CHRIS POWELL BECOMES FOOTBALL FOUNDATION AMBASSADOR
Chris Powell was today announced as an Ambassador for the Football Foundation, the UK’s largest sports charity that develops better grassroots sport facilities with money from the Premier League, The FA and the government (via Sport England).
A highly-respected and experienced figure in the game, Chris had a glittering playing career with stints at Charlton Athletic FC, West Ham United FC and Leicester City FC, as well as earning five England caps under Sven Göran Eriksson. He also served as chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) for the last five years of his career.
Chris, who was appointed first-team manager of Huddersfield Town FC in September 2014, said he was delighted to be on board with the Football Foundation and play a role in supporting the development of the grassroots game.
Chris Powell said: ‘‘I am delighted to become an Ambassador for the Football Foundation. It is fantastic charity that does an incredibly important job.
“Investing in more quality community sports facilities means that more people get to enjoy the benefits of playing regular sport, purely for the love of it. It is also critical to encouraging more home-grown players to come through from the grassroots.
“The Foundation has developed 15 years’ experience of directing facilities investment into where it is most needed and where it will have the biggest impact. It does not just give money and walk away – the Foundation ensures that the facilities are financially sustainable and are used to their full potential for years after they have been built.
“The £1.3bn of grassroots projects that have been delivered by the Foundation since 2000 is a testament to what an effective charitable vehicle that its Funders have created and I’m delighted to support the cause.”
Rory Carroll, Head of Communications at the Football Foundation, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have Chris on board as a Football Foundation Ambassador. As well as being a top player and manager, he has always been very popular and respected in the game.
“To have Chris helping us get the message out about the positive impact that the Foundation’s investment of our Funders’ contributions is having on grassroots football, and the many other sports that benefit from Foundation funding, is a fantastic boost for us at the start of the new season!”
Funded by the Premier League, The FA, and the Government (via Sport England), the Football Foundation is the country’s largest sports charity. Since it was launched in 2000, the Foundation has awarded around 13,000 grants worth more than £530m towards improving grassroots sport, which it has used to attract additional partnership funding of over £740m – meaning it has delivered nearly £1.3bn of grassroots investment.
For more information contact Niall Malone on 0345 345 4555 ext. 4275 or niall.malone@footballfoundation.org.uk