Newark Youth London was founded on a passion for football and a commitment to community. We are widely recognised for our football programmes, particularly for breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for BAME young people in Tower Hamlets and across East London.
Today, football remains at the heart of what we do — engaging over 250 children and young people and helping steer them away from anti-social behaviour, crime, drugs, and negative lifestyle choices. Through sport, we promote healthy living and support personal development, building confidence, communication, leadership, and life skills.
But our impact doesn’t stop on the pitch. We encourage young people who attend our football sessions to get involved in our youth clubs, employment and training projects, and social action initiatives — helping them build brighter futures and stronger communities.
Click on one of the clubs to find out more!
Newark Youth London was formed in 1984 by a group of young people aged between 9-12 years old. This group congregated at the old London Hospital Car Park in Newark Street (now the Centre of the Cell building) and played football thus eventually deciding to call themselves Newark United FC. The organisation started as a loosely run football team but has now expanded with over 500 weekly active members. Over recent years Newark has diversified its activities and now offers not only football but also educational, social and recreational activities for young people and adults.
During the late 1980's Newark decided to embark on the path to play organised league football. In The 1989/90 season Newark became the first Bengali/Asian football team from Tower Hamlets to play in an affiliated league by joining the Abbey Gauge South Essex League. The following season, Newark won the East London Floodlight League, First Division Cup.
This was a major step for a local team and paved the way for many other local teams to play league football. It was a remarkable learning experience as no other local team had played organised 11 aside Football at that time. Players overcame many barriers particularly learning to play the 11-aside game, coping with travel, organisation and racial abuse, especially at away matches. Some of Newark’s players from this founding team took these experiences and later formed their own successful teams in the East London area.
During the 1990’s, Newark continued to progress into more competitive leagues with the aim of moving local football to the next level and continuing to develop themselves. Newark played in the Asian League, Inner London Football League, London Commercial League and the Essex Business Houses Football League.
In 1996 Newark Youth London took the initiative to set up a youth team to develop the next generation of players. This was a major step as no other local team had a youth team or youth development structure. Newark understood, implemented and showed how important it was to develop new talents for the future.
