2 Touch Rulz Football founder Charlie Browne says the format of the Estates Cash Cup gives ‘life lessons’ to young players

ORGANISERS behind a unique four-a-side youth football tournament where players can win cash for goals have promised the showpiece will “100 per cent” be back in the spring, and it will be “even bigger and better” than ever before.

The London Estates Cash Cup proved a big hit during its inaugural outing last year when teams took part in a series of heats across the capital hoping to reach the finals, where the winners in four separate age groups all walked away with £1,000 each to share among their players.

The free-to-enter competition was expected to return this month to various venues, including the Whittington estate in Highgate and the Alexandra & Ainsworth estate, often referred to as Rowley Way, in South Hampstead.

However, those plans has now been postponed – although the team behind the event were quick to allay fears that the cup had been cancelled for good.

Explaining the delay, 2 Touch Rulz Football (2TR Football) founder Charlie Browne, who helps organise the event alongside Christian Rule, said preparations for the London Estates Cash Cup have simply “moved into extra-time”.

He added: “We were originally hoping that the tournament would return at the start of this month, but we literally only received confirmation of the funding from the National Lottery Community Fund on Friday, which didn’t give us enough time to promote and deliver the event.

“We are pleased to say that now the funds are in place, the London Estates Cash Cup will be back in April, 2024 – that’s when the heats will start to get underway, with the finals expected to take place in July.”

The cup contest isn’t your run-of-the-mill football tournament, bringing with it a simple but demanding set of rules.

Players are restricted to just two touches, and there is no goalkeeper. Parts of each goal are protected by panels – so players have to display pinpoint accuracy when trying to find the back of the net.

Aiming to take full advantage of the added time he now has at his disposal, Charlie, who lives in Holloway, said: “Our main goal now is to start introducing the game to those who are not familiar with it. 2TR Football is different from other games, and if you don’t know the rules, how can you play?

“From next week we will start getting in touch with the various individuals responsible for running activities on their local multi-use games area (MUGA), offering to host weekly sessions.

“Ideally we would love to get the sessions started immediately across Camden, Westminster and Islington. The more time that we have to get players used to the rules, and promote our next instalment of the London Estates Cash Cup, the bigger and better it will be. It’s very exciting.”

Explaining how “the rules of 2TR Football also act as the rules of life”, Charlie added: “The game allows and encourages players to think in a different way. You can’t think individually, you have to work, think and act together.

“You need your teammates to progress the ball towards the goal. An individual’s actions are going to directly affect their teammates, the people around them – which is the same way it works in a community. Players learn how to support ­others, and also how to recognise when they are the ones in need of support. That’s a life lesson that transcends football.”

• To stay informed on when and where the 2 Touch Rulz Football ­sessions are being held, and the dates and venues for the 2024 London Estates Cash Cup, email info@2trfootball.com