Young people representing Sky Blues in the Community took part in the Under-16 mixed and Under-16 girls’ Premier League Kicks Cup regional tournaments in a bid to secure their place at the 2024 National finals!
Nine regional tournaments are being staged at community facilities across the country, with hundreds of young people representing Premier League, EFL and National League clubs, hoping to win the opportunity to represent their club in the Premier League Kicks Cup 2024 finals at St George’s Park in July.
Walsall and Preston North End are the current Premier League Kicks Cup champions, having won the Under-16 mixed and Under-16 girls’ tournaments respectively in 2023.
The Premier League Kicks Cup tournament is one of the competition elements of Premier League Kicks.
Premier League Kicks uses the power of football and sport to inspire young people to reach their potential, in some of the most high-need areas in England and Wales.
Premier League Charitable Fund Chief Executive, Ruth Shaw OBE, said: “Premier League Kicks continues to have an incredible impact on communities across England and Wales, providing hundreds of thousands of young people with free access to football in their local area.
“The Premier League Kicks Cup regional tournaments will create opportunities for more than 1,400 young people across 89 professional football club community organisations across the football leagues to take part in competitive football, to make new friends, engage in positive activities and work together to develop their potential on and off the pitch.”
On Thursday the 28th of March, Sky Blues in the Community hosted 11 Under-16 mixed and girls’ teams at our new sporting facility President Kennedy School, CV6 4GL.
In addition to providing young people with access to free football and sports activities, professional football club community organisations (CCOs) also provide additional year-round support through Premier League Kicks.
This includes offering mentoring, life-skills advice and access to opportunities such as volunteering and social action to help aid personal development.
Alex Jane, Inclusion Co-Ordinator and PL Kicks Programme Lead at Sky Blues in the Community, said:
“What a fantastic experience and honour it was hosting the Premier League Kicks West Midlands Regional Tournament on the 28th of March 2024. It was a really enjoyable day for all young people in attendance who were representing their clubs. They also got to experience fun and engaging workshops in between games. The weather wasn’t the best on the day with all the rain but the smiles on the pitches from both the mixed and girls tournament defiantly brightened the day. All clubs in attendance really made the most out of the experience”.
Premier League Kicks began in 2006. Since then, more than 520,000 young people have participated in Premier League Kicks football and multi-sport sessions delivered by 90 Premier League, English Football League and National League sides. More than one million hours of sessions have been delivered across England and Wales.
To date, the Premier League has invested more than £66 million in Premier League Kicks through the Premier League Charitable Fund.
Visit premierleague.com for more information.
