The Beginning

Newark Youth London was formed in 1984 by a group of young people aged between 9-12 years old. This group congregated at the old London Hospital Car Park in Newark Street (now the Centre of the Cell building) and played football thus eventually deciding to call themselves Newark United FC. The organisation started as a loosely run football team but has now expanded with over 150 members. Newark has also diversified its activities and now offers not only football but educational, social and recreational activities for young people.

Early Years

During the early years UN Choudhury (Boss) who is now the lifelong honorary president of Newark Youth London took charge of the team. He managed and ran the team on his own and paid all the expenses out of his own pocket. The team mainly played other local Bengali/Asian teams in 5-aside and 7-aside tournaments in East London. Newark soon became well known for playing attractive football and good behavior on and off the pitch. Under Boss Newark won many accolades in local football. This formed the foundation to a now very successful organization.

He along with its hard working volunteers moved the team forward and to this day they are involved with the team and have great passion when the team is playing.

Pioneers of Bengali/Asian Football

During the late 1980's Newark decided to embark on the path to play organised league football. In the 1989/90 season Newark became the first Bengali/Asian football team from Tower Hamlets to play in an affiliated league by joining the Abbey Gauge South Essex League. The following season, Newark won the East London Floodlight League, First Division Cup.

This was a major step for a local team and paved the way for many other local teams to play league football. It was a remarkable learning experience as no other local team had played organised 11-aside football at that time. Young players overcame many barriers particularly learning to play the 11-aside game and the administration of playing in a league, coping with the physical demand of the game and racial abuse, especially at away matches. Some of Newark’s players from this founding team took these experiences and later formed their own successful teams in the East London area.

During the 1990’s, Newark continued to progress into more competitive leagues with the aim of moving local football to the next level and continuing to develop themselves. Newark played in the Asian League, Inner London Amateur Football League, London Commercial League and the Essex Business Houses Football League.

Newark has been instrumental in the development of Sporting Bengal, the only Bengali/Asian team in the UK to play senior football. Newark has been accommodating and supplying its players to Sporting Bengal since its establishment in 1996. Every year 5-6 Newark players make the Sporting first team.

Pioneers of Youth Football

In 1996 Newark Youth London took the initiative to set up a youth team to develop the next generation of players. This was a major step as no other local team had a youth team or youth development structure. Newark understood, implemented and showed how important it was to develop new talents for the future. This also captured the interests of the youth and kept them away from other anti social behaviour.

Newark now has a number of youth teams playing in various Youth Leagues. In 1996 Newark was the sole Asian representative in the Newham Youth League. Newark youth teams have had lot of success playing in local leagues. The youth teams have won the U16 SNC Youth League many times.

Football and Beyond

Newark has been successful on the football front for over two decades. It is now in the process of diversifying and moving into other areas of work with young people. Newark has always educated and guided young people, giving them responsibility and improving self-esteem. It uses football as a teaching tool for young people, providing advice & guidance, being health conscious and helping them to grow up and become better citizens.

Newark now has numerous after school clubs, running on various evenings throughout the week providing young people with a safe environment to engage in structured indoor and outdoor activities.

Newark has also developed a unique club, providing many different projects and volunteering programme that help young people capacity build themselves for employment and education through accredited training and volunteering.

Newark regularly organise day trips and residentials including football tours, this includes going to live games in the UK and abroad. Newark has also participated in international football tournaments in Bangladesh, Manchester & Surrey (Arsenal Festival).

Newark is continually expanding its services to provide a comprehensive range of youth services for young people.