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Everton former players foundation has sponsored a team from the Everton in the Community’s Kickz programme

Copperas Kickz U17s

The Everton former players’ foundation was established in 1999 and has gone on to become one of the leading former players’ charities both in Britain and in Europe.
As part of its mission statement as well as helping former players the Foundation is charged with helping young people through sporting activity.
As part of this remit E.F.P.F. has linked up with the Everton in the Community’s Premier League lead Kickz programme. The Foundation approached EitC in order to sponsor a team and agreed to an initial one year sponsorship of the Copperas Kickz team.
Copperas Kickz was formed just over two years ago by its Manager Lee Donafee. Lee who back in April 2010 set up football coaching for the local youths in the Croxteth and Norris Green area of Liverpool.
The coaching soon became popular enough for him to have over 40 youngsters turn up for lessons.
At first he self funded the two teams he formed from the youngsters who turned up and he has now gone on to form upto 5 teams – Copperas tots U7s and U10s, Copperas Juniors U17s, Copperas Kickz and U21s Obier FC.
Lee now works closely with the Everton in the Community and his team took the Kickz tag shortly afterwards.
Kickz is a national initiative, supported by the Premier League, which works towards creating stronger, more respectful communities thorough football.
Working in partnership with Liverpool Football Club and Merseyside Police, Everton in the Community lead football sessions in areas which have high incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour to encourage children to develop their potential.

The objectives of this project are to:

• Engage young people in a range of constructive activities which link to the Every Child Matters framework
• Break down barriers between police and young people
• Reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in targeted neighbourhoods
• Increase the playing, coaching and officiating opportunities for participants
• Create routes into education, training and employment
• Encourage volunteering within projects and throughout target neighbourhoods
• Increase young people’s interest in and connections with the professional game

The Everton Former Players’ Foundation Chairman Laurence Lee said of the Sponsorship

‘Everton former players’ foundation is pleased to sponsor the Copperas Kickz team which will form part of our charity’s work with the young people of this City. We are also delighted to link up with our sister Charity the Everton in the Community who run the Kickz programme. We wish team manager Lee Donafee and his coaches and of course the young lads who make up the team all the very best for the forthcoming season and we hope this will be a long and successful sponsorship for both parties.’

The Copperas Kickz U17s team page can be found by clicking on the icon below:

Photo shows members of the team plus at the back former Everton players Cliff Marshall, John Bailey and Derek Temple together with EFPF Trustees Tony Kellaher, Gerry Moore and Rev. Harry Ross. Centre of the photo shows EFPF Chairman Laurence Lee presenting a shirt to team Manager Lee Donafee and team Captain Adam Gore