Albion in the Community’s half-term football sessions attracted over 500 young people across Sussex last week.
The charity ran a number of tournaments aimed at players from its Premier League Kicks sessions, which provide free football to young people. These took place in Brighton, Eastbourne, Worthing and Hastings and attracted more than 250 players from AITC’s 40 regular sessions.
Pascal Gross was the latest Albion star to show their support for AITC’s Premier League Kicks programme when he visited the charity’s tournament in Worthing last week. The midfielder held a Q&A session with young players and handed out trophies and medals to participants.
His appearance follows similar visits by Tim Krul, Steve Sidwell and Solly March, who have all attended Premier League Kicks tournaments this season. Aileen Whelan and Fern Whelan, who play for the club’s FA WSL 2 squad, visited AITC’s girls-only Premier League Kicks session in Brighton earlier in the campaign, while development squad players Will Collar and Ben Hall attended a Premier League Kicks tournament back in July.
Elsewhere last week, Brighton & Hove Albion Soccer Schools, which are run by AITC, saw nearly 300 young players playing football across seven venues.
AITC had soccer schools taking place in Worthing, Eastbourne, Steyning, Hassocks, Brighton, and Uckfield, as well as a girls-only soccer school that was held at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre in Lancing. A two-day holiday course aimed at people with a disability was also well attended, with more than 25 players taking part in each day on the Community Pitch at the training ground.
AITC chief executive, Matt Dorn, said: “It was great to see so many youngsters out and enjoying playing football during the school holidays.
“The numbers of people who have attended our half-term sessions was really pleasing.”
You can book onto our May half-term Brighton & Hove Albion Soccer Schools courses here
Want information on free our Premier League Kicks sessions? Email us: kicks@albioninthecommunity.org.uk.