Royal Watch News

Prince William's FA honour

Jan 17, 2013, 12:02 GMT

Prince William

Britain's Prince William says it's a huge 'honour' for him to lead the English Football Association.

The Duke of Cambridge has been president of the FA since 2006 and he feels very privileged to have been given such a huge role as he is such a fan of the sport.

In an open letter which marked 150 years of the FA, William said: 'As President of The Football Association I will be playing my full part in The FA's 150th anniversary celebrations.

'Like you, I am a football fan. I have loved the game from a very young age - as a player with my friends, and as a supporter of club and country.

'I consider it a huge honour to lead The FA - it is an organisation which reaches every community, bringing the simplest enjoyment to people of all ages and all abilities. Over 150 years, football has become part of the very fabric of our society and I hope the year ahead will allow us to celebrate every aspect of this great game.'

William - who supports Premier League side Aston Villa - says one of the FA's greatest strengths is how it encourages all people to take part in football and provides them with a safe environment to play it in.

He added: 'As many of you will know, The FA's work is far reaching. It is a diverse not-for-profit organisation, which invests over £100m into the game every year delivering facilities for grassroots football, coaching programmes for boys and girls, and development programmes for those with disabilities.

'It is a regulator of the game at all levels, ensuring that football is played in a safe, fun and welcoming environment for everyone - whatever their background.

'Our flagship facilities at St. George's Park and Wembley Stadium are the inspirational homes of 24 England teams and world leading coach education facilities.

'My hope is that our 150th year really shines a light on all of this great work.'