Asylum seekers in Southend are to become the first in Essex to form their own football team.

Nearly 40 people of various nationalities have expressed an interest in playing for Southend Wanderers.

Rifat Prelvukaj, who works for Southend's asylum seekers unit, said: "The team could include Somalians, Poles, Kosovans, Albanians and Turks."

The next step was to find a league to play in. They had applied to join the Sunday League and were meeting later this month. Southend Council has offered to find a ground and funding is being sought from the council and lottery.

Published Friday, June 6, 2003

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