BFCITC CELEBRATE THEIR EFL COMMUNITY HEROES

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2025-02-21T12:30:00.000Z

BFCITC CELEBRATE THEIR EFL COMMUNITY HEROES

2025-02-21T12:30:00.000Z

Ahead of the Burnley v Sheffield Wednesday fixture, we will shine the spotlight on three of Burnley FC in the Community's community heroes: Yadel, Imran, and Annie. Their lives have been transformed through the power and work of the club's official charity.

Each of these young participants has embarked on a significant journey with the Burnley FC in the Community. Below, we share their inspiring stories with you.

Yadel's Story: Turning His Life Around with Champions

Our first EFL Community Hero is Yadel. Yadel is a 13 year old participant on BFCitC's Champions programme, which is run in partnership with the Lancashire Violence Reduction Network. This programme supports young people aged 10-25 who have experienced or are at risk of offending behaviours. It is delivered by nine football club community organisations across Lancashire.

Yadel moved to England four years ago and initially struggled to make friends, often making poor decisions both inside and outside of school. After being referred to the programme by Unity College, BFCitC's Targeted Intervention Coordinator, Chris Turner, began working one-on-one with Yadel, using his love for football to motivate and inspire him to turn his life around.

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While working with Chris, Yadel has received 25 one-on-one sessions and 45 hours of contact. Additionally, he has taken advantage of many opportunities provided by the charity, including earning a place at Burnley FC in the Community's Player Development Centre, attending matches at Turf Moor, spending a day at Whitehough Outdoor Centre, serving as a flag bearer before an EFL fixture, meeting several Burnley FC players, and receiving a full Burnley FC kit.

Outside of Burnley FC in the Community, Yadel has made a whole new set of friends and now regularly attends the gym. He hasn't received a single behaviour sanction since starting on the programme and his attendance at school has risen significantly.

Targeted Intervention Coordinator, Chris Turner said: "I can't put into words how proud I am of Yadel. He is a young person who has turned his life around despite the barriers in his way. Everyone in Yadel's life can see the difference, and he is now a role model for other young people around him."

Headteacher of Unity College, Jane Richardson added: "Yadel is a really, really special young man and the change that we've seen in him since his engagement with the programme has been nothing short of transformational. Yadel is a really engaged member of our community now; he enjoys his learning; he takes advantage of all the opportunities that we can offer him here at Unity. But most of all, for us, Yadel is a really happy young man in a way that perhaps he wasn't before."

Imran's Story: Dedication to His Local Community

Our second EFL Community Hero is Imran, who has been involved with the charity for over three years.

He first got involved at the age of sixteen by attending his first Premier League Kicks session. Premier League Kicks is a community programme that uses the power of football and sport to inspire young people to reach their potential.

It started as a fun activity with some of his mates, just having a laugh and a kickabout. Little did he know that this would lead him to where he is today with Burnley FC in the Community!

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Imran said: "Over my time with Burnley FC in the Community, I have taken part in Premier League Kicks and NCS. Both programmes have massively increased my confidence. I've met new friends and interacted with people from different communities and backgrounds!

"I have recently been given my first job as a Premier League Kicks Casual Coach at Burnley FC in the Community, which has been an incredible experience. Working with young people and giving them the same opportunities that the coaches used to give me."

Imran has not only transitioned successfully from a participant to a staff member with the charity, but he is also a full-time volunteer for Healthier Heroes at Bancroft House, where he is making all the staff incredibly proud.

Premier League Kicks Officer, Lewis Helps said: "We are incredibly proud of Imran. While he's been on our programmes, we have watched him grow from a young person into a responsible, confident, and inspiring young man. We know his future is going to be full of achievements, and we can't wait to see what he achieves next!"

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Annie's Journey: From Fun to Football Hero

Burnley FC in the Community and Burnley Football Club are dedicated to providing equal opportunities for females in football, especially for young local girls. The charity currently runs over 9 different female football programmes and manages 7 female teams from ages 18 months to 18 years.

Through these programmes, we discovered our third EFL Community Hero: Annie.

Annie's journey began three years ago when she first attended our Female Skill Centre, initially just for fun. She quickly fell in love with the sport and continued attending regularly.

Her hard work and passion led her to try out for our Emerging Talent Centre, where she earned a place. The FA Girls’ Emerging Talent Centres across the nation aim to increase and diversify the talent pool, giving more girls the chance to take their first steps towards playing professional football and following in the footsteps of the inspirational Lionesses.

Annie's dedication didn't stop there because she continued to excel and eventually tried out for our Women's Juniors team, where she was offered a place. As a devoted Burnley fan, playing for the U10s is a source of immense pride for Annie, and her passion is evident every time she steps onto the field.

Female Football Officer, Beth shared her thoughts on Annie's progress: "I have watched Annie develop on her journey as a footballer. She started at the bottom of the pathway and has always embraced everything we have asked of her. This dedication is evident in her progress, as she has moved up the pathway and earned her place in our U10s team."