Peer-led grassroots football initiative launched in Wales

One thousand young people in Wales will be provided facilities, equipment and training in order to run football activities in their secondary schools following investment from supermarket chain Lidl.

Lidl Play More Football was launched in Wales with the ambition of enabling 30,000 young people to play football over the next three years in activities overseen by their peers.

The 1,000 ‘Directors of Football’ will be supported by teacher mentors and taught leadership skills and coaching. Peer-led secondary school sessions are expected to introduce 10,000 children aged 7-16 to football, while additional sessions – launched in September 2016 – are expected to engage a further 20,000.

There will also be an increased focus on encouraging more young girls to participate in football, while the move is part of an overall strategy of boosting the number of children playing football from 67,000 to 200,000.

The partnership between Lidl, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) and the Welsh Football Trust is the third such grassroots partnership the retailer has made after launching schemes in England and Scotland.

Wales coach Chris Coleman, who launched the scheme at the national team's training centre Dragon Park, said it was a good time to “capitalise” on Wales’ qualification for Euro 2016.

“Through its ground-breaking delivery, this initiative will encourage participation of young people who do not currently play the game and will also develop a new generation of young coaches and leaders in Wales,” added Jonathan Ford, chief executive of the FAW.