Hundreds of young people from across England and Wales gathered at St. George’s Park National Football Centre this week for the latest edition of the Premier League Kicks Cup.
As well as providing a memorable occasion of competitive football, music and workshops, the two-day event celebrated the work that Premier League Kicks carries out in high-need communities up and down the country all year round.
And to mark another special event, we met some of the half a million participants that have been helped by the programme since it began in 2006.
A key part of Premier League Kicks is the number of former participants who are now working on the programme to help young people in their local community.
One of those coaches is Hus Mohammed.
Hus joined PL Kicks 17 years ago and is now Youth and Community manager at Fulham FC Foundation, working at the same venue he attended when he was younger.
"It means a lot to be a coach, especially going back to the area where I've grown up," he says. "And it's great to still be able to put the work in and make it a better community for everyone there."
Hus first started attending PL Kicks as a nine-year-old in a part of South London where there was plenty of temptation for youngsters to travel down the wrong path.
"There were a lot of gangs and violence so being at PL Kicks gave a sense of community because you got to know a lot of people from the area," he says.
"There were rules and how they wanted us to behave at the sessions meant that we had to behave outside as well.
"We took it upon ourselves to make our community a better place and PL Kicks gave us the power to do that."
While at the sessions, Hus took the opportunity to earn his coaching badges - a decision that set him up for what was to follow his time at PL Kicks.
Although he had originally wanted to continue playing, an offer to be a sessional coach at Fulham PL Kicks was one too good to turn down.
And six years later, Hus is now in a full-time position with Fulham FC Foundation. He is one of the 20 per cent of those working for clubs on the Premier League Kicks projects that are former participants.
"It's a big part of my life," he says. "The friends I have now, I met at PL Kicks. If it wasn't for Kicks, I don't know what I'd be doing to be honest. My life would have taken a different direction. It wouldn't be as fun!
"It's special because you realise the things that the young people are going through, you went through as well. You can relate to them.
"I can make the change that I wanted as a young person to the people on the programme now."
PL Kicks, which began in 2006, is a consistent source of guidance, support and football activity in some of the most disadvantaged areas of England and Wales.
And for Hus, having that presence is one of the main reasons the programme has made such a significant impact on thousands of young people.
"Just there being a consistent football session that's free for young people to attend gives them a sense of belonging, a sense of safety in that area," he says. "It might be the only consistent thing they've got.
"We can help young people grow in confidence by being a constant in their lives and building that relationship with them. From there we can be good role models and show them the opportunities that they can be a part of, as well as supporting them in becoming young adults.
"Having that draw of free football and putting them in something positive, just for a few hours a week, can be that one thing that takes them away from doing something bad.
"And then if you're upskilling your staff to provide better opportunities, you're setting a new path for young people to go along. It's priceless."
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.
Hus is one of more than half a million people who have benefitted from their involvement in the programme since its launch in 2006.
To date, the Premier League has invested more than £81million in Premier League Kicks through the Premier League Charitable Fund.
More than a game
The "More than a game" campaign showcases the support the Premier League provides for communities and the wider game.
The Premier League has provided world-leading levels of investment into communities and football at all levels in England and Wales, with a £1.6billion contribution over three years, equating to 16 per cent of the League's total revenue.
