Kickz Cup 2011

As one competitive football season ends another begins for Kickz participants across the country. On Saturday 4th June, over 150 young people from across The Midlands took part in the Wolves Community Trust hosted regional qualifier of the Kickz Cup 2011. The Kickz Cup offers clubs across the country the chance to participate in competitive football matches at top class facilities including professional football stadia and academies.

Kickz uses the power of football and appeal of professional football clubs to engage young people who may otherwise be difficult to reach. The tournaments also supported by Nike, offeres Kickz projects budding football stars of the future a chance to play for a place in the prestigious final of the national tournament.

Teams from Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Derby County Kickz participated in a league format across the day. Aston Villa eventually faired as overall winners of the Under 14’s tournament with Birmingham City being runner’s up. In the Under 16’s tournament Wolverhampton Wanderers were crowned champions with Derby County taking the runners up spot.

Volunteering is the theme for this year’s Kickz Cup, with 2011 being the European Year of Volunteering. The Kickz programme has developed a culture of volunteering across the network and this tournament was supported by 50 local volunteers from various projects that Wolves Community Trust deliver across the local area.

Jennifer Mildenhall, Kickz & Community Engagement Officer, Wolves Community Trust said: ‘We were delighted to be able to host the Midlands regional tournament and the great spirit shown by all the young people from various football clubs who attended was a joy to watch. Kickz is one of our flagship projects and the young people who attend are a credit to the football club and the local community. In particular, we were extremely proud of those participants who gave up their time to volunteer on the day as they are an invaluable asset to the Kickz programme. Thanks again to everyone who took part and all those involved in making the day such a great experience for those involved’.

Kickz is a social inclusion programme which uses the power of football and appeal of professional football clubs brands to build safer, stronger, more respectful communities through the development of young peoples’ potential. Funded by the Premier League Charitable Fund, Metropolitan Police and a range of local and national partners including v, the national youth volunteering charity the programme has to date engaged with over 45,000 young people and created 4,500+ volunteers. 43 professional clubs in over 60 local authority areas are now collectively delivering 113 projects in some of the most deprived areas across the country.