to an exciting climax.
The national festival, organised by Kick It Out, brought 20 teams of refugees and asylum seekers together from all corners of the UK to highlight the positive contribution displaced communities are making to society and to challenge negative stereotypes.
Opening
The Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Cllr Jackie Drayton, officially opened the festival on Friday evening in a ceremony that included performances by local bands, DJ's and dance groups with an attendance of thousands of local people.
The teams were drawn into groups at the opening with the help of Sheffield United star, Leigh Bomby, former Sheffield United strike-force, Brian Deane and Tony Agana, and local boxing star Amer 'Killa' Khan.
Mukhtar Mohammed a young Somali player from the Sheffield Wednesday Academy helped with draw.
Winners
The Festival split into two on Saturday night with two separate trophies up for grabs, the 'Unity Cup' and 'Unity Shield'.
Last year's winners 'VG Foundation' Manchester retained their title, meeting Sheffield side 'Albanian Fire' in the Unity Cup final.
Polish Consul, attending the festival for the first time, took home the Shield after a final with Hull's 'Azardi ARKH'. 
Fairplay
Bolton side, FC Strongbow, were voted the Marc Vivien-Foe Fairplay winners and will now join Chelsea and Liverpool fans at the Community Cup Final in Cardiff next month courtesy of The FA.
The vote on who would be going to Cardiff reflected how the spirit of the festival was enjoyed by all the teams as only one vote separated the team from 5 others.
Sheffield United Academy Director, George Harrison, paid testament to the teams, "There have been some fantastic players on show here over the weekend and I've been very impressed by how the teams have played the game in the right spirits.
"The Unity Cup Festival has surpassed all of my expectations and we feel proud to have hosted this great event."
The Unity Cup Festival was organised in partnership with the Sheffield-based Football Unites, Racism Divides project, and is supported by Sheffield City Council, Sheffield County FA and Amicus trade union.
SHEFFIELD GIVES UNITY CUP FESTIVAL A WARM WELCOME
UNITY THROUGH FOOTBALL
