Communities

PL Charitable Fund 10 years: Ryan and West Brom

27 Nov 2020

See how Albion's PL Kicks sessions have given a teenager confidence and leadership qualities

Ryan Johnson's learning difficulties and behavioural issues made social situations difficult, but Premier League Kicks sessions run by his beloved West Bromwich Albion have transformed the 14-year-old into a leader among his peers.

“When Ryan first got introduced to the group he was really quiet and really shy,” explains Ajay, Ryan’s PL Kicks coach at The Albion Foundation, the PL club's charitable foundation.

“But he’s an avid Albion fan so it was an easy way for him to get involved with the sessions.

“Over the years he’s excelled in terms of his social skills, his confidence and his leadership qualities as well. He’s become a little leader within the set-up.

“Being at the Kicks session has brought him outside of his comfort zone. He’ll turn up and interact with people that perhaps he wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to in his day-to-day life and he does that fantastically well.”

To recognise Ryan’s development, he has been named the winner of the Kicks Participant Award as part of the Premier League Charitable Fund 10-year anniversary celebrations.

We're celebrating 🔟 years of the Premier League Charitable Fund

Here's some of what it's been doing for the past decade 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ALfQWg1A8B
— Premier League Communities (@PLCommunities) November 24, 2020

Ryan’s nan and guardian Janet Johnson says: “Before he started the sessions he was a very confused young man.

“He had a little bit of a temper that would sometimes rise. But since he got involved with Kicks he’s calmed down a lot, he’s grown up a lot and he’s certainly matured a lot.

“He’s made some brilliant friends. He’s always talking to them and he looks forward to going every single week.

“He’s gained a lot of confidence. He’s come on in leaps and bounds. His attitude has changed. Everything has changed. He’s happy, very happy.”