The Blues boss was joined by German midfielder Dietmar Hamann at the Sporting Edge Sports Centre in Openshaw where he saw up to 70 young people take part in footballing and MCing sessions.
MCFC’s registered charity City in the Community (CITC) works with over 400 young people between the ages of 13 and 19 every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at two different sites in Manchester as part of the Kickz project.
Kickz is a project run by all twenty Premier League clubs and a further 11 in the Football League. It is managed nationally by the Football Foundation and delivered on the ground by each club’s community coaches. It uses the power of football to create stronger, safer and more respectful communities by developing young people’s potential.
Manchester City has been involved in Kickz since August 2006, running sessions at the Platt Lane Leisure Complex in Fallowfield which give young people the opportunity to play football, work out in the gym, take part in MCing and DJing workshops and complete qualifications.
And in June 2007 CITC launched its second Kickz project based at the Barclays Spaces for Sport, Sporting Edge sports centre in Openshaw with funding from Connexions, Manchester.
Since it became involved in project CITC has helped:
· Over 50 young people gain accredited qualifications
· 12 young people become regular volunteers
· 8 young people record their own CD
· 200 young people from across the North West to play on the pitch at the City of Manchester Stadium
· 30 young people go on residential courses
· 3 young people to find employment with the community scheme
Mr Eriksson said: “Since I came to Manchester City last year I have become very aware of the excellent work that the club does in the community and Kickz is just one project that is helping people in the city.
“It was great to see so many young people getting the opportunity to try sport and music in such as friendly and fun environment.”
For more information about the MCFC Kickz project please contact 0161 438 7711 or e-mail citc@mcfc.co.uk.
