Participants from the Liverpool FC Foundation's Kicks programme recently took part in a new initiative which encourages more young people to play competitive football during weekends.

The LFC Foundation 7v7 event was held on the newly-installed Cruyff Court at Anfield Sports and Community Centre and will be the first of many more fixtures and tournaments to be held in Anfield over the coming months.

As well as participants from the Foundation’s Kicks sessions, Everton and Stoke City also competed in the tournament which saw three well-contested games played out in a friendly and respectful manner.

Tony Cosgrove, Kicks programme lead, said: “The idea of the 7v7 tournament is to use the competition as a reward-based incentive and to encourage young people to get up and get active on Saturday mornings as well as enabling increased confidence, respect and self-discipline.

“Being able to run these tournaments on a regular basis can also help to increase self-esteem, develop positive relationships and skills and encourage long-term commitment. Such values may ultimately lead to modified behavioural changes amongst individuals who have previously been involved in anti-social behaviour.”

Andrea Cooper, head of the Liverpool FC Foundation, added: “Kicks is a fantastic programme which allows youngsters from inner-city areas to participate in football. Tournaments such as this provide participants with an incentive to get active and to participate in a competitive format against other football teams such as Everton and Stoke City.”