LFC Foundation delivers Premier League Primary Stars programme in Boston

The club’s official charity teamed up with the Premier League, Cardiff City and EverFi educational technology company to visit a variety of local schools and community programmes across the city.

Sessions included digital education exercises and class discussions from PLPS materials, followed by hands-on soccer sessions and assemblies highlighting the importance of education and its relation to the game of football.

Premier League Primary Stars uses the appeal of the Premier League and professional football clubs to inspire children to learn, be active and develop important life skills.

Available to every primary school in England and Wales, it inspires girls and boys aged from five to 11 in the classroom, the playground and on the sports field.

A bespoke Premier League Primary Stars USA programme has been created with EverFi around these resources and currently engages 12,000 elementary schoolchildren in America.

David McParland, LFC Foundation project lead, said: “It’s been a fantastic week out here in the US and we’re so pleased to have the opportunity to share our Primary Stars programme with our friends in Boston.

“We’ve met some brilliant youngsters who have really taken on board the messages we deliver, which we hope will have a positive impact on both their mental and physical wellbeing going forward.

“We’re really looking forward to getting back out here in July on the club’s pre-season tour and reaching even more of the local community.”

Guild Elementary School in East Boston was first on the agenda, where 340 students spent the morning enjoying dodgeball and resilience sessions, classroom workshops on hydration and nutrition, and a PE lesson focused on the importance of staying physically active.

Next up, 920 pupils from nearby Unama Academy School took part in a full day of clinics, which included similar areas of focus as well as positive thoughts workshops – covering healthy and unhelpful thinking – and a classroom session on fair play.

To round off the week, 120 local youngsters headed to Carter Field, the home of South End Soccer Club – a local team committed to providing Boston’s urban youth with the opportunity to play football regardless of their experience or economic means.

The group engaged with LFC Foundation and Cardiff City coaches on health and wellness and best practices, before taking part in a short competitive match.

LFC Foundation representatives were also invited to meet with Charlie Baker, governor of the commonwealth of MA, and Martin J. Walsh, mayor of the city of Boston, as part of their visit.

Coaches provided an overview of the PLPS programme and the investment being made in the greater Boston community, as well as discussing how the initiative can support education both in the city and across Massachusetts.

For more information on the Premier League Primary Stars programme, click here.