Billy's story: Premier League Kicks changes people's lives

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It's been six years since Vojtech arrived in Blackburn from Slovakia.

Vojtech, who is affectionately known as Billy, was only 10-years-old at the time. He spoke very little English and had few friends to help him settle in his new life in the UK.

But with the help of Premier League Kicks and Blackburn Rovers Community Trust (BRCT), Billy is a shining light in the local community as a volunteer coach and mentor to other young people.

"Coming here was one of the most difficult things I had to do so far in my life," he says. "But Premier League Kicks was one of the main things that helped me through it.

"It helped me to get my confidence back, find myself again and helped me make friends."

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It was a chance encounter in a local park with someone handing out leaflets more than three years ago that started Billy's journey with Premier League Kicks.

"I thought to myself, 'let's see how it is,'" Billy says. "I was very nervous when I first turned up. I wouldn't really go to places like that, because my confidence had gone, but when I joined the coaches made me feel really welcome.

"It was great. They accepted me. I didn't have to speak the best English, I didn't have to play the best football, but I was always welcomed. Premier League Kicks has always accepted me as I am."

With the support and guidance of the Blackburn Rovers coaches, Billy soon felt at home at weekly sessions at the Blackburn Rovers Indoor Centre, a renovated community space located in the shadow of Ewood Park Stadium.

Being at those sessions with inspiring coaches led to Billy considering the options open to him and wanting to strive for something more than being a participant.

"I want to be a coach like the coaches here," he says. "It drove me to now being a volunteer, doing my coaching qualifications and having a better, impactful life than before.

"Being a volunteer is a great way for me to learn how to be a great coach and how to deliver great sessions for the participants."

Billy has taken every opportunity that's been made available to him.

As well as being a coach volunteer, he has represented BRCT on the Darwen Youth Forum, taken part at the Premier League Kicks Cup, completed his FA Level 1 coaching qualification and is now on BRCT's College Programme.

"It's mind blowing to think that at 16 years of age, I could do all this stuff," he says. "I still need to process what has been going on. Sometimes I downplay myself but after seeing how big of an impact I have on the participants, or myself, I think it's great.

"I would not think even two years ago, that I would be a role model for other participants. Throughout the sessions, I found out that the kids really like me as a coach, as someone who they want to talk to.

"Meeting the kids outside of the sessions is always great. I really like that they trust me and think of me as a good person. This makes me feel like I'm in the right place in my life. This is where I should be."

His progress and achievements have not gone unnoticed.

As part of the Premier League's "More Than A Game" celebration earlier this year, Billy was named as BRCT's Premier League Community Captain in recognition of his commitment, enthusiasm and ability to be a role model for people across a variety of programmes.

To make his award even more special, Blackburn Rovers' Premier League-winning striker Alan Shearer visited the BRIC to surprise Billy at a Premier League Kicks session.

"When I look at his journey, I'm really proud of him," says Daniel Green, BRCT's neighbourhood youth manager. "We can't take the credit for it, it's all him. Billy has showed the willingness. He turns up pretty much every night of the week to do Premier League Kicks sessions.

"He didn't really have a focus in life. He didn't really know what he wanted to do but the programme, the staff members, other staff at the Community Trust, we managed to get a lot of opportunities for him.

"Billy knows Premier League Kicks back to front and he is an example of what this programme is all about. He's a great role model for all the kids. It shows what the programme can offer if young people take the opportunities and really get stuck in."

Daniel Green Blackburn Rovers Community Trust neighbourhood youth manager

"Premier League Kicks is massively important to the local area. We're getting hundreds of kids turning up every week. If you are seeing the same faces every week, it means that you're doing something right. We're building that relationship between participant and coach so we know what they're about and they feel comfortable talking to us about things that they wouldn't normally do. Premier League Kicks means opportunities and building friendships. I just feel lucky to be able to run a programme like this."

As for Billy, the Community Captain award has allowed him to reflect on how far he has come in the last six years.

"Kicks has a special place in my heart," he says. "I don't think I can say how much it means to me. It's helped me all throughout the time I've been in England.

"I have changed a lot. When I was younger, I got into a bad group of friends in high school but these sessions brought me out of that group. I'm really grateful.

"Life could have been a lot different if it wasn't for Blackburn Rovers. I don't think I would know what to do with my life, if not for this.

"Premier League Kicks changes people's lives. Not only mine but loads of others as well."

To find out more about BRCT's Premier League Kicks programme, click here.

What is Premier League Kicks?

Funded by the Premier League through the Premier League Charitable Fund, Premier League Kicks uses the power of football and sport to inspire young people to reach their potential, in some of the most high-need areas in England and Wales.

More than half a million people have benefited to date.

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