The Kickz team are preparing for a match they are playing against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday 2nd August at United's Cliff Training Ground. The encounter will take place on the same day as Solskjaer's testimonial match and the Norwegian has invited the two teams to watch the Manchester United v Espanyol match at Old Trafford afterwards.

Kickz is a Football Foundation project that aims to use the appeal of professional football clubs to create safer, stronger and more respectful communities by developing young people's potential. Each Premier League club runs Kickz in partnership with the local police aiming to engage disadvantaged young people from the local area and encourage them to move on to volunteer and take qualifications.

The session with Solskjaer was a reward for the dedicated young people who have attended Kickz sessions in Trafford throughout the year. The team has been picked not just for their football skills but for their behaviour, attitude and attendance.

great commitment

Manchester United Foundation has identified young people who have shown real improvement and consistency in these areas over the past few months. Young volunteers who have recently moved on to take coaching qualifications through Kickz also helped out on the day.

Since it began approximately 18 months ago, Kickz has significantly contributed to the reduction of crime in the local area with recent figures suggesting that crime is down by 18.5 per cent at the times of Friday night sessions. The free coaching sessions are run at times when anti-social behaviour is at its highest, usually Thursday and Friday nights.

Lee Adams, Kickz Coordinator, Manchester United Foundation explained why Solskjaer's visit is so important: "A lot of the lads and girls have grown up in challenging circumstances, but I am really proud of them for the way they have behaved this year. They have all shown great commitment, regularly attending Kickz sessions and working hard to improve their situation.

"Meeting someone like Ole is a dream come true for them, they are all from the local area and many of them are big Manchester United fans. We are really grateful that Ole has given up his time to come and share a few secrets with them."