Queen Mary vs. King’s College: A football match for change

In December, we hosted a charity football match together with King’s College Football Club, to raise funds in support of UK for UNHCR.  

What started off as a spontaneous idea over the summer between myself and my friend Malcolm, turned into something far bigger than we imagined. The mixed men’s and women’s game brought together six sports clubs, including the cheerleading teams from Queen Mary and King’s College London, along with hundreds of supporters for an important cause and a great evening.  

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The inspiration came from one of our own players, who courageously shared his story of having to flee his home country and rebuild his life here in the UK as a refugee. Listening to his experiences truly emphasised the resilience and strength it takes to start over in a new place. It was a powerful reminder of the struggles that so many refugees face around the world. 

While football is a universal language, unfortunately a growing number of people find themselves unable to access the resources needed to play sport, due to regional conflicts and being forced to flee their homes.

We chose to fundraise for UK for UNHCR because of the brilliant work they do to support refugees globally. Their mission to provide aid, protection and opportunities for people forced to flee deeply resonated with us.  

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While the crises in Gaza and Ukraine are top of mind for many people and rightly so, the global refugee crisis encompasses many more countries such as the DRC, Myanmar, and Venezuela. 

Fundraising for refugees is vital because it provides much needed resources to people who have lost their homes, communities and often their sense of safety. Refugees are people with powerful stories, and we wanted to do something meaningful to help support them.  

In the final weeks before the match, we recruited influential voices from the world of football, including former England manager Gareth Southgate and professional footballer Awer Mabil, to raise awareness about the event and share why raising money from refugees is important. 

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Whether it was players, supporters or cheerleaders, it was encouraging to witness how a simple idea turned into such an impactful event. The event, which was completely student-led, made its success even more inspiring.

The game itself provided plenty of drama, ending 2-2 and was only decided through a penalty shootout.  

The most rewarding part of organising the event was seeing so many people come together, all united by a shared purpose. It showed us how collective action, no matter how big or small can create real change.  

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We want to emphasise to others that supporting refugees is not just about charity – it’s also about solidarity. Refugees are people with hopes, dreams, and potential, and they deserve the chance to thrive just like anyone else.

Through initiatives like our charity match, we hope to inspire more people to stand with refugees and understand the positive impact we can make together. 

Being part of a university sports club gave us a great platform to fundraise for an important cause, and we encourage other students to get involved. If you’re considering organising a fundraiser for UK for UNHCR, my advice is to just get out there and do it. 

It’s crucial for young people to engage with issues like this because we are the next generation of leaders and changemakers. Events like our charity match not only raise funds, but they also build awareness and empathy. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps provide hope and opportunities for refugees to build better futures. 

–Written by Malcolm, President of Queen Mary Football Club and Max, President of King’s College London Football Club. 

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To read more inspiring supporter and refugee stories, please click here.  

To find out more about how you can fundraise for refugees visit our community fundraising portal.