Six youngsters have earned themselves the opportunity to visit England after being named outstanding young leaders at the 10th JC Youth Football Leadership Scheme graduation ceremony last Sunday.

The youngsters will travel to Manchester to participate in a host of activities organised by Manchester United and its foundation, enabling them to learn about the local football culture and engage in community service.

The scheme is organised by The Hong Kong Jockey Club in collaboration with Manchester United and the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, and its programmes this year were supported with funding from the Club’s Charities Trust.

Fifty-three youngsters aged between 15 and 19 completed the six-month programme this year. Activities included football event organisation training, star mentoring workshops, personal challenges and community football activities, helping the young footballers to develop leadership potential and contribute to the betterment of Hong Kong.

During the graduation ceremony at Happy Valley Racecourse, Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges presented each of the six outstanding leaders with a Certificate of Merit. He said that as a world-class sports organisation, the Club is strongly committed to supporting sports development in schools, the community and at the elite level.

Manchester United legend Bryan Robson, one of the most influential footballers of the 1980s and 1990s, was also at the ceremony to witness the young leaders’ graduation. Nicknamed “Captain Marvel” for his performances with both England and Manchester United, Robson shared with the youngsters his tips on good leadership and experiences from his Manchester United career, which spanned 13 seasons.

The Club has been a Hong Kong Community Football Partner of Manchester United since 2012, launching various programmes to support youth development. More than 480 youngsters have participated in the JC Youth Football Leadership Scheme since 2014. Notably, 48 outstanding young leaders have had the opportunity to visit Manchester.

Outstanding graduates of JC Youth Football Leadership Scheme score trip to Manchester