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Last Updated: Friday, 15 June 2007, 16:06 GMT 17:06 UK
Oliver's football army
By Sophie Galasinski

Jamie Oliver's trainees branch out onto the football pitch
It's nice to see them out of the kitchen
Fifteen welfare worker Claire O'Neil

Take one famous TV chef, throw in six young trainees from his celebrity restaurant and bake gently in the summer heat at the country's biggest street football tournament in East London.

The results didn't quite go as the hastily arranged five-a-side team intended, but their "pukka" spirit at the BBC's Your Game event in Leyton would have delighted boss Jamie Oliver.

The trainees are all based at Oliver's Fifteen restaurant in London, his philanthropic ambition to combine gourmet cuisine while giving young people with difficult histories a second chance.

The foundation stemmed from the reality TV series Jamie's Kitchen, where Oliver gambled all to train 15 young, unemployed Londoners to become chefs in his first restaurant venture.

The series was a resounding success - and so is the restaurant. Oliver is now training up his sixth year of apprentices and the foundation has expanded to Amsterdam, Cornwall and Melbourne.

So when six Fifteen apprentices were invited to take part in the Your Game street football tournament, which offers opportunities to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, it was a match made in heaven, or Leyton at least.

Fifteen's Levi talks with keeper Christian
Levi discusses team tactics with keeper Christian

It was the first time Fifteen had entered a football team into any tournament and the trainees Sam, Levi, Christian, Adam, Steven and Dan had plenty to smile about.

They will soon graduate after their 18-month training period and will take on placements working in kitchens across the country and possibly even abroad.

Christian favours Italy, possibly Tuscany, whilst Steven wants to go to the River Caf� or work for fellow TV favourite and swearing machine Gordon Ramsay.

"He'd be great to work for, he is one of the best," he said.

The football was the perfect opportunity to let off some much needed steam away from the high-pressure environment of the kitchen.

The unforgiving nature of the restaurant industry means the trainees have limited time to practise their football skills.

You may not always get on, but you always show respect
Fifteen trainee Steven

Not that it bothered Fifteen welfare worker Claire O'Neil. "It's nice to see them out of the kitchen," she said.

The first game against Centrepoint was a close run match, with Fifteen only narrowly missing out on the points after a 1-0 defeat.

They may have lacked training but they certainly didn't lack passion. The basic skills were there, but the fitness levels were called into question during the 10-minute games.

Sam seemed to be struggling after three minutes - the cigarette after the match can't have helped his lungs too much.

Strapping Levi was Fifteen's standout player, but at times he seemed frustrated by his team-mates, which led to the odd rumble of an argument.

The second game, however, was not as close as Eastside United dominated throughout to win 4-0.

Keeper Christian managed to keep the score to a respectable margin, but as the full-time whistle went relief certainly showed on their tired faces.

Despite the two defeats, Fifteen has taught them valuable lessons. "You may not always get on, but you always show respect," said Steven.

Fifteen trainee Dan gets ready to play
Dan looks anxious as Fifteen prepare for their second - and final - game

Unfortunately Fifteen did not qualify for the latter stages of the tournament. The chefs may not have set the football field alight but as Christian said: "At least we tried."

O'Neil hopes Fifteen can enter another five-a-side team at next year's event when the new set of graduates begin their course, combining cooking and football and adding to the experience of the Fifteen foundation.

"We could even play in our chef whites," suggested Christian.

The apprentices enjoyed their action on the football pitch so much they are even considering challenging the chefs at Fifteen to a match.

So their football skills didn't quite live up to their cooking abilities, but make no mistake, Fifteen will be a force to reckon with next year. And the year after.

SEE ALSO
HFC dominate in East London
13 Jun 07 |  Your Game
Young, talented and undiscovered
13 Jun 07 |  Your Game


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