Around 50 Sheffield teenagers keen to try out new sports recently attended the Premier League 4 Sport (PL4S) launch event at Hillsborough College and Hillsborough Stadium. The participants from various schools and colleges across the city were able to take part in table tennis, tennis, basketball and boxing activities. Ryan Rudd, 13, from Shiregreen, who goes to Ecclesfield School, said: "It's good because it's just a day of having fun really”. "It's a really good day out because we play the sports and then get tickets to watch the Wednesday game later” "Otherwise, I would be staying in the house and playing on the Xbox."
Sheffield Wednesday Community Programme is working in partnership with the Premier League, Sport England and four National Governing Bodies (English Table Tennis, Lawn Tennis Association, England Basketball, and the Amateur Boxing Association) to increase participation in sport by delivering Sheffield Wednesday branded, weekly satellite clubs in Schools and community centres across the north of Sheffield.
Owl’s Community Ambassador Michail Antonio, a keen table tennis player himself, hailed the new scheme. He said: “It’s great Sheffield Wednesday are working with so many high profile organisations to give local kids the chance to try out sports.”
Premier League 4 Sport (PL4S) combines the unique appeal of football clubs to engage youngsters from some of the country’s most disadvantaged communities with clubs acting as hubs linked to community sports clubs and facilities, which in turn are connected to satellite clubs which take place after the School day ends in local secondary schools, youth clubs and community sport facilities.
Matthew Bray, Social Inclusion Manager at Sheffield Wednesday Community Programme, said: "It's great watching young people trying sports that they wouldn't normally do” “PL4S uses the SWFC brand to give teenagers the opportunity to keep active and develop a lifelong passion for sport”
Picture at Stadium – includes teenagers and ambassadors for the programme .Left to right Da’Quan Cook, BJ Holmes- Sheffield Sharks, Michail Antonio – SWFC Player, Kid Galahad- Sheffield Boxer, Olu Babalola- Sheffield Sharks.
For further details about PL4S at SWFC please contact Matt Bray matthew.bray@swfc.co.uk / 0114 2212215