Nine Midlands clubs were represented on a day where community spirit triumphed above all else.
The Premier League Kicks Cup delivered a day of drama, development and community spirit at the West Brom Academy, where Stoke City completed an impressive double by winning both the boys’ and girls’ tournaments.
Sides from across the Midlands including Wolves, West Brom, Walsall, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Stoke City, Port Vale, Burton Albion and Coventry City competed across the under-16 boys’ and girls’ competitions on Wednesday, April 15.
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The Premier League Kicks Cup | Dan Stacey
Hosts West Brom enjoyed a strong run in the boys’ tournament, finishing as runners-up after knocking out favourites Aston Villa in a fiercely contested semi-final.
West Brom boys coach Jonathan Millinchip said: “The Villa semi-final felt like the final before the final really. I thought it was going to be the toughest game we could have based on their results and what other coaches had been saying.
“The lads have done really well and the day as a whole has been really positive for everyone.
“The workshops have been really good for the boys and girls, and there are so many teams here full of kids smiling. There’s been a really good atmosphere throughout the day.
“It’s gone really well. There’s loads for them to do in between games with the inflatables, the workshops and the mini games. There’s even an ice cream van outside so we’re really happy with how the day has gone.”
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The teams during the awards presentation | Dan Stacey
Millinchip also explained how West Brom’s side had been assembled through the programme, adding: “We had a day in the winter where we ran trials at a Kicks camp at the George Salter Academy, and around 80 lads turned up, of which eight have been selected for today.
“They did really well to get in and they’ve done really well today as well.”
There was heartbreak for Wolves in the boys’ competition as they were beaten on penalties by Walsall, but their day still included standout moments according to fifteen-year-old Oliver Homer, representing Wolves Foundation Boys and Highfields School in Penn.
“I go to quite a lot of the Kicks sessions and then Wolves do a lot of work with my school, so I know quite a few people involved with the programmes,” he said. “All my life I’ve always enjoyed football and I felt like one training session with my Sunday team a week wasn’t enough for me, but then my Mom found out about Kicks so I started going, and I’ve really liked it.
“It’s been a fun day. We’ve had ice creams, we’ve had workshops and a briefing about blind football which was very interesting and I learned something new there. There’s been loads going on.”
The girls’ competition was an equally competitive and impressive spectacle. The knockout stages saw Wolves secure an eye-catching victory over Villa, while Port Vale finished as runners-up, with Stoke again coming out on top.
Off the pitch, the Premier League Trophy was on display, and players took part in educational workshops alongside the football.
West Brom Community Captain Kadeem Jordan highlighted the wider importance of the event.
“It’s been a good day,” he said. “It’s run smoothly but it’s been eventful, and it’s been nice to see all the communities come together to play football and the characters that every team has been able to bring.
“Within all of the communities represented here we run the Premier League Kicks programme, and every year there’s a regional event where all the Midlands teams come together for a massive tournament with a chance to go to the nationals where they can play against the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea.”
Jordan also stressed the value of unity across clubs.
“It’s massive because it’s what the kids want at the end of the day.
“It’s about bringing communities together, and I know there’s rivalries between clubs and fans but we don’t need to bring that in to days like this. We’re all one community, we’re all together and we’ve even had West Brom first team players giving medals to the Wolves boys team today. That’s what it’s all about.”
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Wolves boys with West Brom first team players | Dan Stacey
At the end of the day, West Brom first-team players Josh Maja, Karlan Grant and Daryl Dike presented medals and trophies to participants.
Jordan reserved special praise for the West Brom boys side, who reached the final on home turf.
“They’ve made a massive step up from last year,” he said. “Our team last year didn’t make it this far so it’s great that they got to the final, and even though they didn’t win today they got the result that they wanted because they’re off to St George’s Park for the national finals, so I’m looking forward to that.”
The tournament formed part of the Premier League’s wider community investment efforts, using football as a platform to engage young people, develop skills and bring communities together across the region.
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