This past weekend, Cross Flatts FC hosted yet another successful community event – this season’s kit launch – drawing families, local supporters, and residents from across Leeds. While football remains at the heart of the club, the true spirit of Cross Flatts FC lies far beyond the pitch.
Founded with a passion for the beautiful game, Cross Flatts FC has grown into a vital community hub offering not just football training and matches, but a safe space for young people, a network for families, and a driving force behind local charitable causes. Over the past three years, the club has raised funds for numerous local initiatives, supported food banks, hosted interfaith gatherings, and created outreach programs aimed at reducing youth isolation and promoting mental well-being through sport and community involvement.
“We are not just a football club,” said Jonir Ali, Chairman of Cross Flatts FC. “We are a family. A place where people from all walks of life come together — not only to play, but to connect, to support, and to uplift one another. The values of respect, unity, and giving back are stitched into the fabric of this club.”
The recent event included reminding everyone of the power of grassroots organisations in transforming lives.
Local councillor Mohammed Iqbal (Labour, Hunslet & Riverside) a long-time supporter of the club, praised its achievements:
“I am incredibly proud of what Cross Flatts FC has achieved in just three years. It’s more than football it’s about community spirit, opportunity, and togetherness. This club is proof that when people come together with passion and purpose, real change happens. We’ve seen young lives transformed, barriers broken down, and a real sense of pride built within our area. Cross Flatts FC is an example for others to follow.”
As the club looks to the future, it remains committed to expanding its outreach, supporting more families, and continuing its mission of making sport a vehicle for positive social change.
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