United's Charlie Taylor dropped into the John Smeaton Sports Centre on Thursday 26 March as the former England Under-19 International joined Yorkshire Jets players Nikala Smith and Lottysha Cato at a Leeds United Foundation Premier League 4 Sport Netball session.

Marking the beginning of an exciting new partnership between The Yorkshire Jets and The Leeds United Foundation, Taylor posed for pictures with students from Corpus Christi High School, Temple Moor High School and John Smeaton Academy before showing off his own skills on the netball court for the enthusiastic audience.

Commenting at the event Taylor said: “It’s a genuine pleasure to be here to show support for the Leeds United Foundation’s Premier League 4 Sport Programme and their exciting new partnership with The Yorkshire Jets. The Foundation does so much great work throughout the region in encouraging kids to stay active and get involved in sport and I’m sure this new partnership between two of our region’s best known sports organisations will aid those efforts significantly as they move forward.”

The new partnership will see both organisations support each other’s community based and coaching programmes, with the Jets expertise expected to be particularly beneficial to the Leeds United Foundation’s new Premier League 4 Sport Netball Programme.

Jane Moulson, Yorkshire Jets Franchise Director, said: “Everyone at Yorkshire Jets is passionate about getting as many people across the region playing netball so we are delighted to be supporting this initiative. We are also looking forward to working with the Leeds United Foundation even more closely in the future as we begin our partnership. Together, we will be working to promote sport, participation and engagement in communities across the area – an issue which is as important to all of us at Yorkshire Jets as it is to Leeds United.”

Launched at the John Smeaton Netball Satellite Centre in February of this year, the Leeds United Foundation’s Premier League 4 Sport Netball Programme aims to increase participation numbers in children over fourteen and will see the establishment of Netball Satellite Centres throughout the Leeds region where children can learn the basics of the game, improve their skills and start upon a pathway into regular netball action.

Leeds United Foundation Operations Manager Michael Kinsey commented: “We’re absolutely delighted to have secured this link up with The Yorkshire Jets. Our two organisations share very similar outlooks and ambitions when it comes to our community based programmes and as one of Netball Superleague’s leading sides I can’t think of a better resource or partner to help push our new Premier League 4 Sport Programme forward.”

England Netball’s West Yorkshire Netball Development Officer Rebecca Williams was also present for the launch and was delighted with recent developments.

Williams said: “England Netball is very excited to see how the partnership between The Jets and The Leeds United Foundation develops over the coming months. Ultimately we’re keen to see as many girls as possible get involved with the game and as you can see from the excitement generated in the room, programmes such as this one and events such as this one really do make such a positive impact on the children taking part.”

For more information about the Leeds United Foundation’s Premier League 4 Sport Programme or its Netball Satellite Centre’s please visit www.leedsunitedfoundation.com or contact Leeds United Foundation Operations Manager Michael Kinsey via michael.kinsey@leedsunited.com.

For more information about the Yorkshire Jets please visit their website at www.yorkshirejets.net or contact Stephen Naylor via stephen@yorkshirejets.net.