Leeds Rhinos and Leeds Rhinos Foundation congratulate local hero Milner on landmark achievement

Leeds Rhinos and Leeds Rhinos Foundation have offered their congratulations to Leeds-born star James Milner MBE, 40, after he broke the Premier League appearance record when he started for Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday for his 654 Premier League appearance.

Milner, who started his career 24 years ago with Leeds United, has never forgotten his roots and through the James Milner Foundation, he has supported the work of the Leeds Rhinos Foundation in recent years, donating over £100,000 to help various projects in his home city. 

Leeds Rhinos Foundation Chief Executive Bob Bowman QPM commented, “James was first introduced to the Leeds Rhinos Foundation by our Vice President Kevin Sinfield CBE back in 2018. Since then, through the James Milner Foundation, we have received in excess of £100,000 to support our work in Leeds especially around the provision of sports activity camps during the school holidays.

"James, along with his wife Amy, and the Board of Trustees of his foundation have worked tirelessly throughout the years raising money for the Leeds Rhinos Foundation and other charities important to him and for this we are hugely grateful. It has always been evident to ourselves that James has never forgotten his Leeds roots and has a deep awareness and understanding of the challenges facing children growing up nowadays. He is a credit to our great city and living proof of someone who embodies our purpose to change lives through the power of sport."

Leeds Rhinos Chief Executive Jamie Jones-Buchanan MBE added, “On behalf of everyone connected to Leeds Rhinos and Leeds Rhinos Foundation, I would like to send our deepest congratulations to James Milner on breaking the Premier League appearance record. I have had the privilege of meeting James on a number of occasions and I think he is an incredible ambassador for the city of Leeds.

"To have achieved what he has during his career at some of the biggest clubs in European football as well as representing his country whilst never forgetting where it all began for him, in the playing fields of Leeds, speaks volumes for his character and stature. It is fitting that he and Kevin Sinfield should both be Vice Presidents of the Leeds Rhinos Foundation as they are such similar people who are tremendous role models for all our young people.”