Football stars supported a charity that helps underprivileged people secure better futures get accountancy careers.

Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Swansea midfielder Wayne Routledge were part of a star studded line-up at top football agency, Unique Sports Management, in Kings Langley.

The firm put on an event for its new charity partner, Leadership Through Sport and Business.

USM's company’s director, Barry Whelan and Football Intermediary, Ian Ryder set a challenge for the young people, which Hasslebaink and Routledge took part in.

Barry Whelan said: “The day was absolutely amazing, this has been a real success and we hope to do more work together in the future.

"It’s USM’s social responsibility to give something back to society, and we’re proud to be associated with LTSB.”

The aspiring accountants were split into groups of three to four and were given a case study task: to deliberate the concerns/considerations of the player, the manager, the agent and the player welfare team when organising a player transfer from Atletico Madrid to Chelsea FC.

LTSB youngsters then had the unique opportunity of talking to four sets of experts in their given field – Wayne Routledge representing the player, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink representing the manager, Barry Whelan as the agent, and Lauren Reilly and Jess Gull, as the player welfare team.

Once the teams had gathered information from each station, they presented their findings to the room and were rewarded with signed Chelsea and Swansea football shirts.

On July 14, Whelan will compete in a gruelling white collar boxing match for LTSB, and hopes to raise £5,000.

He said: “I am raising money for a charity that gives the underprivileged a real chance of fulfilling their dreams. Over the last six or seven years, I’ve always said I would have a go at boxing so here I am, competing in the professional surroundings of a boxing event.

"This is a massive achievement for me personally and I want to complete it with a huge amount of pride, knowing I have also helped a fantastic charity in the process.”

LTSB thoroughly prepares and supports their young people throughout the whole scheme, offering intensive training with blue-chip companies and elite football foundations, which helps the young people develop personally and professionally, better preparing them for the business world.

You can support Whelan in his fundraising by visiting his just giving page:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ltsb-boxing