The BFT was founded by Sport Express back in 1999 and since has become the biggest amateur football tournament in Russia.
The Sport-Express came up with an idea of organizing a tournament for backyard football teams in 1999. Free participation in the tournament was a major precondition.
We called the tournament simply - Backyard Football Tournament (BFT). The first tournament, launched in January 2000, saw a total of 128 teams, combined into a single league almost without any age limitations (teams included 11- to 58-year-old players). A total of 357 teams applied for the second tournament, 651 teams for the third one, 779 for the fourth, 858 for the fifth, 803 for the sixth and 565 for the seventh one.
The recent reduction in the number of participants has been caused by the fact that the Sport-Express has embarked on sweeping some cheaters in the tournament. The problem was the professional footballers had recently infiltrated the BFT which was against the rules. On the one hand, we realized that the tournament had won universal recognition and respect. The victory in the tournament had become so desirable that former and current professional players no longer took it beneath their dignity. On the other hand, this fact could undermine the very idea of the tournament, initially planned as an amateurs' contest. Thus we decided to apply tougher rules to those who is being paid or was being paid for playing football.
The figures mentioned above are for Moscow and suburbs only. However, the scope of the Backyard Football Tournament is much wider. In 2004 the tournament expanded outside the capital. In June 2004 Moscow hosted the finals of the first All-Russian Backyard Football Tournament. Russia's best amateur teams from 13 regions, filtered through the qualifying matches, arrived in Moscow. The winners won a prize trip to London. There is no doubt that they went sightseeing in the British capital, but what was even more important they attended an English Premiership game involving Chelsea. They also visited the sancta sanctorum - the dressing rooms at Stamford Bridge.
The motto of the BFT is "Drugs-free Yards". It is the lifestyle rather than just a motto. And it works! The football team from Lesnoy Gorodok outside Moscow has managed to wrest several youths from drug addiction, something that medical professionals have unsuccessfully been tackling for a long time. A 16-year-old boy admitted to having sniffed glue every other day for a year and a half. However, a friend of his invited him to the football team, but said that their friendship would be off if he did not stop sniffing dope. Indeed, football and friendship have won over! Another 23-year-old was an accomplished drug addict, but football came to the rescue and became his cure.
Here is a totally different example. Those who follow the Backyard Football Tournament know Nikita Mikhailov very well. He was the mascot of the Ramenskoe-based Saturenok team from the junior-league, but then he became a player. He made his debut at an age of five years and 88 days. Quite a record, eh! Just imagine the envy of Nikita's kindergarten fellow children, given the fact that he has repeatedly made the headlines and appeared on TV.
There was a 75-year-old player on the Kresty football team from Korolev in 2003. We thought it a misprint or a joke, when we saw the application of a player born in 1928. Nevertheless, we tried to clear things up. Indeed, left back Vasily P. Eremin turned out to be 75 years old, although he looks much younger! He is fit and slight with a springing step and a firm handshake. He looks 55 at the most, and he is smart and sound.
Thus, the disproportion in age among players, taking part in the tournament, amounts to 70 years - nowhere else can you find such a unique league!
Over 3,500 teams and more than 50,000 kids, teenagers, and youths have taken part in the tournament just within six years of its existence. By the way, the finals take place at the Luzhniki Arena - Russia's biggest stadium!
The Sport-Express has always shouldered the burden of tournament expenses. However, we are looking for sponsors and patrons to evolve it to the higher level.
