7 Elite Academy welcomed MP Peter Dowd to Litherland Sports Park to watch a training session with hundreds of grassroots footballers from across the region.
 
The Member of Parliament for Bootle attended Thursday night’s session to tour 7 Elite Academy’s facilities and discover the work it does with young people in Liverpool and beyond.

The youth football academy has partnerships with professional clubs, colleges an community groups across the North West to create new opportunities in sport, education and families.
 
Those opportunities include training and study abroad, local education courses for young people and adults of all ages, and charity partnerships in all areas of the region.
 
Since 2010 Liverpool and Sefton Councils have seen a decrease in youth programmes. 7 Elite Academy supports young people with academic and career workshops, positive personal life skills and top-class coaching.

Anthony Godfrey, 7 Elite Academy Director, said: “It was great to have Peter here with us at Litherland Sports Park on Thursday evening to watch one of our three weekly training nights.

“The work we do to runs throughout the week and includes all parts of our local community, from sporting colleges and schools through to food banks and other charities.

“We also work closely with professional and semi-professional clubs to offer opportunities for players to make progress towards a career in football. We bring UEFA and FA qualified coaches to every session.

“Our coaches are volunteers and we give them the right support to succeed. 7 Elite Academy is filling a gap in the provision of youth activities, and using football to create benefits across our community.

“We hold tournaments for youngsters, as well as food banks collections and kit and boot collections throughout the year. Our players and staff are fully involved in all these activities, as part of our curriculum.”

7 Elite Academy regularly supports its players graduating to professional academies such as Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers, and currently has seven players on trial at pro and semi-pro clubs.

The organisation is part of the global 7 Elite Academy network, which includes training centres in the United States and Africa. Many youngsters have been offered college scholarships and employment opportunities in the USA.

Close working links with local colleges and schools, as well as professional and semi-professional clubs, mean 7 Elite Academy players often continue to train and play football after reaching 16.

Mr Dowd, who spent toured facilities and watched players at Litherland Sports Park on Thursday night, said: “The support network that 7 Elite Academy offers players and adults is incredibly important.

“The facilities at Litherland Sports Park are second to none and show how football can help young people and adults find new opportunities in all areas of their communities.

“Football has a unique place in the heart of our city and brings people together for the common good. That includes sporting opportunities, education, healthy living and mental health.

“I am determined to make sure 7 Elite gets the support it needs to continue this work and help fill the gap that has been left by years of heavy cuts to local services.“