Newcastle pupils enjoy ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ Premier League Primary Stars Football Tournament experience

Newcastle United Foundation was proudly represented by Bede Academy and Ponteland Primary School as pupils took part in an unforgettable Premier League Primary Stars Football Tournament at Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Molineux Stadium.

The tournament brought together hundreds of young people from across England and Wales for two days of competition, giving schoolchildren the chance to represent their Premier League clubs on a professional stage.

Bede Academy represented Newcastle United in the under-11 mixed tournament, while Ponteland Primary School competed in the under-11 girls’ event, with both teams earning their place after progressing through local heats delivered through Premier League Primary Stars.

Ponteland Primary School were also recognised with the Fair Play award in the girls’ event, celebrating the team’s positive attitude, sportsmanship and team spirit throughout the tournament.

Across the wider competition, Codsall Middle School, representing Wolverhampton Wanderers, won the mixed final on day one following a dramatic penalty shootout against Chelsea’s Ellingham Primary School. Brighton & Hove Albion’s Leechpool Primary School lifted the girls’ trophy after defeating South Farnham School, representing Chelsea.

On day two, Brentford’s Sheen Mount Primary School won the Premier League Primary Stars National Girls Football Tournament after coming from behind to beat Southampton’s St Francis Church of England Primary School, while Thomlinson Junior School, representing Carlisle United, received the Fair Play award.

Premier League Foundation Chief Executive Alex White said: “The Premier League Primary Stars Football Tournament is a fantastic opportunity for children to enjoy their own Premier League matchday experience, proudly representing their clubs in team kit.

“We hope that everyone taking part at Molineux has a brilliant time playing competitive football, connecting with teams from across the country and building friendships while creating lasting memories.”

Thousands of children from schools across England and Wales took part in local club heats for the chance to progress to the national tournament and represent their clubs in official Premier League kit.

For the pupils involved, the event offered the opportunity to play on a Premier League-standard pitch, compete under the guidance of Premier League and Women’s Super League match officials and create lasting memories with teammates and staff.

Heather Allen, Bede Academy assistant vice principal of Newcastle United’s mixed team said: “I’ve tried for the last four years to get to these finals – just seeing their faces this morning when they walked in, they’re proud to wear the strip, they’re proud to represent Newcastle and they’re proud to represent us as a school, which is lovely.

"When they walked out of the tunnel, I cried. I’m crying now thinking about it. I was just so proud because for me, it’s all about enjoying it, being here in the moment. Some of our children have had quite a lot to go through recently and for them to be here and forget everything that’s going on outside and be part of something really special was amazing.

"Some of the boys struggle with anxiety so coming somewhere like this on a big stage with so many teams, it’s going to boost their confidence and make them believe in themselves a little bit. It’s going to make them realise that if they work hard, they will get rewarded; if they put their all into things, they can do anything.

"This is something they’ll never forget. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it’s probably going to be one of their favourite memories of primary school.

"Premier League Primary Stars has 100 per cent made an impact at our school. The whole school get involved when Newcastle United Foundation staff come in. Everyone wants to succeed, everyone wants to get stuck in. It’s making a huge difference to all sorts of children.

“We have some children who maybe don’t aspire to much, they’re in a cycle of poverty but getting involved with Premier League Primary Stars means they enjoy school more, they’ve got aspirations, they want to do well and it makes them believe in themselves.”

Premier League Primary Stars is the Premier League’s primary school education programme that supports children to learn through the power of football in more than 19,000 primary schools (86%) across England and Wales. Funded by the Premier League, through the Premier League Foundation, the programme uses the appeal of football to help children to be active and develop essential life skills.

A total of 104 professional football clubs from across the leagues currently deliver in-classroom Premier League Primary Stars sessions within their local communities.

The free programme also provides teachers with downloadable resources across a range of curriculum subjects at Key Stage 1 (age 5-7) and Key Stage 2 (age 7-11), developed by teachers for teachers to support children to develop skills and values that are crucial to success in later life. More than 79,000 teachers from over 19,000 primary schools have signed up to access these online resources to date.

To find out more, please visit www.premierleague.com/foundation/premier-league-primary-stars

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