COMMUNITY CAPTAIN JAMAAL SURPRISED AT THE LEISURE BOX

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Cullen & Rodriguez celebrate Premier League More Than A Game

2024-02-23T12:00:00.000Z

COMMUNITY CAPTAIN JAMAAL SURPRISED AT THE LEISURE BOX

Cullen & Rodriguez celebrate Premier League More Than A Game

2024-02-23T12:00:00.000Z

Cullen & Rodriguez celebrate Premier League More Than A Game

Josh Cullen and Jay Rodriguez made a special visit to The Leisure Box in Brierfield this week, to surprise Premier League Kicks participant Jamaal Sajid.

Burnley FC in the Community, the Club’s official charity, had nominated Jamaal as Burnley’s Community Captain for his commitment to supporting others through his involvement in Premier League Kicks and as part of the Burnley FC in the Community Youth Board.

Community Captains have been recognised in celebration of the Premier League’s More Than A Game campaign, which aims to highlight the League’s support for football at every level of the game in England and Wales, providing world-leading investment in clubs, communities and facilities to positively impact the lives of millions of people.

Jamaal was surprised on the day with a mural installation at the Leisure Box facility, with his family, friends and teachers in attendance. The players were also on hand to present him with his Community Captain armband and presentation frame.

Jamaal said: “I thought I was actually coming to do a bit of a presentation to some Year 11’s. I got told to come onto the pitch and then I just saw everyone there basically, family, friends. I see this big mural as well, just a bit of a shock, really. It’s like a surprise birthday party!

“It’s surreal, I thought I was dreaming to be fair.”

Josh Cullen said: “It’s a brilliant achievement for him, his family and his friends. I’m sure they’re all really proud. So yeah, it’s been a pleasure to come down today to give him a little surprise and give him the reward for all the hard work he’s done in the community.”

Josh was also impressed with The Leisure Box facility and the Premier League Kicks sessions.

“It’s a great opportunity for young boys and girls to come down and play football in a safe space with no charge. So, there’s no pressure on parents and families to be able to afford it, which is a really good thing. It’s really good work what the Premier League are doing.”

COMMUNITY CAPTAIN JAMAAL SURPRISED AT THE LEISURE BOX - Image 1

Lewis Hickie Youth Engagement Manager at Burnley FC in the Community added: “Jamaal has got this honour because he’s an absolutely incredible young man. He supports everything that Burnley FC in the Community does, from Premier League Kicks, he’s on our youth board, he supports all the young people through our peer-to-peer support system. He supports staff on a weekly basis, and he’s just got his conditional offer at Cambridge University to study medicine.”

The More Than A Game campaign aims to highlight the Premier League’s financial support which covers all 92 Premier League and EFL clubs and 72 National League clubs, as well as women and girls’ football and the grassroots game.

Over the current three-year broadcast rights cycle (2022/23-2024/25), the League has committed to investing £1.6bn to the wider game and communities. Of this, £400m will go to funding projects including the development of facilities and community and education programmes. It is the biggest voluntary contribution to communities and other good causes of any football league in the world.

Emma Joussemet, Senior Community Development Manager at the Premier League said: “The More Than A Game campaign is trying to demonstrate that this is happening right across the country, across England and Wales. We’ve got over 90 clubs delivering Premier League Kicks, so there are many other young people like Jamaal doing some great work, taking part in these programmes, over half a million to date, which is a fantastic achievement."