Press release 30 July 2009

PREMIER LEAGUE AND BRITISH COUNCIL FOOTBALL COACHING AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROJECT CONCLUDES IN BEIJING

Just one day prior to the final match in the Barclays Asia Trophy, players from the three Premier League teams currently in Beijing took time away from practice today to attend the closing ceremony of a joint football coaching and English language project organized by the Premier League and the British Council (operating in China as the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy).

Entitled ‘Premier Skills’, the Beijing coaching session, run in conjunction with the Changping Education Commission and with the encouragement of the Beijing Football Association, was led by former Premier League player Warren Barton and worked with 44 physical education teachers, both male and female, to enhance their football coaching skills. The project aims to give participating sports teachers new skills that they can pass onto thousands of students in the Beijing area.

This unique training project began on 24 July and followed six days of training at the Changping Sports Bureau. A total of forty four physical education teachers received football coaching training from four Premier League coaches and learned about leadership and coaching skills, fitness, nutrition and sports event management. As such, the project strongly accords with current education trends in China focusing on ‘whole student’ development.

Participating schools include 19 primary schools and 25 secondary schools in both urban and rural areas.

At today’s closing ceremony, held at Side Park, six Premier League players from West Ham United, Hull City and Tottenham Hotspur Football Clubs, the four Premier League coaches and the 44 local coaches demonstrated football skills with 96 local children aged 10-13 who have taken part in a Community Programme under the Premier League’s Creating Chances banner during the same week.

The ceremony was also attended by Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore, Director of the Beijing Sports Bureau Sun Kanglin, officials from China’s national football bodies, football club representatives and sponsors.

Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore said:

“In England the Premier League and our Clubs have a long-held commitment and reputation for investing in community and education programmes. Given our popularity and success internationally we felt it only right to take this approach to a wider community.

“It is clear that there is significant interest in football in China and that the Premier League, working with the British Council, has an ability to deliver coaching and language skills that will help develop the core skills of local PE and English teachers.

“We have some top class coaches in the likes of Warren Barton as well as a great depth of experience in social engagement present in our Head of Community, Simon Morgan. I am sure everyone involved has gained a great deal from the week and had fun too.”

Martin Davidson, Chief Executive of the British Council, said:

“We are proud of Premier Skills, our partnership with the Premier League and I am delighted that this unique project, which combines English and football – two truly universal languages – has arrived in China.

“I know first hand that there is huge demand for English in China and that interest in the Premier League is bigger than ever. Next month we will launch the Premier Skills website which will give millions of learners and teachers around the world an opportunity to improve their English and learn more about their favourite Premier League teams and players. Using new approaches to English learning and providing the latest and most dynamic learning, teaching and practice materials is central to our work in China.”

Launched in 2007, Premier Skills is a worldwide project operating in 15 countries. In China, the training project is being held in four cities - Dalian, Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong.