Sheffield MP David Blunkett will join Wednesday stars Akpo Sodje and Frank Simek at a celebration to mark the end of a summer of free football in Sheffield.
They will be guests of honour along with up to 150 young people at the event on Friday, set up to toast the success of the campaign of funded coaching sessions, backed by Sheffield Wednesday's Community Programme and Frank Haslam Milan (FHM), Parkway Housing and Rowlinsons.
The sessions, which kicked off in July, have seen hundreds of young people and children benefit from free football coaching and activity sessions, held five days a week at different locations across the city.
Friday's celebration will see Mr Blunkett and the players meet young people who have been on the six week programme, sign autographs and help present trophies to the winners of special knock out competitions held throughout the day.
The summer campaign is supported by £75,000 investment from FHM, Sportsmatch, Parkway, Rowlinsons and a number of other partners. It will be followed in the autumn by free training delivered in 24 schools and some more coaching events held in October.
Marcus Brameld, Community Manager for Sheffield Wednesday, said: "The campaign has been a great success, and hundreds of children and young people have got involved. This event is a great way of saying 'well done' to those young people who have taken part, and showing people like Mr Blunkett how successful we have been in engaging them during the summer holidays."
FHM Contracts Director Paul Senior said: "We have been delighted with how well the programme has gone - I would like to say well done to the young people who have taken part and to thank Wednesday's Community Programme for delivering activities that are fun and free to so many people.
"I am sure that this is just the start of a really successful programme of events, which FHM is very proud to support."
