Bradford City Coach Recognised as Premier League Community Captain

Local coach Ali Sawari honoured for his work with young people

Ali Sawari, a coach with the Bradford City FC Community Foundation, has been named a Premier League Community Captain in recognition of his dedication to coaching and supporting young people through the Foundation’s Premier League Kicks programme.

From participant to coach

Ali initially joined the Premier League Kicks programme as a participant in November 2021, attending free weekly football sessions aimed at young people in Bradford. After reaching the age limit for participants, he was invited by Foundation staff to continue his involvement as a coach in April 2025. Since then, Ali has worked with hundreds of young people, providing coaching and acting as a positive role model.

Award presentation

Ali was presented with the Community Captain award, including a trophy, captain’s armband, and pennant, on Saturday 7 March during the Foundation’s annual Community Takeover Day. The event took place in the TL Dallas Community Stand and was attended by over a thousand participants, stakeholders, junior clubs, and schools from across the Foundation’s network. The presentation was made by Darrel Walker, Premier League Kicks Coordinator at the Bradford City FC Community Foundation.

Darrel Walker commented on Ali’s achievement, saying: “It has been a privilege to see Ali grow in his time with us. Since he began attending our Premier League Kicks sessions, I could tell that he was a committed, mature and dedicated young man, and seeing him named a Community Captain is a fantastic way to mark a step in his journey.”

About Premier League Kicks

• The Premier League Kicks programme is celebrating its 20th anniversary this season.
• It delivers free weekly football and personal development sessions through 93 clubs across the Premier League, EFL, and National League.
• More than 600,000 young people have participated at over 5,000 venues in England and Wales since its launch.
• The programme focuses on supporting young people in under-served communities.
• An independent evaluation found that 93% of alumni felt the programme helped them avoid trouble, and 91% learned about the impact of crime and anti-social behaviour.

Premier League Foundation support

The Premier League Foundation funds community programmes at 164 football clubs across the Premier League, EFL, and National League. Established in 2010, the Foundation aims to create positive sporting, health, personal, and educational opportunities for children, young people, and the wider community.

Since its inception, the Premier League Foundation has committed more than £425 million in funding up to 2028. Over 2.5 million participants have benefited from face-to-face delivery of Premier League programmes, with 1.3 million young people engaged annually through digital resources.

Currently, over 7,500 people are employed by football club charities to deliver activities supported by the Premier League. A recent independent study estimated that these programmes will generate more than £4.3 billion in social value over the current investment cycle from 2025 to 2028.

For more information on the Premier League Kicks programme, visit Premier League Community.