Gary Lineker was 10-years-old when in 1971 he began his footballing journey by walking through the doors at Aylestone Park Football Club in Leicester.
His five years at Aylestone Park was the start of a glittering career in football that took him to the heights of the game with Leicester City, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona and England, and then into broadcasting as host of BBC's Match of the Day following his retirement from playing.
This week, Gary returned to his old stomping ground to see how his former club have benefitted from Premier League funding as part of More than a game, a celebration of the Premier League's world-leading investment into all levels of football.
Over the years, Aylestone Park has received £1.2m in grants from the Premier League and the Football Foundation, which is funded by the Premier League, The FA and the Government, for grass pitches, floodlights, goalposts and maintenance.
An additional grant of £20,000 from the Premier League Stadium Fund for new energy-efficient LED floodlights.
This is what Gary made of a special day.
"This is where I started playing on a serious level. I had many very happy and successful years at this football club. It's a special place.
"I have so many memories of my time here. My dad would sell fruit in the morning and then drive the team around in the back of his van in the evenings and on Sundays.
"There's one memory that has stuck with me, my dad walking on the pitch because he heard me swearing at the ref. He said, 'you're not playing anymore' and he carted me off. It was a bit embarrassing but it worked because I don't think I ever did it again!
"This place has changed dramatically. The impact Premier League funding has on a club at this level is enormous. You come here most evenings and there'll be hundreds of girls and boys playing.
"Football is so great for them because they learn so much, team spirit, friendships, learning to win and lose, dealing with disappointment. It's healthy, it gets kids outdoors when it's so easy for them to sit on their phones.
"It's vital, not just in developing young football talent, but also developing young healthy people.
"Premier League investment at this level is vitally important for the game. It's definitely one of the reasons why we're now producing more talent in this country probably as much as any time in our history.
"The Premier League is a global triumph and the fact that it's giving to the grass roots side deserves real plaudits. For me, that support is the best thing the Premier League does.
"Because of the injection of cash into the game at a grass roots level, our young footballers grow up with really good facilities and playing surfaces where they can learn their skills and learn how to pass the ball. You've got to get the future playing and give them a chance.
"It's very difficult to put it into perspective the difference that the investment makes. It's enormous the amount of money that's gone in over the years from the Premier League and I think it has transformed youth football in this country.
"Even the football thing aside, just how important it is for communities and togetherness, it really makes a difference.
"I could have never envisaged all of what's happened here but it's beautiful. It's heartwarming to see. This place has grown and grown because of support but also because of great people here, who turn out to train the children, week in, week out.
"It's much better for them having the right facilities and the right backing to do that. I'm very proud of what this club's become.
"Clubs like this are the fabric of the pyramid. It's built on clubs like this. If you've got a chance of getting into the top it gives you a real advantage if you can start somewhere that's in good shape, that's looked after.
"Aspiration is really important to young people, to have beliefs and have dreams and sometimes those dreams can come true... this is a good starting place."
