During his studies in 1994 at Fergusson College in Pune (India), Vinay Murgod used to play football on the FC Ground where he noticed children from the nearby Wadarwadi and Pandavnagar slums frequently visiting the ground. They would watch college students play football but they themselves never had an opportunity to play a structured sport. After an initial survey of the background of these children, he decided to coach them football. His aim was to identify impressionable children between the ages of 5-18 years and develop them through football. 40 enthusiastic students signed up who, even though lacked in the right shoes and football gear, were extremely hungry to play the sport. This spark in them encouraged Coach Vinay to establish United Poona Sports Academy (UPSA) in 1995 through which he initiated the Development of Personality through Sports for potential slum and neglected children in Pune. That same year a program to develop women athletes was also initiated making UPSA the pioneers of women’s football in Pune. Since its foundation, UPSA has been working towards the development of children in the grassroots age category with various programs and value-education themed concepts. The grassroot ages are when the children readily absorb the basics of sport and values and we strive to make a difference to the child’s athletic and holistic growth.