CLUBS DELIVERING THROUGH SCHOOLS AS CLUB HUBS

Schools are the location for many of our club-delivered activities. This season, Manchester United players helped to showcase this important work, delighting pupils by visiting ten of the Manchester United Foundation’s local partner schools.

A critical element of the Premier League’s Communities strategy is the continuing development of the 'Club Hubs' model. This innovative approach places clubs at the heart of their local communities where they can support and inspire young people, by delivering a wide range of programmes. Where investment is needed for upgrading or building new facilities, such as floodlit artificial grass pitches, financial support is available through the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund.

Schools play a key role in our strategy, whilst we also target our investment in areas of significant deprivation. By delivering at schools, sports centres and community venues, our clubs create a network of ‘satellite sites’ from which to deliver bespoke local initiatives or national programmes. 

Manchester United first-team players took part in activities with ten local schools this season, for an event dedicated to celebrating the work of Manchester United Foundation.

Captain Wayne Rooney led his team mates as they split into groups to visit schools at locations across Greater Manchester. At each venue the players got involved in activities showcasing the Foundation’s work, including sports coaching, leadership workshops and language lessons.

Rooney visited Stretford High School with defender Paddy McNair and was impressed with the ‘Leading the United Way’ programme. Using his own captaincy experience to advise the young leaders he said, “You need to be confident – that’s a big part of it, as well as being able to communicate well and clearly, which a lot of them did in the classroom. As a Manchester United player we’re in a privileged position and it’s great to come down, see the kids and try to give them some advice.”

Across town at Burnage Academy for Boys, Ángel Di María and David de Gea surprised students taking part in a Premier League 4Sport session, which focuses on Olympic sports.The players took part in table tennis, badminton and basketball activities, and keeper de Gea, commented: “Kids have different choices of sports. I believe it's a great incentive that they have the opportunity to participate in different activities. It was very gratifying for us to be here and to be able to play some activities with the kids.”