Foundation say thank you to partner schools

GRACING The Hawthorns turf is an achievement that not many primary school children can boast of.

However, The Albion Foundation provided a special flagbearing experience for a lucky group of youngsters from 18 of the charity's partner schools to thank them for their support.

The children were selected because they had represented one of the four values of the Premier League Primary Stars programme which are; be fair, be ambitious, be inspiring, be connected.

The schoolchildren, dressed in their uniforms were awarded a Premier League Primary Stars plaque on behalf of the school as a gift for the ongoing Primary Stars partnership.

Alison Gilbert was delighted that the charity had made such a special day for her son, Thomas.

"We would just like to thank the Foundation for the wonderful time Thomas had at the West Bromwich Albion match," she said.

"Using the Premier League values to base star pupils on is an excellent idea and allowing the winners to be flagbearers before the game was a lovely touch.

"It was a day Thomas will not forget as he had such a great time."

18 children were rewarded in total, with two lucky children being mascots for the day, and the other 16 getting the opportunity to be flagbearers.

Emma Burnell, Headteacher of Tividale Community Primary School, was delighted that the partnership between the charity and her school provided an opportunity for the children that they may not have ordinarily had.

"Being part of a match day is magical for the pupils involved," she said.

"It's exhilarating for them to experience the atmosphere within a football stadium.

"The partnership between our school and the Foundation adds an extra dimension to what we already do in school.

"The value lies in us working together to raise aspirations, confidence and competence for children within sport and to educate them about confidently making healthy lifestyle choices both now and in their future."

Richard Holmes, the Foundation's Premier League Primary Stars Officer, was pleased to be able to offer the matchday experience to the schoolchildren as Albion faced Blackburn Rovers.

"The children we work with in schools love experiencing different things and a lot of them otherwise wouldn't ever get such opportunities," he said.

"We have a superb relationship with our schools, and try to build a rapport with school teachers, staff and students alike to really benefit their experiences and the value we can add through our Premier League Primary Stars delivery.