The programme has exceeded its original targets for new participants, and yesterday the Premier League announced a further £2 million to be invested in basketball, handball, hockey and netball.
Under the programme Premier League clubs act as hubs linked to community sports clubs and facilities, which in turn are connected to secondary schools to create satellite sports centres.
The programme appears to be the model for the Government’s new sports participation policy under which sports clubs will work with schools. Under the scheme sports clubs including Premier League clubs will be able to bid for funding for community schemes aimed at young people.
Scudamore said the link between sports clubs and schools was an effective way of encouraging young people into sport.
“We have the largest community clubs of all if you like, which are out there doing community work so if we can help extend that down into other clubs and schools it’s a good thing.
“If you ask people what institutions are important in communities perhaps the first thing you would say is a school, but in the top three or four would be the football club, so linking those things up is a positive thing.”