PARTICIPANTS from The Albion Foundation’s Premier League Kicks programme were given a motivational speech by Darren Moore ahead of their national tournament.
With Father's Day just around the corner, the Kicks participants got the chance to meet Darren, who is a role model to many
Kicks aims to engage disaffected youngsters and provide opportunities, such as the national tournament and meeting Albion’s manager, that would otherwise be unattainable to the youngsters.
Paul Blagrove, the Foundation’s Kicks Officer, says that the national tournament will be an experience for the participants, who are from some of the more deprived parts of Sandwell.
“Some of our players haven’t been to London before,” he said.
“Another first for some of the lads will be stopping in a hotel.
“To top it all off, Darren Moore giving them a motivational speech was a great experience for them.
“One of the lads said that meeting Darren was better than Christmas.”
The group of youngsters from Hollylodge School, who attend free weekly Premier League Kicks football sessions, won the local tournament for the chance to represent the Club on the national stage.
Sandwell Community School were also invited to listen to Darren’s speech, after losing to Hollylodge in the final.
One of players from Hollylodge School, Joel Wilson, says that Kicks has had a big impact on his life.
“It’s changed my life quite a lot,” he said.
“I’ve been in the newspapers and now I’m going to be on TV.
“If it wasn’t for the police and West Bromwich Albion, this wouldn’t be happening.”
To find out more about the Foundation’s Kicks programme, please contact paul.blagrove@albionfoundation.co.uk.