Ledley opens new pitch to support development of young footballers

Ledley King attended the opening of a new astro pitch at Onslow St Audrey’s secondary school in Hertfordshire - one of the Club’s education and football development partners.

During the event, our Club Ambassador and legendary former captain joined a group of young footballers from the school to share his own career advice, while reinforcing the Club’s commitment to helping youngsters achieve their potential, both on and off the pitch.

The Club works with Onslow St Audrey’s to help its students identify their career path by providing various education opportunities - from vocational courses to both A-levels and T-Levels - alongside football coaching.

Since 2010, 15 graduates of our education and football development programmes have gone on to become professional players - most notably our Women’s team forward and England Lioness, Jessica Naz, as well as Swansea City and Chile national team goalkeeper, Lawrence Vigouroux - with many more achieving careers within the game, from coaching to sports science.

Ledley said: “I am delighted to open this fantastic new pitch today, which I am sure will be enjoyed for many years to come. I would have loved a facility like this when I was growing up playing football.

“My advice to the young players today is to identify what you enjoy doing and work as hard as possible at achieving your dreams - whether that’s on the football pitch or in the classroom.”

Paul Griffiths, Education and Football Development Centres Manager at Tottenham Hotspur, said: “We were delighted to have Ledley down at Onslow St Audrey’s to celebrate our partnership and unveil the school’s new astro pitch.

“Today serves as an example of the fantastic opportunities we are able to provide youngsters through our football and education development programmes, giving them access to football legends such as Ledley, in addition to the support we provide to help them identify a career in the sports sector, all whilst aiding their development as a player.”

Julie Jones, Headteacher at Onslow St Audrey’s, said: "The students thoroughly enjoyed Ledley’s visit, and it was a real privilege for them to have the opportunity to receive advice from a Spurs legend.

“We are proud to offer our students world-class facilities to nurture their talents and foster a lifelong passion for health and fitness. Today, we celebrate not just a new pitch but a new chapter for Onslow St Audreys."

The Tottenham Hotspur Football and Education Development programme is for learners interested in pursuing a career in the sports industry and provides a platform for those with a passion for playing and learning about football.

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