Recent Visitors 3

UK PM Hails Premier League Grassroots Football In India

Newzdaddy Football Updates

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was also present at the event and appreciated the Premier League’s programme in India. The Premier League has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to supporting grassroots football in India through a Community Coach Development Programme in Mumbai. The three-day programme was central to the League’s week-long fan and community engagement initiatives in India – its first major milestone since the opening of its Mumbai office earlier this year.

The Premier League has been focusing on India because the country has one of the largest young populations in the world, with a fast-growing interest in football. According to FIFA data, India has seen a steady rise in grassroots participation, especially in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Goa. By opening a local office, the League is showing that it sees India not just as a market for viewers but as a country where football can grow at the community level.

Delivered in partnership with the British Council, the three-day programme was led by coaches from the Premier League, Brentford and Newcastle United, who provided expert training to 30 community coaches, helping expand access to football across India. Bringing in experienced coaches from Premier League clubs gives Indian trainers a chance to learn modern coaching techniques. Clubs like Brentford and Newcastle United are known for their structured youth development systems. Brentford focuses strongly on data-driven training, while Newcastle has a long tradition of producing talented local players. Their guidance can help Indian community coaches build structured training environments for kids, which has often been a gap in local football development.

The activity culminated in a showcase event at the Cooperage Football Ground in Mumbai. The community coaches put the skills they have learned into practice with 80 children from the Oscar Foundation, highlighting how the programme empowers local leaders to inspire the next generation through football.

The Cooperage Football Ground is one of Mumbai’s oldest and most historic venues. Hosting this showcase carries symbolic value. The Oscar Foundation, which works with underprivileged children through sports and education, has been a key partner in many football development programmes in India. Events like this help children gain confidence, improve teamwork skills, and get exposure to structured training methods that are often available only in professional academies. Among the special guests in attendance were UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Premier League legend Michael Owen, who interacted with the coaches and the young players.

The presence of high-profile guests like the UK Prime Minister and Michael Owen highlights how seriously the UK sees its football diplomacy with India. Owen, being a global football icon, attracts media attention, which helps bring more visibility to these initiatives. When children meet such figures, it often motivates them to take the sport more seriously.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “I’m hugely proud of our national sport – it brings communities together and changes lives.” “That’s why the Premier League’s training programme in India is so impressive – not only is it one of our most successful exports, but it’s training the game’s future coaches, inspiring young people, and showing the world what British sport can do.” Former Liverpool, Manchester United, and Newcastle United striker Owen said: “Witnessing the passion for football in India this week has been incredible and I’m sure it can only grow in the future.”

“The Premier League has been delivering community work in the country for nearly 20 years, helping to develop the grassroots game. It was great to see this programme bringing together community coaches who have been involved in the League’s longstanding work, and seeing how football is being used to change lives is inspiring.”

“I had a wonderful time speaking to the coaches and young players, and I am excited to see their journey in the game.” Michael Owen’s comments reflect the growing excitement around Indian football at the grassroots. Over the years, interest in European football among Indian fans has skyrocketed, and programmes like these aim to convert that fan interest into real playing participation. The Premier League’s involvement for almost two decades shows that this is not a short-term project, but a carefully built relationship.

The community coaches involved in the programme travelled from across India to take part, having all played a key role in the League’s community efforts in the country to date. Bringing together coaches from different states creates a strong network of trained individuals who can return to their local communities and spread their knowledge. Many of these coaches often work in schools or community centres, so their impact reaches far beyond just one group of children.

For nearly two decades, the partnership between the Premier League and the British Council has helped upskill more than 41,000 football coaches, referees, and educators, benefiting over 2.2 million young people across 29 countries. In India, it has delivered training in 18 states, supporting more than 7,500 coaches, referees, and educators, and benefiting more than 164,000 young people.

This scale of impact shows how structured partnerships between governments and sports bodies can bring real change. The British Council’s experience in education and cultural exchange gives the programme depth, while the Premier League’s sporting expertise provides the technical side. Alumni from India are now leading community projects of their own – using football to build confidence, promote inclusion, and support education.

Many of these alumni have gone on to start football training centres, school programmes, and girl-focused football initiatives. They are becoming change-makers, showing how sports can break social barriers. The British High Commission also attended the showcase, recognising the League’s contribution to strengthening UK–India cultural and sporting ties. Sports diplomacy is becoming an important part of international relations. Through football, both countries are building cultural connections that go beyond business or politics.