Premier League all-time top goalscorer Alan Shearer has praised the effects of the League’s investment into communities and all levels of football, saying he has been “proud” to see the work in action.
Shearer has joined the League in its "More Than A Game" celebration, which highlighted the positive impact of £1.6billion of investment into wider football, the grassroots game and communities between 2022 and 2025.
“The Premier League impacts people across England and Wales, benefiting football and communities with £1.6billion of investment into a huge range of programmes," said Shearer.
“I've been proud to again see the positive effect of this support over the last few weeks, meeting brilliant staff and volunteers like Billy at Blackburn, and seeing community work recognised by clubs across the leagues.
“The Premier League has shone a spotlight on this during its More Than A Game celebration, but I know the work continues year-round."
As part of More Than A Game, more than 100 clubs across the Premier League, EFL and National League celebrated a Community Captain - someone at the heart of their Premier League-funded programmes who deserves recognition for their contribution to the game and society.
One of these was 16-year-old Vojtech, known to all as "Billy", who met Shearer at Blackburn Rovers Indoor Centre.
Billy came to the UK from Slovakia six years ago without being able to speak any English. But with the help of Blackburn Rovers Community Trust and the Premier League Kicks programme, he grew in confidence and has progressed from participant to volunteer coach.
“It's a remarkable story from where he's come from to where he is now,” Shearer said of Billy.
“It's so important to have role models and people like Billy in local communities because the young people that are playing football here can look up to him, give them a focus and help them feel that there's something they can work towards.
“Football has an amazing ability to give kids pathways and opportunities that they probably wouldn't think about when they were playing.”
More Than a Game Trophy Tour
Shearer’s visit was one of many that highlighted stories of the people who have contributed to or benefited from Premier League-funded programmes, as the Premier League Trophy completed a regional tour of England and Wales.
Brighton & Hove Albion helped to open the More Than a Game celebration by presenting their Community Captain, Jaime, with her award in front of Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters, former Seagulls player Glenn Murray and Brighton’s Chief Operating Officer Paul Mullen at a Premier League Kicks session.
Theo Walcott supported the launch of a new Premier League Primary Stars resource focused on self-esteem at a school near Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium. There, Walcott took part in a Premier League Primary Stars session run by Arsenal in the Community.
The resource is now available to more than 19,000 primary schools across England and Wales.
Gary Lineker then joined the tour by returning to his first club, Aylestone Park, to see how Premier League and Football Foundation investment benefits all levels of the game. Aylestone Park has received more than £1.2million from the Football Foundation, which is funded by the Premier League, The FA and the Government, as well as an additional grant of £20,000 from the Premier League Stadium Fund for new energy-efficient LED floodlights.
Another Community Captain, Katie, had a moment to cherish when former England Lioness Jill Scott MBE and former referee Rebecca Welch returned to their hometown of Sunderland to surprise her and the next generation of female footballers.
Katie is a coach at the Foundation of Light’s Girls’ Emerging Talent Centre, 72 of which are funded through £6.3million of Premier League investment.
Saving lives
Premier League champion Wes Morgan maintained the theme of returning to familiar territory when he visited Leicester City fan Dave Orton to hear how his life was saved by a Premier League-funded defibrillator following a cardiac arrest.
The Premier League has funded the installation of 2,000 defibrillators across England and Wales, in partnership with the Football Foundation and The FA.
Down to London and renowned actor Idris Elba joined West Ham United head coach Graham Potter and captain Jarrod Bowen at a Premier League Kicks session. There, Elba presented Arran Johny with his Community Captain award and joined a discussion about the challenges facing young people, including youth violence.
Returning to the north of England, former England players Michael Dawson and Sue Smith attended regional qualifiers in Hull for this year's Premier League Primary Stars National Girls Football Tournament. There, they gave encouragement and advice to players from nine primary school teams.
Helping to round off the tour, Coventry City manager and three-time Premier League champion Frank Lampard OBE surprised Sky Blues in the Community health manager John Szyndler and therapy dog Winnie with the Community Captain award.
Find out more about the Premier League’s £1.6billion investment into wider football and communities