Young Lanarkshire men taking their football dream…..to Italy

It’s a bit like taking coals to Newcastle… But three Lanarkshire friends spread their love of football and God all the way to Rome last weekend – and even got to see the new Pope Leo XIV.

The Caritas Cup was founded five years ago by school friends Adam, Aiden, Bailey, and Daniel who all attended St Margaret’s High in Airdrie. The aim was to unite pupils from local Catholic schools through football and netball tournaments – while supporting SCIAF and other great causes.

The Vatican was celebrating a ‘Jubilee of Sports’ and the Caritas Cup was at the centre of the celebrations – and saw the friends playing football in 38 degrees heat!

Adam said:

“It was hard going – walking around in summer in Rome is hard enough but playing a game of football is a whole new level.

“We had a great time though and we were playing with Seminarians from the Scot’s College in Rome as well as guys from France, Sweden and Italy.

“The Caritas Cup started as a game of football between two schools in Airdrie and Coatbridge four years ago now. It then spread to multiple sports across many parts of Scotland and now it’s reached Rome.

“Pope Leo said that sport has a unique way of bringing people together and that exactly what the Caritas Cup is all about.”

“We support SCIAF due to the values instilled in us from a very young age. The values that resonate with people across our Diocese and Motherwell.

"To help our neighbours and all in need. This is just a very small part of what SCIAF does, we want to highlight the valuable and crucial work that SCIAF do in every corner of the world and we hope that through this project we can highlight that a better world is possible.”

Bailey said:

"The links between sport and faith have never been clearer for us and seeing over 800,000 young people participating in the Jubilee events, solidified that.

“Starting as a game of football between two schools, it is now with great joy that we can see this project reach all over the world. Through the Caritas Cup, schools and communities have been United in Faith and through Gods blessings, we hope that continues.”

Michael Hamilton, SCIAF’s Community Engagement officer said:

“Working with the Caritas Cup team over the past couple of years has been amazing. It has been so inspiring to us at SCIAF to see their passion for their faith, sport, charity and community. We are delighted to see the initiative grow to Rome and see the team connect with other young people from across the world in this Jubilee year.”