West Ham United Foundation youngsters were surprised by Hammers Academy stars Sean Adarkwa and Emmanuel Longelo last week as the pair donated a number of pairs of football boots to the local players.
The U18s wingers, who are both regular starters for Steve Potts and Mark Phillips’ team, showed their generosity at a Premier League Kicks session last Friday, giving away several pairs of top-class footwear.
The Foundation youngsters, many of whom come from under-privileged backgrounds, were delighted to get their hands of the Hammers’ tools of the trade and the duo were happy to help out.
Adarkwa said: “I had old boots laying around, so I thought let me give them to some people, children that need them, that don't have boots.
“It will make them feel inspired to get to that level, push them in training, work hard for themselves to get to that level.”
Longelo added: “I feel privileged to be able to inspire them, and hopefully they can take it from here.
“[When I was younger], in this situation I’d feel inspired by the players and it would have been good to have this opportunity.”
The Premier League Kicks programme engages young people aged eleven to 19 in a range of activities, both in and outside of sport.
It encourages the break-down of barriers between the police and young people and targets reducing crime and anti-social behaviour in local communities by engaging them in sports.
George Chukwuma, the lead Premier League Kicks coach at the Foundation, said: “It's such a great incentive for some of these boys because some of them will only have one pair of boots.
“I've even seen one or two with missing studs or holes in their boots. So for the Academy boys to offer their boots is a fantastic incentive for some of these young participants at Kicks.”