The academy that has fed the on field success of Dulwich Hamlet in recent seasons is hosting a celebrity fundraising event next month.
Aspire Academy is a football and education programme for sixteen to eighteen-year-olds set up by Gavin Rose and Junior Kadi, the current manager and assistant manager at Hamlet, in July 2002.
Since then numerous teenagers have passed through the programme and have gone on to careers in the professional game or gained an education that holds them in good stead in the future.
In addition, the academy supports a number of other community projects for younger children. On February 9 a fundraising event will be held, supported by England footballer and Aspire ambassador Rio Ferdinand, for the academy that also doubles as the Hamlet youth team set up. Rose said: “The night will raise funds in order to maintain sustainability at the academy. We now see three times as many children as we used too.
“We want to try and keep it so that what we do is free for the children and for parents who might not be able to contribute.” The night will include entertainment supplied by a top comic and a number of Premiership footballers will be in attendance along with some high profile actors.
A memorabilia auction will also be held on the night at the Riverbank Park Plaza, Embankment. To book a table, or find out more information, contact Rory Kelly at info@aspirefootballuk.com.