DURING a World Cup year one genuinely international team is celebrating its birthday in the city.

Hope FC, a football team made up of local people and those from across the globe who have settled in Plymouth after fleeing persecution in their own country, is celebrating its first year of being together.

And the club, set up by David Feindouno, is now affiliated to the Devon Football Association and preparing for entry into the football league.

"The players are really focusing on playing football and making friends," said David, who also does duty as the team's coach.

The club, which has been supported with coaching by the city police's diversity team, includes people of 15 different nationalities, among them Afghans, Iraqis, Iranians, Bangladeshis, Zimbabweans and Nigerians.

Dadid, 26, who lives in Greenbank but came originally from Guinea in West Africa, said: "I set up the team after realising that many refugees had a lot of free time because of problems finding work.

"Football breaks down barriers and by bringing local people together with the asylum-seekers and refugees, it's hopefully helping to bring the communities together. They can all learn from each other."

The team trains twice a week at Central Park, taking part in five- and six-a-side friendlies.

David said the support Hope FC had received in terms of donations and expertise from so many quarters was superb. Those throwing their weight behind it include the Improving Reach project run by Plymouth Guild, which has helped the club to develop broader aims of community development, but David has done a lot of the work himself, not only recruiting players and running training sessions but applying for funding and even translating posters.

Employed as a support worker, he acts as a translator for local agencies and a caseworker for Refugee First, while simultaneously going through the long and complicated asylum process himself.

The club's volunteer organisers are still seeking support both with time, donations and skills.

Simon De Groot of Plymouth Guild said: "The club's logo expresses the ethos of the team and was designed by a volunteer at Plymouth Guild.

"The team really hopes that it could soon be joined to the name of a formal sponsor if the right opportunity were to come forward."

If you can help contact David on 07588137412.