I will never forget Leicester experience

A scheme which highlights how clubs and Premier League programmes bring young people together continued recently with Leicester City hosting the latest Fixture Within A Fixture events.

Premier League Kicks participants from Leicester and Crystal Palace recently played in an Under-18s match and attended a hate-crime workshop delivered by Leicestershire Police.

The players then travelled to the King Power Stadium to watch Leicester take on the Eagles, holding the flags on the pitch as the teams walked out. 

It was amazing," said PL Kicks participant Neel. "To represent Leicester was a fantastic experience, one I will not forget."

Leicester then did the same before their first-team match against West Bromwich Albion, with participants from both clubs' Premier League Girls Football programme coming together for an Under-16s fixture.

"I have never done anything like this before, it was really exciting and I couldn't believe we were allowed on the pitch with the Leicester City flag," said 13-year-old Sejal.

Fixture Within A Fixture gives participants from various PL initiatives from around the country a day to remember as they come together to compete in a match before attending the corresponding Premier League fixture in the afternoon.

"Fixture within a Fixture competitions are excellent examples of how football can unite and inspire young people from different community club organisations and diverse backgrounds," said James Lowbridge, community cohesion manager for Leicester City FC Community Trust.

"The pre-match activities enabled participants from Leicester City, Crystal Palace and West Brom to compete and co-operate with each other in an exciting, positive and supportive environment.