With the Street Soccer Nations Cup in Largs just a week away, some exciting community activities planned across the weekend.

In partnership with Largs Thistle FC and North Ayrshire Council, Street Soccer is hosting a community day for local families to enjoy on Friday, August 18, between 1-4pm.

With fun games, a youth football tournament, music, face painting, inflatables as well as food and drink refreshments throughout the day, Street Soccer is hoping as many people as possible will come along to Barrfields Park.

A spokesperson said: "As Street Soccer prepares to bring its programmes to North Ayrshire, this is also a fantastic opportunity for the local community to learn more about our work and how it can help support players across the area.

"We’d like to thank Largs Thistle and North Ayrshire Council for their support in getting everything in place ahead of next weekend and looking forward to joining everyone for the beginning of a memorable weekend.

"With match-play starting on Saturday and closing on Sunday, we are now finalising details for the eight teams that will be competing for the coveted Street Soccer Nations Cup trophy. With some returning and new sides, we are excited to bring females from across Europe to North Ayrshire to celebrate the power of football.

"Both Saturday and Sunday will feature refreshments and entertainment, with the full weekend completely unticketed and free to attend."

Largs and Millport Weekly News:

In the Street Soccer Nations Cup, eight women’s teams from multiple nations across Europe to compete for this year’s trophy.

The women’s only tournament will be played in Homeless World Cup style format at Barrfields Park, home of Largs Thistle, and six nations will be taking part across the weekend.

Team Scotland will be entering two teams to the Nations Cup, with players selected from Street Soccer’s Street45 programme, which happens weekly across multiple locations. The players selected will have the opportunity to pull on the iconic Team Scotland jersey in front of friends and family as well as come together for a life-changing experience.

An ‘Alba’ team will also be entered into this year’s tournament, which will comprise players from multiple local recovery organisations. 

England will be back for the second year running, with players selected from Comfort Angels, an organisation based in Liverpool that supports refugees and asylum seekers through the power of football.

They will be joined by last year’s champions Republic of Ireland, with Irish Homeless Street League’s entering a women’s team that will be looking to remain victorious in Largs. 

Street Soccer Northern Ireland will also be returning to Scotland for another shot at the Street Soccer Nations Cup with Team Northern Ireland. 

The newest entry is from Romania. Players will be selected from Clubul Sportiv Fotbal De Strada Metanoia programmes. The organisation supports people who are homeless by helping them access legal advice, giving them an opportunity to play football, build a support network as well as giving them a hot meal at the end of every session.

The vibrant Sweden team from Gatans Lag programmes. Gatans Lag is a football organisation that uses football as a tool to beat homelessness, addiction, and other types of social exclusion through football. They create motivation and energy within the players for them to be able to change their own life situation.

A Street Soccer spokesperson said: "With eight teams now confirmed, we look forward to next week’s event with players, staff and volunteers from all six nation expected to arrive in Largs from Friday morning.

The event is completely free and will not require any tickets. Matchplay will begin on Saturday morning at Barrfields Park on Brisbane Road, with Friday’s activity open to all of the local community.

Largs Thistle's home league match against Arthurlie kicks off at 2pm on Saturday, August 19.