Korey Eristhee named our Premier League Community Captain

A Tottenham Hotspur Foundation coach inspiring others in the community – having started as a participant on a Foundation coaching course four years ago – has been given the honour of being named our Premier League Community Captain.

Korey Eristhee received a bespoke print, captain’s armband and pennant in a presentation by Ledley King ahead of last weekend’s game against Wolves, before sitting down to discuss his journey at Hotspur Way this week.

The 24-year-old has been recognised as part of the Premier League’s More Than A Game campaign, showcasing how its wide-ranging investment into all levels of football enables people connected to clubs to have a positive impact on their communities.

Korey found the Foundation’s Spurred 2 Coach programme in early 2020. The course helps enable participants to complete the FA Introduction to Coaching Football qualification (previously known as the FA Level 1 in Coaching Football), as Dejan Kulusevski found out last week when he dropped by the latest course at Duke’s Aldridge Academy, on the east side of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Korey impressed during his time on the course and continued working for the Foundation on a casual basis afterwards, supporting its Premier League Kicks sessions.

Shortly after returning from a pandemic-induced break, Korey became a part-time coach, then very quickly a full-time coach, now helping deliver the Foundation’s Making Sport a Daily Habit programme.

Korey said: “I enjoy coaching, helping people play and have a good time, but there’s more to it than just the coaching. What motivates me is inspiring people and giving them opportunities. I’ve realised I’m in a position where a lot of people look up to you and, having started there, I’m now back working on Spurred 2 Coach.

“I speak to people I coach all the time, sharing how engaging with the Foundation and Spurred 2 Coach can open up more opportunities. For me, it’s scary to think about if I’d never come into contact with the Foundation because I genuinely don’t know what I’d be doing. It’s a very welcoming place, where I’ve always found people open to helping you, and it’s this I try to reflect back in the community and to the participants on our programmes.”

Korey’s sharing of his story has boosted participation on Spurred 2 Coach, with some of those he recommended now coaching at grassroots level in the community.

On being named our Premier League Community Captain, Korey said: “This will inspire and motivate me to keep doing more for the benefit of the community. When you’re putting on sessions, you’re trying to go above and beyond, so it’s good to be recognised remember why I do what I do.”