More than 2700 people enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play at Stamford Bridge, courtesy of Chelsea Foundation pitch events.
Across 20 separate events, participants aged from 8 to 60 years old enjoyed fun football-related events organised by Chelsea Foundation’s International Department.
These included a tournament for 200 schoolgirls and 200 local NHS staff, as well as a tournament for Chelsea FC staff and events led by Nike, Singha and the Premier League.
The school students, who were from nearby schools in Hammersmith & Fulham and Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, took part in a female empowerment day which included education workshops and football activities on the Stamford Bridge pitch.
In the NHS tournament, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust came out victorious in both the male and female NHS competition.
Dr Bob Klaber from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust said: ‘Improving health and well-being within our communities is all about partnerships – and so the growing collaboration we have between Chelsea FC Foundation and four of the NHS Trusts who are local to the club is something we are all really excited about.
‘It was an amazing opportunity to build even stronger links and for around 200 of us who work in the NHS to experience playing football inside an iconic Premier League football ground.’
Karl Munslow, chief operating officer at The Royal Marsden Foundation Trust, said: ‘Thanks once again to Chelsea FC Foundation for hosting a fantastic evening of football for the four hospitals. It was a really special opportunity for 200 healthcare staff who have worked tirelessly over the past year to provide fantastic care to patients. These events demonstrate the burgeoning relationship Chelsea FC Foundation and the local NHS have with each other.’
Michael Cornall, international operations and event manager at Chelsea Foundation, said: ‘It has been fantastic to see so many smiling faces on the pitch at Stamford Bridge over the last couple of weeks and a privilege to have helped organise these events. It is proof that, whichever age or background, football can bring people together and have a positive impact on everyone’s everyday life.’