Sport: Arsenal in the community - Abou Diaby and Andrey Arshavin thrill kids at St Mary Magdalene Academy

Published: 18 March 2010
by STEVE BARNETT

GUNNERS’ stars Andrey Arshavin and Abou Diaby swapped football for a host of different sports this week when they took a break from the club’s hectic trophy chase, writes Steve Barnett. 

As Arsenal celebrates 25 years of commitment to its community, the pair joined youngsters at 

St Mary Magdalene Academy in Islington to play badminton, judo, table tennis and volleyball. 

The action-packed day was part of the ‘Premier League 4 Sport’ initiative, which aims to promote and encourage young people’s participation in the four sports. 

In addition to the nationwide programme, Arsenal in the Community has added hockey and basketball. 

The club’s successful hockey programme has been running for nearly 20 years and has encouraged more than 14,000 young people in north London to take up the sport.  

Head of Arsenal in the Community Alan Sefton said: “Arsenal is delighted to offer young people in the community more opportunities to get involved in sport. 

“Adding a range of sports to our existing projects is very exciting. We believe there will be something for everyone with the range of sports on offer and it will help young people stay active and develop an interest in sports other than football.”

Over the last quarter of a century, Arsenal in the Community has invested more than 5.5 million hours and involved one million individuals, across a wide variety of sporting, charitable, educational and social inclusion projects.