It was a day of intercultural football at the Oval on Sunday as ten teams competed for top honours in the Hastings Intercultural Organisation (HIO) football tournament.

Teams taking part included two from Hastings Borough Council (HBC). There was a team from Pestalozzi Village that included students from around the world and  Hastings Mosque fielded a team that included players from Bangladesh, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan and teams from Hollington, Ore and West St Leonards took part too.

Hastings Borough Council lead councillor for housing and leisure Andy Batsford said: “The HIO tournament showed what a great galvanising sport football is. It has the power to transcend class, race and religion. The whole tournament was played in a great spirit and I was proud to take part in one of the two HBC teams.

“Well done to all those who played, showing once again that Hastings has many voices, but we are all one Hastings.”

The tournament was won by the Hurricanes from Hastings and the runners up were Brothers Team B from Hastings Mosque.

The Mayor of Hastings, Councillor Nigel Sinden opened the match, and the Deputy Mayor Councillor James Bacon gave a closing speech and handed out the medals and trophy.

The tournament was organised by One Hastings Many Voices, Sussex Police, and Hastings Borough Council.