The community work of the West Ham United Foundation has been singled out as an example for other football clubs.
The comment came from the chief executive of the Premier League, Richard Scuadamore, at a parliamentary reception to mark its 25th anniversary.
He said: “There are hundreds of clubs in our football system, each one of them with a club badge that is able to influence. “In terms of West Ham, some of their schemes are leading the way among all those clubs.”
He highlighted the work the foundation does with 35 different schools and the reduction in crime as a result of its Kicks programme as just two of the flagship schemes.
Mr Scudamore added: “It does go on like this across the whole country and there a lot of other clubs doing the same, but I don’t think there’s any single club I could name that does it to the depth and to the breadth and with the real commitment that West Ham do it.”
Yesterday’s reception was attended by the secretary of state for culture, media and sport, John Whittingdale, as well as a range of MPs, councillors, business leaders and charity bosses.
They heard from the club’s vice-chairman, Karren Brady, about the expansion of the foundation’s work when the Hammers relocate to the Olympic Stadium at the end of the current season.
She said: “A huge amount has changed in football since the foundation was created in 1990, but one thing has remained constant and that is the obligation that I truly believe that all football clubs have to give something back to their local communities: to be a force for good in terms of health, education, citizenship, and social cohesion; and to be a source of financial support and practical help for local charities, schools and community groups.
“We now have two local communities to serve, the area surrounding the Boleyn Ground and that surrounding the new stadium and we remain fully committed to both.”
The foundation has provided support and opportunities to 1.5million people since it was set up and aims to reach a further million in the next decade.
For more on its work, visit whufc.com/Club-Foundation/About/What-We-Do
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here