Football Remembers the Holocaust: Premier League programme educates and inspires

Since the 2018/19 season, the Premier League Youth Department has led the "Football Remembers the Holocaust Educational Programme", an initiative aimed at educating U14 academy players about the Holocaust.

Initially piloted as part of the "Equality Inspires" Academy Awareness Weekend, the programme launched with three Clubs Manchester City, Middlesbrough and Norwich City, participating to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

This initiative has since evolved into one of the Premier League's recognised Academy Enrichment Programmes.

The Football Remembers the Holocaust Programme is structured around five key elements:

Pre-War Life in Europe A focus on Jewish communities before the Holocaust.
Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) Held annually on 27 January, players honour victims through readings, a minute's silence and wearing HMD stickers. Clubs engage in educational sessions about the Holocaust before marking the day.
Holocaust Survivor Testimonies Survivors share their stories in deeply moving sessions attended by academy players and staff.
Visits to Auschwitz-Birkenau Museums While the COVID-19 pandemic and recent global events have impacted international travel, alternative visits and reflections have taken place.
Programme Reflection Players provide feedback and learn about anti-Semitism and the experiences of Holocaust survivors’ descendants.

Since its launch, the programme has engaged over 1,000 young academy players, with 1,005 participants taking part. Additionally, 118 young people have been nominated by their clubs to attend end-of-programme trips to Poland.

More than 20 Premier League and Championship clubs have participated, including:

•    AFC Bournemouth
•    Arsenal
•    Aston Villa
•    Brighton & Hove Albion
•    Burnley
•    Chelsea
•    Crystal Palace
•    Everton
•    Leeds United
•    Manchester City
•    Manchester United
•    Middlesbrough
•    Newcastle United
•    Norwich City
•    Southampton
•    Stoke City
•    Tottenham Hotspur
•    Watford
•    West Ham United
•    Wolverhampton Wanderers

At Chelsea, players from the men's and women's teams had the privilege of hearing from Eve Kugler BEM, a 93-year-old Holocaust survivor.

She shared a powerful message by saying, "Whoever listens to a witness becomes a witness. You are all witnesses now."

Looking ahead to 2025

Plans for 2025 are already in motion, with events and educational sessions scheduled across participating clubs.

 Crystal Palace Holocaust survivor Steven Franks, grandfather of a Palace intern, will speak to the U14 squad on 28 November, with Palace TV covering the event.

Manchester United and Manchester City Both Clubs will hear a second-generation testimony from Noemie Lopian on 28 January, followed by a match at Carrington.

Additional clubs Teams including Norwich City, Tottenham Hotspur, and Wolves are set to take part in enrichment days, games, and reflection sessions.

This programme continues to ensure that young players not only develop on the pitch but also grow as socially conscious individuals, carrying the vital lessons of the Holocaust forward and understanding the history around it.