Premier League Kicks participants win Premier League Kicks Cup regional qualifier in historic milestone for the first time in 20 years

Young people representing Doncaster Rovers have taken part in the Under-16 mixed and Under-16 girls’ Premier League Kicks Cup regional tournaments, hosted by the Foundation of Light, in a bid to secure their place at the 2026 finals.

 

Nine regional tournaments are being staged at community facilities across the country, with hundreds of young people representing Premier League, EFL and National League clubs hoping to win the opportunity to represent their club in the Premier League Kicks Cup 2026 finals at St George’s Park in July.

 

The Premier League Kicks Cup tournament is one of the competition elements of Premier League Kicks, the Premier League’s longest running community programme that celebrated its 20^th anniversary in March, as part of the Premier League’s More Than a Game campaign. 

 

Premier League Kicks sees 93 Premier League, EFL and National League clubs, including Club Doncaster Foundation,delivering free weekly football and personal-development sessions in communities across England and Wales.

Since the launch of the programme, which uses the power of football to inspire young people to reach their potential, more than 600,000 young people have participated at over 5,000 venues. Sessions take place in some of the most under-served communities, supporting those who need it most.

Premier League Foundation Chief Executive Alex White said: “Premier League Kicks regional tournaments create opportunities for thousands of young people to come together and represent their clubs on the pitch in a fun, competitive environment. While we know that many young people come to weekly Premier League Kicks sessions for the football skills, the off-pitch activities available at those and at tournaments help to empower young people to build important life-skills, discover their potential and build brighter futures beyond the game.”

 

Club Doncaster Foundation joined Under-16 mixed and Under-16 girls’ teams at the Premier League Kicks Cup regional qualifier hosted by Foundation of Light.  

The boys delivered an outstanding performance throughout the day, demonstrating excellent skill, determination, and teamwork. Their impressive run saw them reach the semi-finals, where they narrowly lost to a strong Newcastle side.

The girls also impressed, finishing second in their group to secure a semi-final clash with Sunderland. In a tense and closely contested match, the game ended 2–2, but the girls held their nerve to secure victory in a dramatic penalty shootout.

In the final, they faced an extremely strong Newcastle team. Rising to the occasion, the girls produced a superb performance to claim a 2–1 victory and lift the regional title.

Everton and Crewe Alexandra are the current Premier League Kicks Cup champions, having won the Under-16 mixed and Under-16 girls’ tournaments respectively in 2025.

Alongside the tournament, participants in the regional qualifiers had access to a series of off-pitch workshops designed to encourage participants to talk about mental health and wellbeing, inclusion and community safety.

Mark Cooper, Sport development officer for Club Doncaster Foundation spoke of the experience the participants received: “It was a fantastic for our participants at the Kicks Regional Qualifiers. Both our boys’ and girls’ teams had a brilliant time and proudly represented our Kicks project both on and off the field.

“Giving them the opportunity to play against clubs from across Yorkshire and the North East is something they will never forget.

“Our boys’ team demonstrated great sportsmanship throughout the day and performed exceptionally well, reaching the semi-finals.

“Meanwhile, our girls’ team won the tournament, securing their place in the National Finals, a historic achievement for our project, as it’s the first time a team has reached this stage.

“We’re incredibly proud of all those who represented Doncaster Rovers.”

In independent evaluation of Premier League Kicks found that 93 per cent of alumni believe the programme helped them get into less trouble and avoid negative influence, with 91 per cent learning more about the impact of crime and anti-social behaviour, helping to change attitudes and choices.

To date, the Premier League has invested more than £96 million in Premier League Kicks through the Premier League Foundation, with a further £30m committed over the next three years.

Visit premierleague.com for more information.

For more information on our Premier League Kicks programme, please contact mark.cooper@clubdoncasterfoundation.co.uk