National football tournament celebrates young people with care experience

More than 500 young people with care experience took part in a national football tournament at Stadium MK during the May half-term break, as a competition that began with four local authority teams continued its rapid growth.

The Pro Alliance Sports National Championship Cup brought together 36 teams from across the UK, with participants travelling from Liverpool, Portsmouth, Newport and beyond to compete. Peterborough were crowned champions after a day of matches played at the home of MK Dons.

The tournament was founded by Pro Alliance Sports Associate Director Stefan Bishop and founder Sam Neath to create sporting opportunities for children in care and care leavers. What started as an informal kickabout and a small tournament involving four local authorities in the West Midlands has since evolved into a nationally recognised competition, with organisers now preparing for a first international fixture between England and Wales later this year.

Neath first developed the idea while working with a care-experienced young person who had fallen out of organised football after leaving foster care. Speaking to Social Work Today last year, he recalled how conversations in a garden in Walsall eventually led to the creation of the tournament after he discovered there were few opportunities for care-experienced young people to compete as a team.

The first Championship Cup was held in 2022 with teams from Coventry, Telford, Wolverhampton and Walsall. By 2025, more than 20 local authorities had entered teams to compete at Wolverhampton Wanderers' Molineux Stadium. This year's competition attracted more than 500 players representing 36 teams.

Neath said: “The National Championship Cup is a huge success story.

“To reach a point where we are making arrangements for an international fixture having discussed the idea with Stefan while he was in care is a great achievement.

“We also thank the entire team at MK Dons Community Trust for making this year’s competition happen. The Trust were an enormous help in shaping this year’s event into what it was, and we thank them for their organisation and professionalism throughout.”

Founded in September 2025, Pro Alliance Sports uses sport to connect, empower and inspire young people in care and those with care experience. Its work has also led to the creation of England’s first football team for care-experienced young people, with 12 players selected to represent the national squad ahead of its first fixture in the autumn.

Bishop said the scale of the tournament had surpassed anything he and Neath initially imagined.

“It’s snowballed into an event which goes beyond even our wildest dreams.

“This was a pie in the sky idea between myself and Sam which has turned our vision to create inspiring moments for young people in care and those with care experiences into reality.

“By having full access to Stadium MK and the support of coaches and support staff who believe in their ability, participants were subconsciously thriving in life which is our ultimate goal.

“The excitement and enthusiasm shared on the day by everyone was exactly what we wanted to achieve. And personally, I’m incredibly proud to have shaped the tournament into what it is today after experiencing my own personal challenges through our care system.”

Neil Hart, Group Chief Executive of Stadium MK, said the event reflected the club's commitment to supporting the local community.

“All of us at Stadium MK were delighted to host this event for Pro Alliance Sports in partnership with the MK Dons Community Trust and the EFL.

“Here at MK Dons, community is the foundation of everything we do, so we were delighted to be able to hold this tournament for hundreds of young people who are either in care or who have recently left the care system.

“The tournament is embedded in such an important cause, and all of us at Stadium MK were more than happy to shine a light on it. Having met both Stefan and Sam, they are inspiring individuals, who are providing amazing opportunities for hundreds of young people in care."

The event was delivered in partnership with MK Dons Community Trust. Its chief executive, Paul Mitchell, said the experiences shared by participants highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for young people in care to develop confidence, friendships and support networks.

“A secure childhood is something we believe everyone is guilty of taking for granted by those who are fortunate enough to have experienced it.

“Listening to the stories of participants at this year’s tournament was truly humbling.

“Every day, more than 100 children enter our care system, which creates challenges geographically, educationally and socially.

“Football holds the power to counteract vulnerability with strength, and we were overjoyed to see the reaction and response from participants on the day. Our congratulations go to Stefan and Sam for driving such a positive event.”

The growth of the National Championship Cup mirrors the wider ambitions of its organisers, who hope sport can provide care-experienced young people with opportunities to build relationships, develop confidence and share experiences with others who understand the challenges they have faced.