Derby County Community Trust hosted the East Midlands’ Premier League Kicks Cup at Moor Farm Training Centre yesterday.

Young people from across the region represented their respective clubs 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.

The Derby County teams joined eight other Under-16 mixed and girls’ teams at the East Midlands Premier League Kicks regional tournament.

Teams and players took part in a variety of workshops alongside their games with the aim of supporting wellbeing and building resilience. Local mental health advocates were also on site to support with signposting and guidance about continuing the conversation around mental health. Additional activities were provided by live DJ and rap artists, with youth voice activities to capture the day’s events. 

Marsha Bailey, who played in the Derby County team, said:

“It was really good to come to the training ground and play for Derby, I’ve never been here before and I learnt quite a lot about mental health from the workshops as well as playing.

“I love going to Kicks sessions, so getting to play for Derby at these games is a great experience.”

The tournaments ran throughout the day and eventually saw Nottingham Forest crowned as the female winners and Lincoln as the mixed champions. Both Derby County teams progressed as far as the semi-finals.

Workshops on the day were delivered by Semi Colon Creations, the Derby County Community Trust Health team and Unit 03 Music.

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.

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.”

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.