Earlier this month, nine lucky members of the West Ham United Foundation’s (WHUF) Premier League (PL) Kicks programme were invited to be ball assistants for West Ham United’s Premier League victory over Fulham at London Stadium.
By using the reach and appeal of the Premier League and football, PL Kicks seeks to engage young people of all backgrounds and abilities aged 8 to 18-year-olds, in football, sport and personal development opportunities.
Each year, this diverse and inclusive initiative helps shape a better future for participants by engaging over 1,500 boys and girls of all abilities in a range of activities such as multi-sport sessions, youth events, football tournaments, volunteering opportunities and more.
“The type of opportunities we provide here at PL Kicks are really unique.” said Foundation PL Kicks coordinator Arran Johny. “Being ball assistant at a Premier League game is not something that happens every day, so the fact we can provide these types of things for the kids and make them feel included in the Club is very special.”
Ready to soak in the matchday atmosphere, the Foundation’s PL Kicks programme members met with Johny outside the Club Store. After checking in at security to obtain their passes, the youngsters headed for the changing rooms for an all-access tour of London Stadium. Following their tour, they did a lap of the pitch while the players warmed up, before assuming their positions for the game.
“It was a crazy experience!” said Kevin. “Being so close to the pitch, seeing the players warm up, interacting with the players... It was amazing.”
As well as ball assistants, the Foundation’s PL Kicks participants were also given various pre-game tasks. Enzo, a regular visitor to the London Stadium, was in charge of holding up the No Room for Racism banner for the camera.
“I was getting nervous. I thought I was going to drop the flag!” he exclaimed. “As the players were coming past us, they were doing little run ups, jumping up and down, I could feel the ground shake!”
Having been placed behind the Fulham goal for the first half, Enzo saw plenty of action, including an equalising penalty from England international forward Jarrod Bowen.
“The first time the ball came out on my side, I took a little bit of time to process everything.” he said. “Then, when Jarrod Bowen took the penalty, it was literally right in front of me!”
Reflecting on his experience, Enzo described how immersive the matchday experience is from the side-lines as opposed to cheering on from the stands.
“I’ve been going to West Ham games since they were at Upton Park.” he explained. “Being up close and personal by the pitch, you see just how intricate the movement of the players actually is. Little one-twos on TV may look like routine, but in person they look so sharp and accurate. It’s unreal.”
As well as being long time members of Premier League Kicks, Kevin and Enzo also engage with the Foundation through the Post-16 Football and Education programme. This initiative aims to develop talented footballers aged 16 to 18, both on and off the pitch, by enabling students to study for academic, coaching and fitness qualifications alongside football training.
“I’ve developed a good relationship with the PL Kicks coaches over the last seven years, so the transition to the Post-16 Football and Education programme was natural.” explained Kevin. “They’ve helped me a lot. In secondary school I would struggle to concentrate on my coursework. Now I’m really focused and developing my football.”
For Enzo, in his ninth year at PL Kicks, the transition to the Post-16 Football and Education programme was also a natural next step in pursuing his career in football. Having spent the best part of a decade being a part of PL Kicks, Enzo has managed to develop a great relationship with the Foundation’s coaches and mentors and has also profited from the highly diverse environment.
“I really enjoy the diversity, the talent from different backgrounds.” he said. “You see loads of different styles of football on one pitch. It’s fascinating to see all these footballing cultures come together. There’s so much to learn from these sessions.”
For more information about PL Kicks and other Foundation programmes, visit www.whufc.com/club/community/foundation
