Leicester Nirvana are holding a football festival to celebrate and create opportunities for women and girls to play football. 

If you are a beginner, have been playing for years, looking to be more involved in women and girls football, interested in volunteering or you just want to have a fun day, this event is for you. 

Continuing the great spirit and achievements of the England women's team in both the European championships and the world cup, we want to encourage more women and girls to take part in the game. 

The event will take place on Saturday 16th September, from 11am to 3pm at Hamilton Park, 100 Sandhills Avenue, Leicester LE5 1LU. Everyone is welcome, women and girls, family members, there will be something for everyone. 

The event is a collaboration between Leicester City in the Community, The FA (England Football), Leicestershire and Rutland County FA, Rara Avis FC, Active Women and Leicester Nirvana. 

Activities on the day will include;

• Football taster training sessions for beginners and intermediate/ above,

• Small sided football games.

• Inflatable football activities.

• Penalty shootouts.

• Mini tournament,

• Giveaways.

• Food and drink available to buy on the day,

• Information to promote football pathways for women and girls, such as Coaching, FA Level 1 courses, Refereeing and more,

A consultation to better understand how football clubs can develop their women and girls offer further, including physical building space/ changing rooms to better meet the needs of women and girls.

There will be opportunities to talk to the club and the FA about volunteering or playing options, take part in one of the physical activities, be involved in a game or training session or just enjoy the atmosphere on the day. 

If you would like to be involved in the day to support, promote services, or anything else. Please let us know. 

We look forward to seeing you on the day. 

Nirvana FC prides itself on building a space for the community but has been left frustrated.

Nirvana FC's spectator stands were covered in spray paint after vandals snuck into the fenced-off area in Hamilton Park, overnight.

A community-led football club has been left "disheartened" after vandals covered its spectator stands in spray paint. Nirvana FC's seats at its base, in Hamilton, were covered in graffiti including homophobic slurs and profanities on Wednesday night (August 10).

It is believed vandals entered the fenced-off facilities, which are regularly used by children, at around 9.45pm, according to the club. Leicestershire Police said it was increasing patrols in the area following the incident.

The club prides itself on being a community space in an area of the city which it said had very few such spaces to offer, and has been dismayed by the actions of "mindless vandals". Trustee Ivan Liburd said a lot of time and effort had been invested in the club.

He told LeicestershireLive: "It's quite frustrating because we're trying to build something for the community to use. There's hardly anything to do in Hamilton - there's a library and there's us.

"We just want the community to work with us. This is really disheartening when we put some much time and effort into this place."

The club prides itself on being a space for the community.

He added that the culprits would have had to make a significant effort to walk through an area of undergrowth in order to access the area. Mr Liburd said this was the second act of vandalism at the site in the last three weeks.

"We've had some damage to our dugout area as well. We don't usually get graffiti but what we do have is a regular issue with motorcycles being ridden on the park and ruining it," he added.

Leicester City Council's parks team, which maintains Hamilton Park but does not own the club facilities, arranged for the graffiti to be removed due to the offensive language it included.

A spokesperson for the police said: "Officers from the East Leicester Neighbourhood Policing Area (NPA) are aware of the report as well as further reports of motorcycles being ridden in an anti-social manner around the Hamilton area. The NPA will be speaking to the person who made the report yesterday and are carrying out increased patrols."

Under 9s, 10’s and 11s all won top prize at Leicester City.

Leicester City welcomed local grassroots football clubs to LCFC Training Ground earlier this month for a Premier League South Asian Emerging Talent Festival that saw Leicester Nirvana teams dominate.

All 3 teams from Nirvana went on to win the competition. The June competition, played amid sweltering conditions in Seagrave, saw teams in four youth categories - Under-9s, Under-10s, Under-11s, Under 12s compete in the tournament to win the Foxes Cup.

Leicester Nirvana, The Community Football Academy (CFA), Guru Nanak Gurdwara (GNG FC) and Stoneygate Lions FC were among the clubs to take part, building on the success of last season’s tournament and forming part of the Premier League South Asian Action Plan.

Ivan Liburd, a coach at Leicester Nirvana, gave his take on how the competition helps to build on collaboration within the wider Leicestershire community.

“It was a brilliant day and I thoroughly enjoyed it,” he commented. “This tournament is important to continue to build a solid relationship with minority communities and provide opportunities for young players to shine.”

Leicester Nirvana parent Imtias Patel echoed those sentiments: “It was a great opportunity for both my kids to compete in amazing facilities and be surrounded by a real wow factor. I was there all day and it was well organised and managed. Hopefully we’ll be there next year again.. to win again!”

Read the #LCFC website for more details https://shorturl.at/AST69

Leicester Nirvana received a Football Black List awards held in the East Midlands and was celebrated for their contribution to Black excellence. The Football Black List shines a light on those who are inspiring the next generation.

The initiative, which has been supported by The FA, Premier League, Professional Footballers Association, English Football League, PGMOL, LMA and Kick It Out, also provides an opportunity to reflect on how diverse the football industry is, discuss the under representation of people from African and Caribbean backgrounds – and, most importantly, how to address this issue.

Vitally, the Football Black List also pays tribute to individuals making a difference within the community and at the grassroots level of the game.

Acquisition International Magazine announces the winners of this year’s Non-Profit Organisation Awards. The Awards aim to reward the commitment, innovation, and determination of the best Non Profit Organisations from across the world!

Leicester Nirvana has won the award for the Best Grassroots Community Football Club 2023. The Acquisition International Non-Profit Organisation Awards highlights a selection of dedicated organisations that put the welfare of individuals before all else. All awards are given solely on merit and are awarded to commend those most deserving for their ingenuity and hard work, distinguishing them from their competitors and proving them worthy of recognition.

Awards Coordinator Holly Blackwood took a moment to comment on the success of this year’s winners: “Hosting the Non-Profit Organisation Awards 2023 has been a pleasure. It’s great to see the diverse mixture of organisations which consistently offer help to people everywhere, and I wish them all the best for the rest of 2023 – and beyond!”

Chair of Leicester Nirvana, Zak Hajat said, "Its great to be recognised for the hard work that we all put in, but the true reward is watching our children and young people achieve great things."