Soccer Am Star Signs Street League Deal

Soccer AM presenter Max Rushden is to become an ambassador for Street League, the national charity that uses football to engage with unemployed 16 to 25-year-olds, and help them develop key life and employability skills during an eight-week Academy programme.

Currently 81% of Street League graduates move into work, education and training.

Max recently visited the charity’s Hartlepool Academy, which is being funded by donations from the sale of Soccer AM t-shirts, and joined participants in the classroom and then on the pitch. 

He said: ‘It means a lot for Soccer AM to be part of it but, for me personally, what I think is good about Street League is that it is actually doing something and you can see the results.’

‘When you say eight out of 10 people that come on the course go into employment or go into education, that is a tangible thing and you can see it is making a difference.’

‘There are so many charities that do good – but I just think helping youngsters who are not exactly sure where they are going in life is a really important thing. The youngsters on the Street League scheme are trying to better their lives, and ultimately contribute to their local communities and that can only be a good thing.’

Max, who also presents a Sunday show on talkSPORT, listened as a group of 20 Academy participants discussed how they think unemployed young people are often perceived. 

Niall, 22, said: ‘It is sometimes unfair how people can have that opinion of you just because you’re a young person. People think that you’re lazy and just want to go out and get drunk or sit on your backside all day.’

‘But it’s not like that. Sometimes there are no places to actually go and do something. Sometimes there is a lack of opportunity.’

Max responded: ‘I am pretty open-minded about people wanting to not just judge someone for the position they are in, but also asking why someone is in that position.’ 

‘You have got to be open-minded as everyone is dealt a set of cards… but some people get dealt a better set than others. Ideally you want everyone to have the same opportunity but that just doesn’t happen.’