England and Tottenham Hotspur defender, Jonathan Woodgate surprised young fans at an Inner City Football Funday in Hackney Downs Park this week as part of a Outreach Programme being funded by the Team England Footballers Charity.
This initiative that works to improve opportunities for young people aged 12-21 in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the country forms part of the TEFC established by the players last year following their decision to forego their England match fees to donate at least £1million to chosen charity partners ahead of the 2010 World Cup.
Inner City Football is one of the eleven projects identified and funded by the TEFC that offers youngsters in the Hackney borough a series of football-led activities designed to encourage them off the streets into a safe and positive environment.
Woodgate offered tips and advice from the sidelines; handed out prizes, signed autographs, posed for photos and took part in a question and answer session with the project participants. He said: "It’s great to see first hand how our match fees are filtering down to projects like Inner City Football which are having a positive impact on the kids in the area. It is important that there are outlets for young people to benefit through organised activities such as today’s event."
Daniel Griffiths, Inner City Football Project Leader said: "The aim of our project is to provide weekly football sessions in parks, schools and estates to reduce crime in the local area and develop the social skills of participants and provide exit routes into volunteer programmes, training and employment opportunities.
"Today’s Funday has been a huge success in helping us to raise awareness of Inner City Football in the borough of Hackney and it’s great to have an England footballer visit to see us in action, it’s a fantastic experience for everyone involved."
The TEFC Outreach Programme initiative is jointly funded by the TEFC and the National Sports Foundation who is funded by Sport England.
Jennie Price, Chief Executive of Sport England, said: "Sport England, through the National Sports Foundation, is delighted to be working in partnership with the Team England Footballers Charity to support clubs like Inner City Football. Projects such as these are improving participation experiences across the country and having a positive impact within the community. Today’s Funday is fantastic way of getting people involved and encouraging partipation in positive and healthy activities."
The TEFC is also using the players’ investment and time to support chosen charity partners including Children’s Hospices UK; WellChild; the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK and the Professional Footballers Association Charity Initiatives.