'Imagine seeing some of these faces here scoring goals on the big stage' - Walsall striker Kemar Roofe to give back to hometown with launch of football academy
Walsall striker Kemar Roofe has vowed to give back to his hometown by launching a new academy focused on bridging the gap between professional and grassroots football.
Roofe, 32, was born and raised in Walsall and attended the Joseph Leckie Community Technical College while he began his professional career at West Bromwich Albion.
In a club career that has taken him to Iceland, Belgium, Scotland and England, and an international career that saw him make four appearances for Jamaica, scoring one goal, Roofe is back in the West Midlands and hoping to fire Walsall to promotion out of League Two.
And after agreeing terms to return to the club in November, he immediately set about forming the 'Kemar Roofe Academy,' a football academy aimed at giving children in the West Midlands an opportunity to showcase their skills in front of professionals.
The first session, held at the University of Wolverhampton's Walsall campus, attracted a number of children, and some famous faces, with Roofe himself leading the coaching.
"It's something that I'm passionate about, giving back to the local community and the next generation by sharing my experience," he said. "I'm back in the area now after my career has taken me all over the place, so it's nice to be back around friends and family now and I feel like being back in Walsall makes it the perfect time to get something like this set up.
"I can be hands on, I can show my face and I can participate in it a lot.
"I started playing football early because I've got a brother three years older than me and I was just copying what he was doing. I've got memories of being at Bescot at five years old taking penalties on the pitch at half time, so it feels like a full circle for me."
The Walsall striker added that he intends to continue leading the way at the weekly sessions in a bid to close the gap between the amateur and professional game.
"It really is all about me giving back," Roofe continued. "I've had some good experiences in the game and have worked with some top managers and top coaches, so I'd like to inspire the next generation and help bridge the gap between grassroots football and professional football.
"We want to be that place in the middle that can help develop these young players and hopefully give them a future in the game.
"Imagine seeing some of these faces here scoring goals on the big screens on Sky Sports, it would be amazing.
Roofe's Walsall teammate Albert Adomah added: "Kemar's academy is amazing. He's started it off for all these youngsters in the community and hopefully it will only excel from here.
"The turnout on the opening day has been excellent, even though it has been cold, so hopefully it will only go from strength to strength."
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