Arsenal in the Community

In focus: The Club Link Project

Arsenal in the Community Club Link Project

The Club Link Project is an Arsenal in the Community initiative now in its second full season. It aims to inspire Arsenal Academy players to engage with our community programmes while playing a vital role in coordinating first-team player engagements and involving former players in community events.

Project: The Club Link Project

Established: 2023

Partners: Premier League and Professional Footballers’ Association

The initiative is overseen by the Club Link Officer, a role created to facilitate Academy players' involvement in our community initiatives. This position, funded by the Premier League and the PFA, supports efforts to encourage young footballers to connect with their club’s local communities.

Throughout 2024, the Club Link Project saw more than 40 instances of player engagement with our community programmes. These made a lasting impact on participants and showcased the club’s commitment to giving back. Here are a few examples of what took place over the year:

•Five members of our women’s squad attended the Down Syndrome sessions held at The Arsenal Hub in partnership with North London United. 

•Mikel Arteta and Takehiro Tomiyasu presented community coach Rebecca Jones with her Premier League Community Captain award for her outstanding contributions to Arsenal in the Community. 

•Arsenal Women Academy players attended a Premier League Girls Kicks tournament at Market Road football pitches in Islington, where they met the participants, officiated games and presented medals. 

•Four men’s academy players supported the FA’s Play Safe Weekend initiative by creating videos to promote safety and inclusivity in football. 

•Arsenal legends Paul Davis and Lee Dixon met participants in health programmes funded by the Premier League and PFA, forming strong connections with the club’s older community members.

• As the year drew to a close, the men’s, women’s and Academy teams visited The Arsenal Hub, hospitals and local primary schools where they surprised participants and enjoyed joining in Christmas activities.

On their visit to the Hub, the Under-18s squad also made a generous donation to Islington Foodbank, including cereals, toys, tinned food and gifts. 

Head coach Adam Birchall, who was an Arsenal academy player himself, loved the experience: “It’s amazing to see the players giving back to the community, which does so much for us. This time of year is so important, and we’ve always felt it’s our duty as Arsenal players to contribute.”

Reflecting on the year as a whole, Club Link Officer Brian Matovu believed the players had a big impact on the community participants they met.

“It’s been an encouraging year of player engagement within our community programmes,” he said. “The players are role models for our participants, and seeing them connect with the community is inspiring. These interactions create memories that our participants will cherish forever. We’re grateful for the players’ time, enthusiasm, and generosity – it makes a real difference.”

The Club Link Project is supported by the Premier League and PFA. Administered through the Premier League Charitable Fund, the funding helps football clubs tackle inequality and respond to local challenges, supporting people and their communities to be more inclusive.

For more information email Club Link Officer Brian Matovu at bmatovu@arsenal.co.uk.