Founders Paraic Grogan and Jon Hammond are calling on local teams to sign up for the round-robin competition, which was developed to support disadvantaged children.

Entry is free for spectators, and Grogan says there will be entertainment for people of all ages – including a jumping castle, DJ and a live community music stage.

‘‘We want to give local talent within the City of Yarra the opportunity to showcase their talent, especially residents from public housing estates,’’ Grogan says.

A-league team Melbourne Heart will run a soccer clinic for children under 12 that will give participants a chance to be selected to be the Melbourne Heart mascot at an AAMI Park game later this year. Teams will pay a fee to compete for the major prize – the Fair Play cup and some beer.

First held in 2007, the twice-yearly Fair Play tournament is about encouraging community participation and raising money for worthy causes. It has raised $22,000 to date.

Money raised by the event goes to support two vital programs, one in Cambodia, one local. The Happy Football foundation, founded by Grogan and run in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, gives children who live in extreme poverty the opportunity to play soccer in a safe environment. Happy Football has 100 registered players (including 25 girls) and 16 staff members.

‘‘We are committed to encouraging female participation in sport,’’ Grogan says. Fourteen of the staff members are Cambodians, and nine of the coaches are former Homeless World Cup players.

Grogan says children who participate in Happy Football are also given the opportunity to compete at the Homeless World Cup.

‘‘It gives them the best possible coaching and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to a Homeless World Cup, represent their country and fly for the very first time,’’ he says.

Working with local organisations in Phnom Penh, Happy Football reaches out to children who have been orphaned, have grown up on rubbish dumps, or are working in brothels or factories.

Fair Play also supports the Collingwood All-Stars Soccer Program, a free program for players aged nine to 18 living in the Collingwood public housing estate.