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English Premier League side West Bromwich Albion has unveiled the ‘Pass It Forward’ , a new and unique initiative to extend the club’s reach in India, in partnership with Delhi Dynamos FC and in association with its partners – the Delhi State Government, University of Wolverhampton, The Albion Foundation and Youth Football International.
The project can be traced back to Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in New Delhi when it began building the Club’s profile in India driven by the desire to expand their audience beyond international boundaries into a region which resonates so naturally and obviously with its own surrounds.
Delhi Dynamos and West Bromwich Albion naturally associated as the Indian Super League took grip and brought a booming football culture to the nation and especially Delhi and Northern India. This culminated in Albion becoming the first Premier League club to loan out an active first squad member, Adil Nabi, to the ISL via the Delhi Dynamos for our season 2015. The starlet was an immediate success in League scoring 3 goals in 11 matches.
Following the partnership with Delhi State Government, Albion and the University will be providing personnel to instil Premier league coaching values across 1,200 schools in the region with technical and managerial support from Delhi Dynamos FC. This gives the project the potential to reach tens of thousands of boys and girls who will experience the Premier League level of coaching. This is in complete synergy to the grassroots vision of the Delhi based Football Club which aims at reaching out to the maximum number of budding footballers in North India.
The Delhi Dynamos President, Prashant Agarwal was quoted before the Press Conference, “We at Delhi Dynamos are delighted to be in partnership with Delhi State Government, Youth Football International, University of Wolverhampton and West Bromwich Albion with a genuine ambition to make a difference in India for football development and mentoring youngsters. Just as a tree, to grow taller and stronger we need stronger roots, grassroots is what defines the strength of any club and makes football sustainable. We strongly believe in this relationship as a platform to develop this beautiful game. This has already been demonstrated by the loan of Adil Nabi from Albion resulting in a great success. West Brom is one of our brother Clubs and with this great initiative we are sure to take this brotherhood to greater heights. It’s a proud moment for Delhi Dynamos to take such an initiative of developing serious football with the government. The partnership with The University of Wolverhampton gives this initiative a unique impetus and opportunity.”
Officials at West Bromwich Albion also stated that they are also developing this relationship with Delhi Dynamos in order to help football develop and through that improve the health and well-being of thousands of youngsters whose lives can genuinely hope to change for better.
Adrian Wright, Sales and Marketing Director at West Bromwich Albion was quoted prior to the Press Conference, “This exciting project is the next phase in West Bromwich Albion’s determined effort to build our connection with India. We have dug deep into the Grassroots football in the Delhi area in the belief that only through a sustained presence can we build genuine and productive links. The latest project underlines our determination to develop a lasting Partnership.”
On the platform today were Sales and Marketing Director at West Bromwich Albion – Adrian Wright, Captain and Scottish International – Darren Fletcher, Professor Ian Oakes from University of Wolverhampton, Delhi Dynamos President – Prashant Agarwal and Paul Schuttenbelt from Youth Football International.
The announcement comes in line with the comprehensive grassroots program laid down by Delhi Dynamos which has seen multiple clinics, workshops, festivals and coaching the coaches program held by the Club. The recent trials held in partnership with Reliance Young Champs Foundation saw 24 kids scouted for a further level of selection in Mumbai. The Club has the second highest aspirants for induction into this famed residential set up. Delhi Dynamos FC is also coming up with its own elite residential set up in Ekana, Lucknow and with this by the end of the year aims to have a robust ecosystem of soccer schools, academies and development centres.
