Wrexham AFC & Kick4Life FC Announce Twinning Partnership

March 15, 2024

In a world rife with inequality and limited opportunities, football clubs have increasingly sought cross-national partnerships to showcase the transformative potential of sport in confronting these issues. This week, Wrexham AFC and past Beyond Sport Global Award winner Kick4Life FC announced a groundbreaking partnership, uniting Wales' oldest football club with the world's first FC dedicated to social change. The new "twinning partnership," which joins two organizations that share a common goal, will encourage greater international cooperation and exchange between these community-focused clubs.

The partnership not only signifies a remarkable coming together of football clubs separated by nearly 10,000km – North Wales, UK and Lesotho, Southern Africa – but also highlights the broader potential of sport as a vehicle for global social change. This new collaboration complements the existing twinning partnership between Wales and Lesotho that originated in 1984. During a meeting in Wrexham, Wales, 40 years ago, the two nations recognized similarities in size, landscape, population, language and culture, forging what is now known as the “Wales-Lesotho Link.” Throughout the years, the two have fostered educational, cultural and creative exchanges to promote greater understanding.

Through coaching exchanges, joint women’s football promotions and co-developed community impact initiatives, the clubs aim to reach over 3,000 children and young people across both communities within the next three years. They will also produce a “Football for Good” program featuring a curriculum on health, education, inclusion and employability. In addition, Kick4Life will oversee the Lesotho Wrexham Supporters Club, which launched on March 12.

The British High Commission to the Kingdom of Lesotho has been very supportive of the twinning commitment. High Commissioner Harry MacDonald said, “Kick4Life has achieved tremendous things on the pitch and more importantly off it to change lives of young people in Lesotho. The partnership with Wrexham AFC brings one of the most exciting football clubs in the world alongside Kick4Life and means more young people than ever in Lesotho will develop life skills and football opportunities.”

Wrexham AFC was acquired in 2020 by North American actors Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney, and its charitable trust intervenes in the community by improving access to football for marginalized groups, while also promoting greater social and gender equality. The club secured seed funding for the partnership through an existing sponsor. They continue to seek more partners in their mission to use football to help underprivileged people.

Kick4Life, on its end, is a charity and social enterprise that delivers football-based programs for vulnerable young people through a wide range of social development activities focused on health, education and supporting sustainable livelihoods.

Kick4Life co-founder Steve Fleming said, “The contexts are very different, but across topics such as gender, social inclusion and employability, football offers huge potential to make a difference in both Lesotho and Wales, and we look forward to raising awareness of the positive impact of the game.”

The partnership between Wrexham AFC and Kick4Life FC marks a significant step towards fostering international cooperation and community development through football. With shared values of inclusivity and empowerment, these two clubs will boost their potential to help more youth and underserved populations.