Foundation to host Premier League Kicks Cup regional qualifiers 2025

The Foundation's PL Kicks team representing the Bantams at last year's PL Kicks Cup in Sheffield.

Bradford City FC Community Foundation will welcome over 200 young people from across the region to Bradford on Monday 7th April, as they host the regional qualifiers for the Premier League Kicks Cup. The Foundation will also enter teams formed of participants from its Premier League Kicks sessions, who will take part in the Under-16 mixed Premier League Kicks Cup regional qualifier.

The qualifiers will take place at Wyke Sports Village, a multi-use sports facility in Bradford South, and will attended by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, who will deliver a workshop for attendees; HMP-Not-4-Me, an interactive educational workshop focused on the realities of prison life and criminal behaviour; Judith Cummins, MP for Bradford South; BCAFC players, who will host a meet and greet with all participants, and many more partners and friends of the Foundation.

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 2025 finals at St George’s Park in July.

Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are the current Premier League Kicks Cup champions, having won the Under-16 mixed and Under-16 girls’ tournaments respectively in 2024.

The Premier League Kicks Cup tournament is one of the competition elements of Premier League Kicks. The programme uses the power of football and sport to inspire young people to reach their potential, in some of the most high-need areas of England and Wales. 

Premier League Charitable Fund Chief Executive, Ruth Shaw OBE, said: “Premier League Kicks gives young people the opportunity to access free football in their local community.

“Over 1,400 young people from 93 professional football club community organisations will take part in the regional tournaments, where they will enjoy competitive football and make friends along the way. They will also have the chance to engage in activities that will help them develop on and off the pitch.”

The Foundation’s team, representing the Bantams and donning the iconic claret and amber, will join Under-16 mixed and girls’ teams at the Yorkshire and North East Premier League Kicks which the Foundation is hosting.

Darrel Walker, the Foundation’s Premier League Kicks Coordinator and Youth Worker, said: “We are incredibly excited to welcome everyone to Bradford for these qualifiers. Its a seminal year for the city, and I am proud that our project gets the chance to be a part of the celebrations. We will have plenty of workshops during the day to engage the young people in amongst the footballing action. I’d like to wish good luck to all of the teams taking part - see you on Monday!”

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.

Premier League Kicks began in 2006. Since then, more than 550,000 young people have participated in Premier League Kicks football and multi-sport sessions delivered by 93 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 £91.7 million in Premier League Kicks through the Premier League Charitable Fund.

Visit premierleague.com for more information.

About Premier League Kicks 

Premier League Kicks inspires young people to achieve their potential and develop life skills with access to free weekly football and multi-sport, mentoring and education workshops. The community programme has engaged more than 550,000 young people of all backgrounds and abilities over the last 17 years. More than one million hours of free sessions have been delivered, with 93 professional football club community organisations currently delivering the programme. Of the 4,900+ venues across England and Wales, more than half are in the top 30% most deprived neighbourhoods. More than 21,000 volunteers have helped on Premier League Kicks, 93% of whom are former participants, with 20% of the workforce former participants. Premier League players who took part in Kicks as youngsters include Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Declan Rice and Wilfried Zaha. The Premier League has invested £91.7m into the programme, via the Premier League Charitable Fund. Premier League Kicks currently works in 38 of 44 police force areas across England and Wales. 36% of attendees are from ethnically diverse communities and there are more than 23,500 female participants.  

About the Premier League  

The Premier League produces some of the most competitive and compelling football in the world. The League and its clubs use the power and popularity of the competition to inspire fans, communities, and partners in the UK and across the world. The Premier League brings people together from all backgrounds.  It is a competition for everyone, everywhere and is available to watch in 900 million homes in 189 countries.  

About the Premier League Charitable Fund 

The Premier League Charitable Fund was established in 2010 to distribute funding provided by the Premier League and its partners to professional football club charities across England and Wales, supporting them in their delivery in thousands of community venues and schools across the country. A total of 106 club charities are supported across the Premier League, English Football League and National League. 

Support for community provision through the Premier League Charitable Fund more than tripled in 10 years, with the Premier League now investing over £35m per year into community activity and programmes. More than £325m has been invested to-date, with approximately 2.5m participants taking part in programmes funded by the Premier League via the Premier League Charitable Fund over the last 14 years. 

The Premier League Charitable Fund is a registered charity, number 1137208. Find out more at www.premierleague.com/plcf.