In the fifth iteration of the event aimed at broadening the horizons of young football enthusiasts, the Football Association supported by the Premier League shares "Millwall Your Game" – a two-day event designed to showcase the diverse roles within the world of football.
Held at The Lions Centre over the past weekend, Millwall Your Game aimed to inspire and educate young participants between the ages of 14-24-years-old about the myriad of opportunities beyond simply playing the game.
On the first day, participants delved into six dynamic zones, each dedicated to a specific aspect of football outside of playing. The zones included coaching, refereeing, youth leadership in football, as well as exploring different club roles. Participants had the opportunity to hear from professionals working at The FA, London FA, Millwall Community Trust, BUCS and AoC Sport gaining valuable insights into the workings of these organisations and the programmes they deliver.
The interactive nature of the event allowed participants to try elements of these roles, sparking an awareness of the wide array of opportunities within the football industry. Millwall Your Game served as a bridge between passion and profession, connecting those who aspire to work and/ or volunteer in the game with real-world scenarios and professionals who are running football in the local community.
Sunday, day 2 of the event, was dedicated to personal development. Workshops focused on leadership, trust, and the essential skills required for specific roles in the game. The sessions were strategically developed around the social change model, emphasising the importance of self-development in contributing to the broader growth of the football community.
Millwall Your Game encouraged those attending to not only envision themselves as players on the field, a role many of the participants hold at the moment, but also as leaders, coaches, referees, and administrators off the field. By developing their understanding of the sport as a whole, the event aimed to support young people to fully realise the role they can play in impacting and developing football both now and in the future.
The FA and the Premier League are committed to nurturing a diverse and skilled workforce that will shape the current and future landscape of football, both on and off the field, and Millwall Your Game brought many elements of this to life.
