Middlesbrough stars Britt Assombalonga and Patrick Bamford visited MFC Foundation’s brand new Premier League Kicks Zone last night to spend some time with the participants, and take part in a series of gaming challenges.
The two front-men dropped by the Foundation’s Herlingshaw Centre in South Bank to enjoy an evening of table tennis, table football and pool with the young people.
The brand new design was applied to the room by club partner, Shutter Media, specifically for our Premier League Kicks programme, an initiative that uses the power of football and the value of sports participation to help hard-to-reach youngsters in some of the most high-need areas.
We were also delighted to welcome GAME and Belong Gaming from local retail park ‘Teesside’ to our sports centre, who kindly provided a ‘PS4 Corner’ for the children to play a FIFA tournament.
Patrick and Britt went around the room signing autographs and posing for photos with the young people, as well as pairing up with two participants for a fiercely competitive match of table football.
From the table to the screen, two more lucky children had the opportunity to take on the pair at a game of FIFA. Patrick came through with a comfortable victory in the end, but it wasn’t plain sailing for Britt, who looked like he had met his match on the pitch.
“The Premier League Kicks programme here has provided the kids with things they may not be able to do otherwise,” Bamford told Click Teesside, Teesside University’s local radio station.
“It gives them an opportunity to perhaps realise their potential in a sport, or simply to just try new things out and have fun, like kids should do.”
“They’re all mad Boro fans here, but it’s great to give back as it means a lot to them. Anything we can do to give a little bit back is nice.”
MFC Foundation’s Premier League Kicks sessions run at the Herlingshaw Centre on Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Friday’s, however we have 12 sites in total running on a weekly basis around Middlesbrough, Stockton, Redcar and North Yorkshire.
For more information, call 01642 757674, or contact liam.watson@mfcfoundation.co.uk
