A women‘s football team, comprised of Chinese players, faced a racist attack while training in a park in London’s Islington. The incident, which included verbal abuse and physical assault, has led to a wider discussion about safety and racism in London‘s public spaces. The team has vowed to continue playing, supported by a community that has come together to stand against the attack.
A Community Under Attack
The team, Screamer Alliance Women‘s Football Club, had a pre-booked pitch at Barnard Park. They arrived to find a group of around 20 teenagers occupying the field. When the players asked them to leave and showed their booking confirmation, the teenagers refused, mocking the team by saying they could not “read” the proof because they weren’t British.
“They only moved to the side of the field after we started setting up our cones and equipment,” a player, Anna, said, “but they move our nets, forcing us to play in a tiny part of the field just within the box. They never paid to use the field.”
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Throughout the session, the teenagers stayed on the sidelines, shouting racist and abusive insults. When the training session ended, the situation worsened. The teenagers took the team‘s ball and started kicking it hard at the players.
“One of our teammates was kicked in the head while trying to change,” a team member wrote on Reddit. “She fell to the ground crying.”
The team called the police. A park manager who saw the incident gave a statement. The police first logged the incident as “anti-social behaviour,” a classification the team felt ignored the clear racist intent and physical violence. The community’s outrage led the police to redefine the incident as a hate crime.
A City Responds
The players shared their story on social media and with local news outlets like The Metro and the Islington Tribune. The reaction was immediate and overwhelming. Messages of support came from individuals, other women‘s football clubs, and community groups.
“I’ve never, never experienced something like that,” said Lele, a player on the team. “It was really upsetting.”
Ricky Lin, the team‘s manager, said the response made the players feel like they were not alone. “Our experience sent a horrible message, but what we’ve experienced afterwards sends a totally different message—there are more good people out there who want to help us.”
Read more: Chinese Takeaway Owner’s Heartbreak as Racist Graffiti Telling Them to ‘Go Home’
This incident is not the first time the Screamer Alliance has faced abuse. The team, which also serves as a support group for Chinese people in London, has had to relocate twice before because of similar issues. Other women‘s teams have also shared stories of harassment at Barnard Park.
In response, Islington Council has committed to providing extra security, and police patrols will be present at the team‘s next session. The council is also exploring solutions like better on-site pitch management and the installation of CCTV cameras.
The outpouring of support has motivated the team. They will not be intimidated. “We’ll smile playing football despite racist abuse,” one player said, and they are inviting anyone who wants to show solidarity to join them for their next session. It’s a show of defiance and community against hate.
