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Fabio meets Goals class

England Manager Fabio Capello and Goalkeeping Coach Ray Clemence welcomed the latest class of Goals Project graduates to The FA’s Soho Square HQ on Friday.

Run by UK charity, Street League, and supported by The FA, the Goals Project uses football as a vehicle to give disadvantaged adults important life skills with 65% of graduates going back into further education and full-time employment since the scheme launched in 2002.

Friday’s set of graduates completed their five week course at QPR’s Loftus Road stadium and the Goals Project’s Rob Woolley was impressed with the students’ dedication from the start.

“The very first day of the course was 2 February which was when the country was hit by those torrential snow storms," said Woolley.

“The guys all managed to make it in on foot though which was just fantastic and showed they were committed about taking part and completing the scheme.”

The Goals Project gives students a chance to try out activities such as drama and orienteering plus ten football coaching sessions with QPR’s Football in the Community team and a tour of Wembley Stadium.

The 17 graduates at Soho Square on Friday included former construction worker, James Staunton: “I was made redundant from my job but it was a blessing in disguise because the Goals Project has really changed me as a person and I feel so much more confident in myself.

“If you’d told me five weeks ago that I’d be visiting The FA then I’d have just laughed.”

It was a sentiment echoed by fellow student, Junior Bogle: “The tour of Wembley was a real dream come true and we’ve even got to see The FA Cup which is just brilliant.

“Everyone has made new friends and feels confident about the future and achieving their dreams.”

The graduates finished the Goals Project with a match against the QPR coaches on 5 March where Jean-Claude Allen won The FA’s Fair Play trophy plus a ticket to this season’s FA Cup Final at Wembley.

He said: “I’d worked in retail and landscape gardening but was in a bit of lull before the Goals Project.

“The course is jam-packed with brilliant activities that will help everyone in the future. We’ve had an unbelievable time at The FA as well.”

The icing on the cake of a busy day at The FA for the Goals Project graduates came when England manager, Fabio Capello, dropped by to wish everyone connected with the scheme good luck for the future.

Presenting the students with their graduation certificates was Ray Clemence, who won 61 caps as a player with England.

“Everyone graduating here today should be incredibly proud of themselves," added Clemence. 

"They’ve completed the Goals Project, learnt new skills and made some great new friendships.

“The course might be over but this is just the start for these guys and I hope they can take everything they’ve learnt over the last five weeks towards a successful future.”