The Premier League launches the new season today with an exciting event to kick off 2016/17 at Market Road, a community sports facility with artificial pitches supported by the League that provides opportunities for youngsters from across north London to play football.
A cast of fantastic managers and players are in attendance, including Claudio Ranieri and Wes Morgan from the champions, Leicester City, Arsenal's Arsene Wenger and Jack Wilshere, West Ham United's Slaven Bilic and Mark Noble and Burnley's Sean Dyche and Tom Heaton. They all speak to broadcast partners and media about their hopes for the season in what will be another competitive campaign.
The launch is not just about promoting the compelling football on the pitch, but also the work of the League's clubs to inspire young people off it. All four participating clubs run Premier League Kicks, a community football project in its 10th year giving young people a chance to play organised football. Arsenal do so at the event venue itself.
At the launch, community coaches and participants who have benefitted from PL Kicks, the Premier League Girls football programme, Premier League 4 Sport will attend to highlight how elite football drives inspirational and engaging projects that benefit so many.
Market Road was transformed with help from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund and Islington Council, and is used by Arsenal in the Community to engage with young people. Arsenal Under-21 star Kaylen Hinds played there as a youngster. “There was definitely more gang-related stuff when it was just concrete," he told Inspiring Stories. "This area means a lot to me because it’s come from concrete to the facilities we have now."
Premier League Executive Chairman Richard Scudamore said: "We can’t wait for the 2016/17 Premier League season to start and today is about celebrating the players and managers who put on the competitive and compelling football we all enjoy.
"It is also about recognising and highlighting that clubs do so much to inspire young people, giving them opportunities to get into sport and enhancing their education.
"Premier League football brings people together and positively impacts on their lives. This season we have challenged the players and managers to cut out behaviour that crosses the line in terms of acceptability. Hopefully this will cement our ability to inspire young people positively both on and away from the pitch."
