The British music industry and the Premier League have announced a charity partnership for the Kickz programme.

Record labels and high-profile football teams will get investment from the Brit Trust, the British Phonographic Industry's (BPI) charity organisation, allowing young people to express their musical and footballing skills.

The initiative is being backed by Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Andy Burnham MP, members of Kasabian and Craig David.

Speaking to NME at the announcement, Burnham said: "Football and music are a really powerful combination when you get the two together. They communicate and get through to young people in a way that someone in a suit like me could never manage."

Burnham admitted that the project may be seen as "uncool" because it is being backed by the government. However, he did believe that the project would succeed, citing the importance of football and music when he was growing up in the North West during the '80s.

"The cross over between football and music culture was life for all of us," Burnham explained. "We went to the match on Saturday and talked about music in the pub beforehand. That was a North West childhood for me."