Now into its second year, the PFA Heroes programme provides a unique way to promote football and the A-League in the communities by going beyond PR undertaken by many A-League clubs.

The Heroes programme is an eight-lesson learning module that teaches values to school kids by placing A-League footballers in mentoring roles with students.

Currently Melbourne schools such as Hume Central Secondary College, John Fawkner Secondary College and Keysborough Secondary College are part of the programme.

And Heroes will expand into a school in west Melbourne at the start of next year and also run in four NSW schools in 2011.

PFA President and Melbourne Heart skipper Simon Colosimo says the Heroes programme teaches a number of things, including self-discipline, a trait many footballers must learn in their own careers.

“One of the challenges we all face in life is to work hard to succeed whatever environment we find ourselves in,” he said.

“The footballers that I have worked with over my career show strong discipline and make sacrifices so that they can play our game. It will be fantastic to work with the Hume students on how they too can succeed in their school and community.”

Twelve PFA members are currently involved in the mentoring roles. They are Heart’s Eli Babalj, Simon Colosimo, Brendan Hamill, Jason Hoffman, Michael Marrone, Wayne Srhoj, Matt Thompson and Ante Tomic. Victory’s Grant Brebner, Leigh Broxham, Matthew Kemp and Rodrigo Vargas are also involved.

Today, the PFA will announce that Woolworths will come on board as a Heroes community partner.