'Christmas Truce tournament shows football is for everyone'

Earlier this month, participants from four Premier League Kicks programmes travelled to the Belgian city of Ypres to take part in the Under-18 girls' Premier League Kicks Truce Tournament.

As well as the action on the pitch, the event was also an educational and cultural experience which allowed the 32 girls to learn about the sacrifices made by servicemen and women in the First World War.

Delivered by the Premier League Charitable Fund, the Premier League Kicks Truce Tournament is one of the competition elements of the Premier League's flagship and longest-running community programme, Premier League Kicks, and celebrates the League's commitment to increasing opportunities for girls and young women to play.

The teams were representing the charitable arms of Chelsea, Southampton, Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion, with West Brom running out winners by beating Southampton 2-1 in the final.

We spoke with Aaliyah Browne, Female Engagement Lead at the Albion Foundation, to find out what impact the Truce Tournament had on those taking part.

"We have a really big Premier League Kicks programme back at the Albion Foundation and we didn't always have many opportunities for the girls, it was usually focused on the boys.

"Now our girls' sessions are really starting to pick up, to the point that we are able to bring these girls with us to this tournament, to do something they've never done before.

"It's valuable for the girls. Not many of them have been on international trips before so it's a really good experience.

"As we know women's football is the up-and-coming sport and having these opportunities is so important. Now they're able to tell their friends the things they have experienced.

"It gives the girls the opportunity to focus on new things and learn valuable lessons. It's so important to have these opportunities for girls. On these trips they're learning a lot of life skills and they don't even realise it.

"That's what Premier League Kicks is about, being part of the wider community, meeting new people, experiencing different cultures, doing new things.

"At the Albion Foundation, Premier League Kicks is massive and we are increasing the girls' Premier League Kicks sessions.

"We've already got two, we're looking to add another and on our Friday session we're already getting 50-60 participants, it’s really starting to grow. It's a big thing.

"I think Premier League Kicks is giving children and young people the chance to do new things and the opportunity to play football. The social side of it is immense.

"I've seen people coming to their first Premier League Kicks session and they aren't talking to anyone, they don't want to join in. By a couple of weeks they're smashing it, they've got new friends and they're talking to everybody.

"For me, I just love seeing the way the girls progress. Playing football gives them a voice.

"It's great to mix with the other coaches and the other teams too, as a lot of them haven't met other players from different regions, different areas.

"Every team has been unreal. It's an excellent event and so good to see the girls playing in it.

"They're out there having fun, doing what they do best, being themselves and expressing themselves freely through football. I'm really proud of them. Not just the girls in my team, I'm talking about the other teams as well.

"Football is all about equality, showing that there is a place for women in sport. The Christmas Truce tournament highlights that. Here we are playing side by side with the boys, showing that we are equal. It's really good.

"Football is a sport for everybody and the Premier League have done really well to represent that in this tournament."