England star James Milner was back at school this week, to hand over new kits to pupils at Ravensbury Primary School in Manchester.
The Manchester City midfielder still fondly recalls the day he pulled on a fresh new shirt in his schoolboy days and was at the school to back the Premier League Players’ Kit Scheme.
Initially launched in 2011, the scheme provides support for junior football across the nation and has provided Nike kit and equipment to more than 2000 junior teams in the last three years.
And Milner was at the school, in the shadow of City’s Etihad Stadium, to present kit, chat to pupils and take part in a coaching session put on by Manchester City’s charitable foundation, City in the Community.
“I was on the team at Westbrook Lane School a couple of years ahead of my time and the second year I played there I remember we got a new kit,” said Milner, who will be hoping to be part of Roy Hodgson’s squad for this summer’s World Cup in Brazil.
“It was maroon and light blue, the school colours, and I remember feeling great to put on a new kit.
“We were no longer having to rifle through the kit bag, looking for two matching socks, or socks with holes in them!”
The latest window of the Premier League Players’ Kit Scheme officially opened for applications this week.
All 20 Premier League clubs will also provide new kits for 200 schools involved in their Premier League Schools Sport programme.
And schools, further education institutions and district representative sides can all apply online for their kits by clicking here.
Announcing this year’s scheme opening, Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore added: “The Premier League Players’ Kit Scheme has been providing kit to junior teams for the past three years and it is great to see this latest supply being made available to schools’ teams.
“The thrill of getting a new school football kit, and the chance to wear the Premier League badge on their shirt, will hopefully motivate children to continue participating in sport, football or otherwise.”
