Young people representing Colchester United Community Foundation will take 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 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.”
Colchester United Community Foundation will join x7 Under-16 mixed and x5 girls’ teams at the East of England Premier League Kicks regional tournament hosted by Colchester United Community Foundation at Shrub End Community and Sports Centre (CO2 9BG) on Tuesday 2nd April.
Throughout the event the players will have the opportunity to take part in workshops which will be delivered by; Heads2Minds a mental health charity, Colchester Police and Colchester United Community Foundation. The themes of the workshops will be mental health, football hooliganism and knife crime awareness. There will also be special guests throughout the day to inspire and enrich the day for participants.
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.
Head of Health and Inclusion at Colchester United Community Foundation, Ed King, was asked about the upcoming Premier League Kicks Regional Qualifier. He said “We are delighted to have been given the opportunity by the Premier League Charitable Fund to host the East of England Regional Qualifiers at our community base in Shrub End. We are also delighted to give 16 young people the amazing opportunity to take part in this competition. We hope the event will inspire our players and help them to grow as individuals”.
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.
About Premier League Kicks
Premier League Kicks inspires young people to achieve their potential and develop life skills with access to free weekly football and multi-sport, mentoring and education workshops. The community programme has engaged more than 520,000 young people of all backgrounds and abilities over the last 16 years. More than one million hours of free sessions have been delivered, with 89 professional football club community organisations currently delivering the programme. Of the 4,900+ venues across England and Wales, more than half are in the top 30% most deprived neighbourhoods. More than 21,000 volunteers have helped on Premier League Kicks, 93% of whom are former participants, with 20% of the workforce former participants. Premier League players who took part in Kicks as youngsters include Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Declan Rice and Wilfried Zaha. The Premier League has invested £81.6m into the programme, via the Premier League Charitable Fund.
About the Premier League
The Premier League produces some of the most competitive and compelling football in the world. The League and its clubs use the power and popularity of the competition to inspire fans, communities, and partners in the UK and across the world. The Premier League brings people together from all backgrounds. It is a competition for everyone, everywhere and is available to watch in 900 million homes in 189 countries.
About the Premier League Charitable Fund
The Premier League Charitable Fund is one of the biggest sport charities in the world. Established in 2010 to create positive sporting, health, personal and education opportunities for children, young people and the wider community, the independent charity distributes Premier League and partner funding to 106 professional football club community organisations (CCOs) across the Premier League, English Football League and National League. The Premier League Charitable Fund is a registered charity, number 1137208.
Visit premierleague.com for more information.
