The diversity of East London communities was celebrated with a “One Ball, One Game, One Community” event at West Ham United’s Upton Park stadium on Monday.

The all-day event, which was organised by The Board of Deputies of British Jews, Met Police, Canary Wharf PLC and The FA, saw a girls football festival in the morning plus two 11-a-side games featuring Football League referee Jarnail Singh, Arsenal’s Tony Woodcock and Chris Whyte plus an Asian Select XI.

Over 100 children from School Years 5 and 6 took part in the girls’ football festival which promoted The Board of Deputies of British Jews’ Shared Futures project which will launch in September.

Both Sir Trevor Brooking and Brendon Batson represented The FA at Upton Park with teams for the festival chosen from random to give the girls an opportunity to form new friendships with youngsters from the Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and Christian faiths.

Shared Futures project manager, Susan Moss, explained more: “It’s a chance for children to mix with youngsters from different religions and tryout a whole range of activities like sport and drama while learning about community action and helping the environment.”

Rita Kelly is a volunteer at Jewish primary school, Clore Tikva, in Barkingside: “You only have to look at their faces to see how much fun they’re having here today and it’s great that they’re making friends with youngsters from different faiths,” said the retired teacher.

The Asian Select XI were given a glowing review by former England striker, Tony Woodcock, after they beat the Met Police, 4-0, later in the day.

In a game refereed by Jarnail Singh, the squad featured players from local sides and the Bangladesh FA such as Shadwell, Beaumont, Stepney, Mammadan, E7 FC, London Tigers and Bromley.

Woodcock commented: “It’s been a superb event and I was really impressed with the Asian side.

“They showed fantastic pace, skill and athleticism and it was great to see.

“A lot has been said about the lack of Asian players in the top flight but it’s only a matter of time before someone breaks through,” said Woodcock who won a European Cup winners medal with Nottingham Forest in 1979.

Managed by Zak Khan, the Asian Select XI scored all their goals in a second half rout with Massum, Jahed and Sadik all finding the net before Abab converted a stoppage time penalty.

The FA are committed to promoting Asians in Football projects with Brendon Batson arranging for local Asian youth football clubs to attend training sessions at West Bromwich Albion, Wolves and Leicester City recently.

Soho Square also hosted an Ethnic Minority Media Day last month which highlighted various different Asians in Football projects around the country.

Tony Woodcock was also in match action at Upton Park alongside former Arsenal defender, Chris Whyte, in a game that featured players from the local Canary Wharf community.