Ex-Chelsea academy ace, Gemili recently hung up his spikes after over a decade as an international sprinter.
The former Team GB athlete visited Stockwell to meet players and coaches at Sports Fun 4 All, a charity that provides free football sessions across south London.
The charity runs 21 sessions a week, of which 16 are free, and also provides opportunities for young people to earn coaching qualifications.
Adam Gemili recalls Chelsea academy days
Sports Fun 4 All has been nominated for a London Sport Award in the 'Enhancing Sporting Workforce' category and Gemili explains why they had earned such recognition after visiting one of their sessions.
“It was really more than I expected,” said Gemili. “Seeing the way it was run, how diligent they are, everyone was very respectful.
“They’ve got a really good thing here and I really hope they can keep their funding and grow and get bigger.
“What they do for the community is brilliant. It’s not about how good they are as footballers, it’s about bringing a lot of different people together as part of the local community, to play some football and learn. It’s good vibes.”
The London Sport Awards 2026 takes place on Wednesday, 29 April, celebrating the people and organisations making a difference through sport and physical activity in the nation's capital.
Supported by the City of London Corporation, the ceremony will honour inspiring individuals, projects, and organisations across ten categories, from volunteers and community clubs to businesses and tech innovators, who are helping Londoners lead healthier, more active lives.
Sports Fun 4 All was founded by Kieran Connolly, who has seen his initiative grow far beyond his initial expectations.
The 39-year-old now works for the charity full-time and employs a number of other coaches, some of whom initially started their journeys as players in his sessions.
Emphasis throughout is on a comfortable but disciplined environment that teaches participants life skills as well as improving their performances on the pitch.
Gemili, who spent seven years in Chelsea's academy growing up and also represented Dagenham and Redbridge, added: “When you come onto a football pitch, you leave all of your background behind you.
"It doesn’t matter where you’re born, when you’re on the football pitch - or any other sport - it all gets forgotten. It’s about what you can do.
“Chatting to some of the guys and girls here, it has really brought them out of their shells and really allowed them to express themselves when they might have been quite introverted before.
“They are learning stuff that will take them a long way when they’re adults.
“That’s something I learned very on in my career at Chelsea. It didn’t matter how good you were on the pitch, what was more important was how you carried yourself off the pitch.
“That’s something that Kieran and the coaches here are really pushing. Everything is about respect, how to carry yourself, confidence. All of these guys came up and shook our hands, introduced themselves properly. To teach these guys from a young age is super positive.”
London Sport is a charity that helps all Londoners live longer, healthier and happier lives through being active. The London Sport Awards, supported by the City of London Corporation, shines a spotlight on the capital’s unsung heroes who are helping Londoners lead more physically active lives. Find out more at www.londonsport.org
