Portsmouth FC sponsors, OKI Printing Solutions have joined forces with Hampshire Constabulary to create the OKI Street Sixes Youth Festival.

This 6 a-side football competition, The OKI Street Sixes Youth Festival, will be hosted at HMS Collingwood on Sunday 4^th June.  All entries to the festival are free of charge and will be limited to 48 ‘street’ boys, girls or mixed teams across the 3 age groups – 7-10; 11-13 and 14-17, each of which must have an adult to manage them. 

In addition to free entry, OKI Printing Solutions will be providing all participants with a free T-shirt and transport to and from Gosport and Fareham via a coach pick up service.

The inspiration for this event has come from the Gosport 6 a-side Youth League, established by the Gosport police in 1999 as a crime diversion scheme targeting children living on the Rowner Estate.  Whilst providing a regular opportunity for children to play football, its system of allocating red and yellow cards for anti-social behaviour off the pitch, has contributed to a 70% reduction in vehicle crime on the estate and quickly developed across Gosport to engage over 500 children on a weekly basis.

Commenting on the initiative, OKI Managing Director, Chris Gill said: “We have been impressed with the success of the Gosport 6 a-side Youth League and the positive alternative it provides to anti-social behaviour for children living in some of the most deprived parts of the local area. As sponsors of Portsmouth FC, we aim to provide football experiences to those unable to access the game themselves and look forward to working with the Hampshire Constabulary to further develop the OKI Street Sixes Youth League, initially through this festival event.”

Registration forms for the OKI Street Sixes Youth Festival are available from:
Gosport, Fareham and Park Gate Police Stations, Rowner Access Point