Cameron helps Stoke interest in other sports

Cameron tried his hand at tennis with local youngsters (photo: Phil Greig)

Netball will also be offered by Stoke for the first time (photo: Phil Greig)

Stoke City's new expanded offering of Premier League 4 Sport was given a boost with first-team player Geoff Cameron taking part in some of the sports that form part of the new programme from this season.

Premier League 4 Sport (PL4Sport) uses the power of the football club brand to engage and encourage children to participate in other sports and it recently received a boost in the form of a new £16.8m partnership between the Premier League and Sport England. The partnership has led to golf, tennis, boxing and athletics being added to the eight Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth sports on offer through PL4Sport.

"It is fantastic to see all the participants trying out different sports"
Geoff Cameron

Tennis and netball will be offered by Stoke in the Community for the first time and these two sports were showcased at the sports centre. With one objective of PL4Sport being to improve female participation, attendees also saw women and girls’ football sessions taking place. Cameron spent almost two hours at Fenton Manor Sports Centre participating in each of the three sports with children from local schools and colleges, before spending time posing for photographs and signing autographs. 

"It is fantastic to see all the participants here trying out the different sports, and having such a wonderful time," Cameron told stokecityfc.com. "It gives youngsters the chance to try out other sports that they would not necessarily try if it was not for the partnership with the football club."

In total 26 satellite clubs are being delivered across seven sports by Stoke and Cameron is hopeful that by encouraging people to take part some in the various sports more champions might be unearthed.

"It is awesome to see the funding of the Premier League, combined with the delivery of the project by Stoke City, being taken up by so many young people across the city," the United States defender said. "Hopefully they will firstly enjoy the experience but also if there is a talent there, that can be nurtured and developed in the future, and who knows we could be looking at a future champion!"

All clubs within the Premier League and some former members of the competition run Premier League-funded schemes to help with sports participation. Click on the links to the right for the club community department nearest to you for more information.