YG Belfast gets international call-up

East Belfast Boys celebrate victory in the final

The following night he was at Windsor Park overseeing his Northern Ireland side's 1-1 draw with Israel, but on Tuesday Nigel Worthington was happy soaking up the Your Game atmosphere at Ashfield Boys' High School.

"It has been super, I'm absolutely delighted to be here to see so many young people, boys and girls alike, enjoying football.

"Its about enjoying it, getting off the computers and laptops and generally getting some exercise," he said.

Nigel Worthington, on the right, is snapped for posterity

"Nowadays its too easy to sit inside."

Apart from a sudden lunchtime downpour that had everyone scampering for cover, everyone took the national side boss's advice, keeping those manning the stands and activities busy all day.

Holly from Team Awesome summed up the attitude that won her side their Fairplay award.

"It was a last-minute thing we said 'lets just get a load of people together and do it'"," she said.

"We've done boxing and basketball and I got a massage. Oh my word, amazing!"

"Learn about it and get involved, why not?" added team-mate Amy when asked for her advice to those yet to get on board with Your Game.

Brian O'Donnell, a specialist nurse at the Royal GUM Clinic, was impressed by the turn-out of young people concerned about the UK's most common sexually-transmitted disease, Chlamydia.

"The day has been really great. We are up around 75-80 people who have attended for sexual advice and nearly a third of the people here today have taken up our offer of screening," he said.

The crowd brave the Belfast rain

"Speaking to other people today, they have been saying the sport is only one aspect of a young person's lives. There has been great involvement, a great atmosphere, and I'm proud to be involved in it."

Gareth Beacom, who managed Lord Street A and CEHT,said both he and his young players had picked up useful information from their day.

"It has been good to see some of the lads talking to experts about their sexual health which is really important," he said.

"I've got a bag load of funding information and I'm going to be flicking through it in the office tomorrow.

"Some of the lads have said they want to get involved with the Springboard stuff and the Prince's Trust, it's events like this that get it out there."

The festival coincided with the week of the 40th anniversary of the start of the Troubles.

BBC Northern Ireland commentator Jackie Fullerton explained the healing effect that sport can have on neighbourhoods.

Action from the girls' final

"Our communities are polarised as has been well-documented over the past 40 years so this is one of the steps towards normality as far as we are concerned," he said.

"You can sit back and do nothing and just hope that it happens, but it won't. People here need to be pushed in a certain direction.

"It will take time and won't be easy because there are, and were, deep divisions but things like this are a real bonus. You should be proud, this is good for us."

Worthington also praised the spirit of a generation of young people who will decide if the reconciliation continues.

"You have got both sides of the community here today everyone playing against each other. Of course there are winners and losers, but at the end of the day its been good for Northern Ireland as a whole," he said.

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Men's Winners: East Belfast Boys

Men's Runners Up: Lorag A

Men's Fairplay: Dreamscheme

Women's Winners: Midnight Street Soccer

Women's Runners Up: St Matthews Ladies

Women's Fairplay: Team Awesome