PL4Sport Success For The Community Trust At National Tennis Competition

The competition took place at the National Tennis Centre at Roehampton, the training ground of top-level British tennis players. 

Leicester City FC performed well against tough opposition, claiming fourth place in the group stages of the competition. 

Marcus Willis, rising to fame at Wimbledon this year after defying all the odds to reach the second round, surprised the youngsters with a visit and answered a number of questions. Graeme Le Saux was also on hand to give the young people a few sporting tips. 

John Stretton, Head of PE at Crown Hills Community College, said: “It is fantastic for our pupils to be given the opportunity to represent Leicester City and to play tennis against other young people from all across the country. It has been a great day out for them all and they have thoroughly enjoyed it.” 

The day involved a trip to Wimbledon to see the likes of Martina Hingis and Julien Benneteau and staff and pupils were even treated to a glimpse of royalty on the Centre Court Balcony. 

The competition was a fitting end to the first year of LCFC Community Trust’s Premier League 4 Sport project – a multi-sport project focused on getting inactive and disengaged young people playing new sports. 

The Trust launched Premier League 4 Sport (PL4Sport) in 2016, delivering tennis, hockey and badminton sessions in local schools and community venues to complement the existing high-quality sports participation programmes delivered by the Trust. 

Jamie Skinner, LCFC Trust Education and Partnerships Manager, said: “Young people can access a range of sports within their local community, which the programme has engaged with 300 participants across the city and county last season. 

“The Trust look forward to continuing the partnership with NGBs and partners to develop a sporting offer across Leicestershire that leads participants into lifelong participation in sport.” 

PL4Sport was established in 2009 as a joint Olympic Legacy initiative between the Premier League and Sport England designed to get inactive and disengaged young people playing new sports. 

Participants are encouraged to get involved in volunteering and officiating to further their personal development and are also given the opportunity to compete for Leicester City against other Premier League and Football League clubs at regional and national competitions. 

PL4Sport tennis participant Nafisha, 14, said: “I played tennis in school, but wanted to join the tennis sessions with Leicester City in order to inspire others to play. I heard about the sessions from my school teachers and came along. 

“I have learned how to serve and the rules of tennis, I am a better tennis player now because I had the proper training. I want to become a tennis coach or player which I would not have thought of, if I had not been part of the sessions with LCFC.” 

Basketball and table Ttnnis will be added to the PL4Sport programme from September. For more information on the project, please contact PL4Sport coordinator Hannah Hogben at