Annual Spurs Foundation tournament honours teenager's memory

A summer football tournament organised to honour a teenager who was stabbed to death trying to protect his friends shows how "violence has no space in our society", his mother says.

Godwin Lawson from Enfield, north London, was 17 when he was stabbed in March 2010 as he tried to help friends who were being attacked in Stamford Hill.

Godwin's mother Yvonne said the annual tournament "is more than just kicking a ball, or cheering to a football game, I think there's a deeper meaning to today, the reflection of how they can keep safe".

Yvonne added: "As a young person, a teenager growing up, football was a very important part of Godwin's life. The whole discipline really helped him."

About 150 young footballers from across the country play matches at the annual event and take part in workshops about staying safe.

Deron Jayden, who once played in the tournament and now volunteers with the Godwin Lawson Foundation, told BBC London: "When everyone's outside, loitering also increases. A lot of people have bad intentions, a lot of people have bad intent.

"You never know what someone could be doing behind you, walking behind you or even taking the bus with you.

"So that's why I feel like things like the activities and communities like this are important, especially in London."

The tournament and other projects helping young people this summer have been given extra funding from City Hall and the Premier League Community Programme.

On Monday, Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan announced £1.5m in additional funding boost through the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) to deliver hundreds of diversionary activities aimed at keeping young people safe over the summer.

The announcement marks a significant expansion of London's youth safety plans for the summer holidays, with a new year-long partnership between the VRU, the Premier League and 11 professional London football club charities.

Lib Peck, from the VRU, said: "One of the absolutely key things for us is to make sure there are things for young people to do, places to go, safe places for them to go where they can make connections with trusted adults, youth workers, and they can have fun with other young people."

Yvonne added: "It's amazing to see so many young people from all walks of life coming together to play football in Godwin's memory."

Jurors heard the teenager had gone to help his childhood friends, brothers Daniel and Julian Borja, when they were set upon by Avorgah.

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