Amrut Cup 2025, BAPS Charities’ annual 5-a-side youth football tournament, was held on Saturday 6 September at Northampton Goals, hosted this year by Wellingborough. Since its inception in 1996, the tournament has grown in scale and spirit, and this year marked a historic milestone with a record 51 teams and 340 players from across the UK and Europe.
The central theme of this year’s tournament was unity (samp), reflected not only in the gameplay but also in the introduction of the ‘Samp Award’, which honoured individuals and teams who exemplified teamwork and sportsmanship. The Amrut Cup continues to be more than just a football competition –it’s a celebration of values such as discipline, respect, friendship, and community spirit.
The tournament featured two age categories:
▪ K1 (ages 13 to 16): 27 teams
▪ K2 (ages 17 to 21): 24 teams
Games in the group stages were fiercely contested, with several surprise results setting the stage for a thrilling knockout phase. In K1, Reading B stunned Leicester G in a 5-4 thriller, while Birmingham B knocked out defending champions West London A thanks to a decisive goal by Sanjay Kakkad. In K2, London Mandir A edged past Barnet A 1-0, and South East London A narrowly missed a semi-final spot after a penalty shoot-out loss to Leicester A.
The K1 semi-finals saw Watford B, who had barely made it past the group stage, defeat Birmingham B. South London D, led by Het Thummar, reached their first final in over a decade with a 1-0 win over Leicester B. In the final, Watford B lived up to their pre-tournament billing, beating South London D 2-0 to claim their maiden K1 title.
In K2, defending champions London Mandir A reached the final again after overcoming Leicester C, while Leicester A defeated East London A. The final was a tense affair, ending in a penalty shoot-out where Leicester A triumphed 3-2, reclaiming the Amrut Cup and denying London Mandir A back-to-back titles.
A new addition this year was the Penalty Shoot-out Tournament, designed to promote inclusivity and unity. It proved immensely popular, with standout performances from South London A, Europe, East London B, and South London B. In a dramatic semi-final, Wellingborough A lost 7-6 to South London A, who went on to beat East London B 3-1 in the final.
The awards ceremony celebrated both team and individual excellence.
Amrut Cup K1
▪ Winners: Watford B
▪ Runners-up: South London D
▪ Best Player: Kishan Thakkar (Reading B)
▪ Golden Boot: Rudra Patel (Leicester B)
▪ Best Goalkeeper: Dev Patel (Watford B)
Amrut Cup K2
▪ Winners: Leicester A
▪ Runners-up: London Mandir A
▪ Best Player: Rudra Rao (Leicester A)
▪ Golden Boot: Bhavya Patel (Leicester A)
▪ Best Goalkeeper: Niyam Patel (South London A)
Samp Awards
The Samp Awards highlighted inspiring moments of integrity and empathy, such as players cancelling their own goals, helping injured opponents, and teams celebrating together regardless of the result.
▪ Shlok Patel (Europe K2)
▪ Krish Gandecha (East London C)
▪ East London B & South London A
▪ Shyam Suchak (Leicester C)
▪ Rudra Patel (Leicester B)
The Amrut Cup 2025 was a resounding success, blending competitive football with timeless values and community spirit. It reaffirmed its place as a cherished highlight in the youth sporting calendar, inspiring the next generation to play with heart and honour.
